“Mrs. Reddick, if it’s okay with you I’d like to sit in on this interview.”
No, it’s not okay! Jariah screamed inside in her head. She prayed the brunette would show Nicco Morretti the door, but when he flashed one of his wide, panty-wetting smiles at the HR director, she eagerly nodded her head.
“Of course, by all means.” Mrs. Reddick gestured to the conference room table with more flair than a model at the Miami Car Show. “Please, pull up a chair and join us.”
“Can I get you something to drink?” Nicco asked, sliding behind Jariah and holding out her chair. “Coffee? Tea? A glass of wine?”
Jariah felt the compulsion to laugh, but didn’t. Who drinks wine at nine-thirty in the morning? she wondered. I bet he does! Nicco was testing her, but Jariah refused to let the hot-shot businessman unnerve her. Guys like Nicco Morretti—rich, arrogant, womanizers—were a dime a dozen in Miami and hardly her type. It didn’t matter that he had dashing good looks, or more swagger than a championship winning bull fighter. He was just a man, and like her ex, not someone she could ever trust. Nicco Morretti was a charmer, a guy who got off on seducing women and no one could tell her otherwise. “No, thank you. I’m fine.”
Girl, you better lick those lips and hike up that skirt!
Jariah was appalled by the thought that entered her mind. Yes, Nicco Morretti was attractive, and flirting with him certainly wouldn’t hurt her cause, but Jariah wanted to the get the account manager’s job on her own merit. Not because she’d flashed some cleavage at the boss’s son. She wouldn’t do it. No way, no how.
All business, the HR Director sat down with a flourish and opened the manila file folder she’d put down on the round, mahogany table. “Welcome to Morretti Inc., Ms. Brooks. I’m Mrs. Reddick. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
To conceal the fact that she was shaking, Jariah crossed her legs, and clasped her hands around her knees. Taking a deep breath didn’t calm her nerves, and Jariah feared if she tried to speak nothing would come out.
“Tell us about yourself, Ms. Brooks. What would you like us to know about you?”
Releasing the breath she’d been holding, she sat up straighter in her chair. This was her time to shine, to prove that there was more to her than met the eye, and Jariah held nothing back. She told the HR director about her education, her past work experience, and the joy she found in volunteering with the Meals on Wheels program.
“What makes you stand out from your peers?” Mrs. Reddick asked.
“I’m dependable, trustworthy and responsible. I take great pride in my work, and I’m committed to being the best account manager I can be.”
The HR director continued. “What’s your worst character trait?”
That depends on who you ask. My parents think I’m irresponsible, my ex says I’m unreasonable, and his mother is convinced I got pregnant to trap her beloved son. The accusation stung, even after all these years, but Jariah didn’t have time to dwell on her troubled thoughts. “I can be stubborn at times, especially when I’m very passionate about a project, but I’ve never allowed my shortcomings to interfere with my ability to do my job.”
Mrs. Reddick folded her arms rigidly across her chest, and Jariah knew she’d said the wrong thing, but before she could revise her response, the HR director spoke.
“Why should we hire you, Ms. Brooks?”
“Because I’m a dedicated, hard-working professional who thrives under pressure.”
“Mrs. Reddick, if it’s all right with you I’d like to ask Ms. Brooks a few questions.”
Bewildered by Nicco Morretti’s request, Jariah regarded him coolly. This isn’t good, she thought as her heart rate sped up.
“Go ahead, Nicco.” Mrs. Reddick flapped her hands like a bald eagle taking flight. “She’s all yours.”
Leaning forward in his chair, his eyes zeroing in on hers, he was nothing like the sly, flirtatious guy who’d hit on her two days earlier. “Why do you want to work for Morretti Inc.?”
Because I’m an out-of-work single mom, and kids are expensive! Unsure of what to say, Jariah racked her mind for a suitable answer, one that would paint her in a favorable light. Over the past three weeks she’d been on so many interviews it was hard to keep the companies straight, and though she tried, Jariah couldn’t remember anything remarkable about Morretti Inc. But she couldn’t tell the boss’s son that, so she said the first thing that came to mind.
“This is not only a fine opportunity for personal growth and professional advancement, but Morretti Inc. is a place where I feel I can make a difference.” Hearing the nervous quiver in her voice, Jariah paused to take a deep breath. “As an account manager, well versed in finance, book keeping and stock and investment options, I see this position as a perfect fit for me. Because I have excellent time management skills, I’m able to accomplish a lot in a limited amount of time and I have always led by example.”
“Is your significant other supportive of your career ambitions?”
Jariah frowned, and noticed that Mrs. Reddick raised her eyebrows, too. What an odd question. Is that his way of asking me if I have a boyfriend? She expected Mrs. Reddick to come to her rescue, but when the HR director didn’t, Jariah had no choice but to respond. “I’m single,” she said brightly, though she wanted to kick Nicco in the shin for digging around in her personal life. “My daughter is my number one priority right now.”
“Do you have any qualms about working at a male-dominated company?”
“Absolutely not. To be honest, I get along better with men than I do with women.” The second the words left her mouth Jariah regretted them, but to her surprise, Nicco grinned. He looked amused.
“Do you have any questions for me before we conclude today’s interview?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact I do.” Jariah held his gaze. For some odd reason seeing the puzzled expression on his face bolstered her courage. “What makes Morretti Inc. different? What sets your company apart from the competition?”
Nicco gave her a long, searching look. “That’s a great question, Ms. Brooks.”
You impressed the boss’s son. You go girl!
“Morretti Inc. has been the leader in the shipping industry for over fifty years, and since expanding our services in the nineties we’re increased our profits by 16 percent. In addition to our shipping, moving and security divisions, we also own condominium properties, car dealerships and a wildly successful restaurant franchise. Have you heard of Dolce Vita?”
Yes, but it’s too expensive for my tastes. “Yes, of course. It’s a celebrity hotspot, and one of my favorite Italian restaurants in Miami.”
Jariah fidgeted with her fingers and shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Lying didn’t sit well with her. It troubled her conscience, made her feel like a fraud but she felt compelled to tell Nicco Morretti what he wanted to hear. The interview was going well, better than she’d expected, and she didn’t want to do anything to turn him off. “Can you tell me about your employee development program?”
Mrs.
