Arrogant Boss

I wasn’t so certain, however, that Emily Giordano would be as easily convinced-particularly when she realized who owned Tech José.

Hunt Industries.

And who owned Hunt Industries?

I did.

I made sure to arrive at the meeting a few minutes late, giving David time to butter them up with small talk. I grinned at the thought of seeing her blush again.

The conference door was half open when I arrived, and I heard clear voices coming from inside.

I paused and waited for a cue. Anticipation curled in my stomach at the thought of seeing her eyes flash in agitation.

“I was led to understand we would only interview with you,” a familiar voice said.

David spoke. “Yes, well, I will also be here. But the CEO has expressed a particular interest in Mr. Giordano and wanted to be here himself as well.”

“David, what company owns Tech José?”

I grinned and stepped forward.

Emily. Ten minutes earlier

“He should be here by now.”

I glanced at my watch. “It’s exactly ten o’clock. Let’s give him a few minutes.”

Turner twisted his ring around his finger, a habit to calm himself, and gave me a short nod. The lobby we were seated in was huge. Vast expanses of glass and white marble floors, tall palm-trees in massive pots. No receptionist, however, and no names. It all seemed to be done with key cards. Probably some fancy new prototype.

I’d lived in Palo Alto for twenty-five years, but this was the first time I’d really come face to face with these giant billion-dollar companies.

A man with a pleasant smile and short blond hair hurried towards us from the elevators. “Hello, and welcome! You must be the Giordanos. It’s a pleasure to finally meet the both of you in person. I trust you’ve not had to wait long?”

“We arrived ten minutes ago,” Turner said in his usual blunt fashion. He didn’t look David in the eyes, focused instead on the sharp lines of his shirt.

“Ah. Great. Well, my name is David and I’m the head of recruitment here.” He extended a hand to Turner.

My brother hesitated only a moment before he grasped Davids hand in a firm grip. “Hello.”

“Hi. And this must be your sister? Emily, is it?”

I shook David’s hand. “Yes. I’m his older sister.”

And you’re going to have to go through me.

“Let’s head upstairs, this way.”

Turner and I followed David through the blindingly white lobby. This place was easily as big as our entire house, and we were only on the first floor. David used his keycard to call down one of the sleek, chrome elevators.

“I like how this place looks,” Turner told me.

I smiled at him. “Of course you do. It’s all clean lines and free from clutter. Exactly your style.”

He shot me a small smile without looking at me. He was turning his ring around and around again.

“You know exactly what you are going to say,” I told him quietly. “You’ve rehearsed this.”

He nodded and while the fidgeting didn’t stop, I thought it mellowed slightly.

The elevator arrived and we followed David into the space. He attempted some small talk on the way and I handled it for us. No, it hadn’t been difficult to find parking. Yes, it was unusually warm today.

We walked down an open hallway. Windows opened up into wide landscapes of desks with people working at computers. A large tree grew in the middle of a courtyard surrounded by white desks. People didn’t look up as we passed. I saw energy drinks and at least two Rubrik’s Cubes. Good God.

Turner would fit right in.

David gestured to the office. “These are some of our coders and software engineers. They’re junior associates.”

Turner cleared his throat. “Would I also receive a desk out here?”

“Potentially, yes. But it might be possible to get you your own office.”

Turner’s shoulders relaxed somewhat. I knew that was on his list of demands.

The rows just continued. “Tech José looks like a big company. I was under the impression that it didn’t have more than forty employees.”

“You’re quite right. But we are a subsidiary of a bigger company, with holdings in several industries.”

We were shown to a beautiful meeting room, with bottled water and muffins displayed on the table. They had really pulled out the big guns for this meeting-but then again, I knew Turner was considered valuable in their eyes.

Turner and I took a seat as David opened his folder. “As I was saying, we are a subsidiary company. That gives us a lot of the resources we need but also allows us considerable freedom in terms of direction. We function like an in-house incubator, to use jargon.” He gave a small laugh, but neither Turner nor I joined him. “Our mother company recognizes your potential just as much as we at Tech José do, Turner, and what you could accomplish here. The CEO of Industries will actually join us here today as well. He should be here in a minute or two.” He smiled at us like this was a brilliant revelation.

I frowned. “I was led to understand we would only interview with you.”Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

David looked taken aback by my lack of thanks. “Yes, well, I will also be here, of course. But the CEO has expressed a particular interest in Mr. Giordano and wanted to join us himself.”

I leaned forward. “David, what company owns Tech José?”

But it wasn’t David who replied.

“That would be Hunt Industries,” a voice said from the doorway.

And leaning against it, an infuriating smile on his face, was Julian Hunt.

I just stared at him in shock.

If he’d looked mysteriously handsome last night in the dark, he was blinding in daylight. Thick hair, a smirk, a perfectly fitted suit. No tie.

Damn it, Emily.