And maybe—just maybe—Stone's paranoia was exactly that. Paranoia.
Or maybe I was about to make a big mistake.
Time would tell.
Chapter 5
Julia
Imay have overdressed.
Just a little.
But I needed to make it clear to Mr. Vanetti that this job was mine. Not any of the other candidates. Mine.
As I entered the conference room, Quentin stood and pointed to a chair. "How do you feel about self-confidence?"
I stopped. Looked at the chair. Looked at him.
"Once I'm on your payroll, I'll expect to be treated equally, without regard to my sex." I gestured slightly toward the chair. "Where I come from, a gentleman doesn't command a woman to sit like she's a dog."
His expression shifted from shock to amusement in a heartbeat. "Touché, Miss Russell."
He walked around the table and pulled the chair out for me properly.
Oh.
That backfire could have gone worse.
"Thank you," I managed, sitting with as much grace as I could muster while my heart hammered.
"You're welcome." He returned to his seat, eyes never leaving mine. "I guess that answers my question."
"Confidence isn't arrogance when you can back it up." I held his gaze for one heartbeat, two, then glanced away. "I can."
"I believe you."
Something in his voice made my stomach flip.
He wore a dark gray suit today, midnight blue tie that made his eyes look stormy. Dangerous. My goal was simple: land this position, observe his business, find proof he killed my father.
Then eliminate him.
The plan was solid. Straightforward. Except for the part where looking at him made my pulse race for entirely all the wrong reasons.
Focus. You have a job to do.
"Shall we begin?" He opened a folder.
"Certainly." I forced my gaze to his chin. Safer than his eyes. Less likely to make me forget why I was really here.
"We'll be going over your résumé in more detail. My team has some follow-up questions."
When he shifted into CEO mode—all business, all command—he became even more attractive. Something about watching a powerful man direct operations, make decisions, control a room...
Stop it.
"I understand."
