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“It sounds terrible.”
“I’ve had worse jobs.”
Karn grinned. “Such as?”
Ivy nodded thanks as Olid brought their drinks over before walking away. She took a sip to steady her nerves. “I’ve always been in public relations, making sure the company looks the best they possibly can, no matter how sleazy they are on the inside.”
“You’ve had a few sleazy bosses?” Karn’s attention was completely on her. His dark eyes interested, the red rim around the iris barely visible in the dim lighting.
Ivy tilted her head. From the pale blue tint of Karn’s skin, he wasn’t playing around. She settled in her seat. Maybe this was more of a date than she’d realized. “My first job was straight out of college. I worked for a sewerage company.”
“You had to sell the benefits of peoples’ waste to them?”
“Nothing so disgusting. I had to promote the company as ethical and green. Just before I left, it was discovered they’d been pumping raw sewage into the countryside and polluting an area of natural beauty.”
“Charming. Where else have you worked?”
“A few different places. My favorite company was a product samples company. We were sent all the latest designs of jewelry.”
Karn looked at the ring Ivy wore. “I noticed you like designer. That’s a Hilliard Church ring.”
Ivy raised her eyebrows. “It is. You know your designers?”
“I love good things. I know a well-designed item when I see one. Some of Earth’s designers have grown popular on other planets. Do you always buy designer?”
“When the budget allows.” Ivy smiled to herself. Sometimes even when the budget didn’t allow. She had a couple of companies chasing her for money she didn’t have thanks to her impulse purchase addiction. They’d get the money eventually. She always paid her debts, just not always on time.
“What about your current job? Do you often have to work late?”
“Now and again. Diadora can crack the whip when she needs something. The matchmakers usually work later than I do. They don’t finish before eight. There’s a lot of demand for human booty.”
“I can see why.” Karn’s eyes flashed red. “And your boss? Does she ever pull an all-nighter?”
“Not that I know of. Why, are you thinking of asking her out?”
“She’s not my type.” Karn grinned at Ivy. “My first job was getting onto a Banti ship and recovering information they’d stolen.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad.”
“It wouldn’t have been if the equipment I’d been given worked. My laser failed, so I had to fight off the ship’s guards bare-handed.”
“What a hero.”
“I do okay in a fight.”
Ivy knew all about Forka stealth abilities. They could creep up on you almost silently and knock you out before you realized they were there.
“You like the life of a superspy?”
Karn tilted his head from side to side. “It has its advantages. If I want something, I can easily get my hands on it. Others pay a lot to get back something taken or have me retrieve the important information they need.”
“Hi, Karn.” A petite Draxdan strolled past the table.
Karn nodded at her, but his gaze remained on Ivy.
An unexpected swirl of jealousy shifted through Ivy. She had no reason to be jealous. They weren’t exclusive. “Is that somebody you know?”
“A friend.”
