Page 7 of Office Intrigue (Office Intrigue Duet 1)
“If you don’t know the requirements, why’d you apply for the job?” His voice rang with amusement. And sex. Mostly sex.
Damn it.
That wasn’t him, that was me.
I didn’t want to tell them that I applied because my friend told me I should. That didn’t seem very responsible. It wasn’t like I was expecting to get it simply because I knew Kristen either. Sure, we’d become good friends over the past two years, but I certainly wasn’t trying to ride her coattails. Then again, I wasn’t above latching on and taking a short ride if it meant steady employment. Hell, the idea of having to live with my parents was enough to have my desperation ratcheting up a notch or twenty.
I kept the smile on my face. “Because I’m quite aware of the reputation of this company and I felt I would be a good fit here. I’m a hard worker, speak well with clients, and I’m looking for something to broaden my horizons.”
“Very nice answer,” Landon stated at the same time Langston muttered, “Good girl,” from his spot near the wall, his hazel eyes pinned on me.
There was something about the way he said that. Something that made me want to continue to have him praising me in the future. Like I said, I was losing my mind. But hey, I’d already dug a deep enough hole to hide in; what was the point in trying to climb out now?
Unlike Ben and Justin, Landon didn’t open the folder.
“Tell me how you know Kristen Morrow.”
Okay, so they evidently knew how I’d heard about the job, and I had to assume that they knew her as well since they were the only ones who’d asked about her. “She’s a friend of mine,” I admitted. “We met at yoga class a couple of years ago. We hang out from time to time.”
My answer seemed to placate them.
“I noticed you have a degree in accounting.” Landon’s eyes scanned my face as he spoke.
“That’s true, I do.”
I’d been told to never provide additional information that they didn’t require because it overshadowed the interview and if they weren’t in need of an accountant, what did it matter anyway?
“Are you interested in the secretary position, Luci?” Langston asked.
“Yes, sir. I’m actually interested in any position.”
Jeezus. Did I really just say that?
There was a flash of something in Langston’s eyes that instantly had me crossing my legs a little tighter, a welcome ache taking up residence between my thighs. Well, it would’ve been a welcome ache if I weren’t in a job interview. And if I had my trusty second vibrator handy.
“We work Monday through Friday,” Landon told me. “You’d be required to be here from seven thirty to five thirty. An hour for lunch. We shut the office down at one on Fridays, but we do require one Saturday a month. My partners and I don’t arrive until closer to eight. One or more of us is often traveling, so it would be critical that you be able to manage your time and your duties with little instruction from us.”
I nodded. I could handle those hours and those requirements, despite the fact that I’d be getting up at the ass-crack of dawn every day.
“We each have extensive teams who work remotely. Rarely will you see anyone else in the office. However, we are a client-facing business, so the dress code is professional. What you’re wearing is certainly appropriate.”
“With one exception,” Langston noted.
My gaze shot to his face as I waited for him to elaborate.
“Your skirts should be no shorter than the tips of your fingers when your arms are hanging at your sides. Anything shorter would be considered indecent and grounds for…discipline.”
I had no idea why the word discipline coming from that delectable mouth sounded so naughty, but it did.
“Yes, sir. Fingertip length.”
“Otherwise, your attire is appropriate,” he concluded.
Still, that meant I would have to go shopping because this was the extent of my professional wardrobe. I hadn’t been required to dress up at Super Cuts or Home Depot or Target. When I’d done a brief stint as a receptionist at my mother’s dental office, she insisted I wear scrubs. Those few weeks I had tried my hand at waitressing a couple of years back, Hooters had supplied the uniform.
But I had this. Fashion was totally my thing.
“Are you available to start immediately?” Landon inquired, once again taking control of the interview.
“Yes, sir. I am.”
His response was a gravelly grunt that sounded like approval.
Now that I was used to it, I didn’t panic when Landon got to his feet, this time grabbing the folder.
“If you’ll excuse us for a few minutes, I’d like to discuss with my partners.”
“Sure you don’t want some water?” Langston offered.
“I’m sure.” It was a lie. My mouth was parched, but I was too nervous to drink anything.
