Aubrey’s dismissive response, and her father, Michael, had had no time for his daughter’s questions either.
‘Freya, can you just, for five minutes, stop trying to change the world.’
James had listened, though, when Freya had approached him, and now things were finally getting under way.
‘Hi, Freya.’ Stephanie, the receptionist, smiled. ‘James said to go straight through to his office.’
Freya nodded and promptly ignored Stephanie’s instruction by heading for her own office. Yesterday evening James had finally sent Freya the bio for the cardiac paediatrician. He kept all staff files himself and there were no sneak peeks, even for his sister.
She wanted to read up on Zackary Carlton rather than explain to James that she was utterly unprepared for this interview. She was usually meticulous in preparation and her intention had been to read up on Zack over a leisurely breakfast this morning.
She opened up her laptop and accessed the file but looked over as there was a knock on her open door.
‘Freya,’ James said. ‘I asked Stephanie to tell you to come straight though.’
‘Happy New Year to you too.’ Freya smiled at her brother. ‘Stephanie did ask me to go straight in but I’m just having a quick read through.’
‘I’ll deal with all the medical stuff, you just need to explain the publicity side of things and get a decent bio, so we can get the word out he’s on board.’ James gestured for her to come to his office and Freya picked up her laptop and went with him.
‘Is he on board, though?’ she asked.
‘He has to be. We need this guy,’ James said as they arrived at his office.
Freya took a tentative seat and thanked the spanking gods he’d stopped when he had, and she started to scroll through the file as James spoke.
‘I’ll bring you up to speed—Zackary Carlton. Australian, drifter, arrogant bastard. He won’t commit to more than three months anywhere but, God, he does magic with his hands...’
Indeed he did.
Freya looked at the résumé and very impressive bio. There was also a photo attached and, yes, she could concur, Zackary Carlton made magic with his hands.
It was Him!
The man she had thought was safely in one of the clinic’s luxurious apartments reserved for visiting guests had been staying at the hotel all along.
Freya felt sick.
And doubly so when she thought of the daiquiri-laced emails she’d sent him.
It was the same man!
How could she possibly face him?
Quite simply, Freya couldn’t.
‘James,’ Freya croaked.
‘What?’
But Freya couldn’t answer straight away. After all, how did she tell her brother that she’d had random sex last night with the cardiac surgeon he wanted to hire?
‘Do you really need me here for this interview?’ Freya attempted. ‘I’ve got the worst hangover. I actually feel a bit sick.’
‘You hardly drink.’
‘Well, I did last night,’ Freya lied. ‘I really think I need to go home...’
‘Freya, you couldn’t even begin to match my hangover,’ James said, and as the intercom buzzed and interrupted him, it would seem her nightmare had just arrived.
That sexy, somewhat scruffy man she’d met yesterday scrubbed up terribly well.
He was clean shaven and wearing a dark suit in a lightweight fabric. His hair was so thick that it was still a touch damp from the shower he had been in when Freya had run, and she wanted to run again now.
Absolutely she did. So much so that Zack watched her eyes dart to the door.
Poor thing, he thought.
Zack was also surprised, not that he showed it. He hadn’t expected her to be on the interview panel and seeing her face pale, rather than redden, he did what he could to put her at ease.
‘James.’ He shook James’s hand. ‘It’s good to meet you.’ He turned then to her. ‘Freya...’
She swallowed.
‘I saw you in the brochure,’ he explained as he took a seat, and her embarrassment turned into anger.
He knew who she was.
Which meant that he’d known who she was last night.
Zack’s teeth gritted as he saw her eyes flash in anger and he realised that, far from putting her at ease, he’d made things worse.
James and his very real hangover were going through the mountain of forms that had come in about the man he would hopefully be recruiting.
‘You said no to the apartment?’ James checked as he caught up on some finer details. ‘Was there a problem?’
‘Not at all. I just prefer to stay in hotels,’ Zack said.
‘What about if you work here?’
‘Same,’ Zack answered.
James was one of the most in-demand cosmetic surgeons in Los Angeles and he looked over at Zack, who was highly in demand too, and he chose not to play games.
‘Look, I’m not going to waste your time or mine with small talk. We want you on board. The Hills needs a cardiac surgeon specialising in paediatrics and we want it to be you.’
Zack gave an appreciative nod. He preferred people who cut to the chase.
‘The only issue I have,’ James continued, ‘is that you’re only prepared to commit to three months.’
‘Then you have an issue,’ Zack said, and Freya blinked at his assertion. She had never met anyone so in command of themselves.
‘We’re going to be building your profile and reputation and for that we’d hope—’ James started.
‘Now there are two issues,’ Zack interrupted. ‘I don’t need my profile or my reputation to be built, they already speak for themselves.’
‘They do,’ James said. ‘But our partner, the Bright Hope Clinic, desperately needs funds. I see you’re keen to do some pro bono work.’
‘That’s the main attraction.’ Zack nodded. ‘Working on these cases with top-level facilities is an enticing prospect.’
‘How many charitable cases were you thinking of taking on?’ James asked.
‘One a week during
