Aiden sat
behind his massive desk and glanced at what appeared to be a copy of my resumé.
“How long have you worked for Delmont Security?”
Jumping
straight into the interview. Okay. I could do this. I smoothed back my blond
hair while reminding myself not to play with it. “About eight months.”
“You’ve
been working with Tom Wilde the entire time?”
I tried not
to cringe at the name of my former boss. It had only been two hours since he’d
fired me, and I was still reeling from the incident.
“Yes. I’ve
been working for Tom since I started here.” And
whatever you do, please do not ask why we parted ways.
“What made
you leave the position?”
Crap. “It
was a mutual decision based on incompatibility.” I hoped my words sounded
professional yet vague enough they weren’t a lie.
He studied
me like he was a human lie detector. Was the temperature getting hotter in the
room?
I squirmed
under his heavy scrutiny.
“Reid, the
interim HR Director, indicated there may have been a specific incident. One I’d
rather hear about from you than from Tom.”
Double
crap. I inhaled, realizing I had no choice but to come clean. “Yes, I suppose
I’d rather you hear it from me, too.”
He waited,
his amazing blue eyes focused on mine, making it clear he wouldn’t settle for
less than the truth.
I took a
deep breath, hoping to steady myself, not exactly proud of what I had to say.
“I may have, uh, called Tom a pussy.”
Both
Aiden’s brows shot up with surprise. “Come again?”
I forced
air into my lungs and upped the volume in my shaking voice. It was taking
everything I had to keep my composure.
“I said, I may have called Tom a pussy.”
For a
moment Aiden didn’t speak. Then, looking as though he was trying to cover his
shock, he cleared his throat. “May have?”
Pretty sure
I was off the reservation as far as bad interviews went. “Did. I did call him a
pussy.”
“And he
overheard you?”
“Not
exactly.” I crossed my legs and then uncrossed them.
Aiden stood
up and walked with a slight limp to face the window. I could’ve sworn his lips
twitched, but his lack of eye contact wasn’t a good sign. Calling my former
boss a pussy didn’t exactly scream good assistant material to the potential new
one.
“There are
a lot of maybes and not exactlys, Chloe. I’m partial to the
facts if you don’t mind.”
Right. Best
to get the entire thing out. It would make for a great drunken story someday:
how I’d called my boss a pussy, lost my job and my work visa for the UAE, and
caused my family to become homeless.
Now
would’ve been a good time to lie or at least stretch the truth. I did neither.
“I was upset with Tom and using instant messenger to write about Tom when I
accidentally mistyped who the message was meant for. So I sent a message which
said TOM IS A PUSSY to Tom.”
Still not
facing me, Aiden coughed into his hand. Finally, he pivoted toward me. “Who was
the message intended for?”
“A
colleague.” I wouldn’t name Teagan in this mess. Reid had guessed she was the
intended recipient since she was both my roommate and best friend, but I didn’t
need to out her to Aiden.
“What did Tom say about this message?”
“He simply
came out of his office and asked, ‘Is this how you talk about me behind my
back?’” He’d been red faced and had sputtered his words with a piece of spinach
wedged between his teeth. It wasn’t a scene I wished to relive.
“And?”
The devil
on my shoulder had been tempted to give Tom a piece of my mind for what he’d
done to warrant my name calling. But as was often the case, I hadn’t given into
the temptation and stood up for myself. Guess Tom wasn’t the only pussy.
“I didn’t
really respond.” I’d been in shock that I’d accidentally typed the message to
him instead of to my roommate.
“Why did
you call him a pu—the name you called him?”
In any
other situation, I would’ve giggled at Aiden’s word flinch. I could guarantee
nobody called the man in front of me a pussy. He presented sheer confidence. “I
believed Tom had earned the name in this situation.”
“Did you
apologize?” Aiden resumed the seat behind his desk.
Huh.
Recalling the moment, I realized, nope. I sure hadn’t. Which was unlike me
since I was Canadian, and apologies were in our DNA. “I don’t believe I had the
chance. I was fired on the spot.”
“What did
Tom do to warrant the name?”
Although I
loathed my ex-boss and everything the man stood for, I wasn’t about to out his
extramarital affair or the fact he’d thrown me under the bus to his wife. It
wasn’t professional, and I wasn’t a gossip. I’d related the whole story to Reid
because, as HR director, he had to keep the matter confidential. But telling
Aiden seemed improper. “I’d rather not say as it’s of a delicate nature. Since
you’re his colleague, I’m not sure it would be right for you to know the
details.”
Aiden
steepled his fingers. “I see.”
Triple
crap. Time to plead my case. “I’m not proud of what happened, Mr. Samuels. I’m
aware it was highly unprofessional and I wouldn’t take this second chance
lightly if it was given to me. I work hard, I’m easy to get along with, and
above anything, I hope my confession has showed I never lie even though this is
an interview, and I know my words haven’t exactly painted me in the best
light.”
“You’re
loyal to the man who fired you?”
I wasn’t
sure if it was a question or a statement, so I simply said, “Yes.
Unfortunately, it would appear so.” I wondered if I should’ve spilled the dirt
instead of sealing my fate with loyalty to someone who didn’t deserve it.
Aiden
deliberated my answer while sitting back in his chair, his gaze never leaving
mine. Damn, his intensity made me edgy.
“I admire
your loyalty, especially given the circumstances. I also believe in second
chances.”
I wanted to
let out a breath of relief but sensed he wasn’t done.
“But for us
to work together, I have a few rules.”
My mind was
already busy coming up with a mental list of naughty rules I wished he’d give
me. I certainly hadn’t ever felt this way about Tom, with his stupid JC
Penney-catalog-model haircut, inability to chew with his mouth closed, and condescending
tone.
But the
last thing I needed was to lust over my new boss. “Okay. What are they?”
“Number one
is honesty at all times. If you think I’m being a pussy, you tell me to my
face.”
