“Punctuality not your thing, Mr. Rich?”
“Jeff, always a pleasure.” He places his cell on the table and extends his hand to greet mine. “And you are?”
“Miss Milenov.” I stand up as he watches me with far too much curiosity. “Emerson, I mean, Miss Chase, was unable to make it and requested I be here.”
His face instantly drops, almost of disappointment. He avoids looking at me any longer, taking a seat at the end of the table and rolling the cuffs of his white shirt. I notice the large silver watch on his wrist and no wedding band. I had a fascination with hands.
“Let’s make this quick, shall we?”
Jeff jumps straight back to it, talking about the companies that wanted to stock Emerson’s fitness line in Australia and New Zealand. I’m writing down his comments profusely, not aware that Mr. Rich sits at the table looking bored while his eyes are fixed on me. Jeff speaks for another hour before concluding the meeting. I relax my fingers that began to cramp up from all my notes.
“Here.” Jeff slides over a business card to me. “If you’re wanting to get that degree and looking for something solid, come find me.”
I thank him by smiling and tuck the business card into my wallet. He says goodbye and leaves the room quickly.
“What was that about?”
My gaze moves to Mr. Rich. “That? Mr. Ramsey had just mentioned something earlier.”
“Right.” He pauses but his persistent stare is fast becoming annoying. “So you’re Emerson’s new personal assistant.”
“Yes.”
“Interesting, you look quite young to be her assistant.”
“I’m not sure how my age affects my capability.”
“How old are you?”
I shake my head in a daze. What is with this guy? Yeah, he’s cute and all but bordering on being a dick. “Are you seriously asking my age?”
“You just look young. Em is quite particular with young people working around her.”
I shut my notebook and pack my things before giving him a response. “Well, I can assure you that I am more than qualified to assist Miss Chase. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve done what is asked of me and must continue my busy day.”
“So, let me guess, you wanted the job because you’re hoping to hop in bed with Carrington?”
I had no clue what he was talking about but his brutish grin and arrogant persona tick the boxes that Emerson warned me about. It’s always the good-looking ones that have to be assholes.
“I apologize.” He stands up tall, inches above me even in my pumps. “How rude of me to presume you are that type of woman.”
His presence makes me uncomfortable. I am desperate to ask him why he wanted to be in business with Emerson considering he had no interest in that meeting whatsoever. But then I remember I enjoy my job. Biting my tongue would be beneficial if I wanted to keep it.
He moves towards the door, reaching the handle before I do and opening the door for me. He waits for me to pass, and I’m feeling rather awkward from his up-and-down personality.
“What’s that smell…it almost smells like…”
He points his nose into the air in front of him, till he gets closer to my chest. I pull back, embarrassed that I smelled like puke and because he was in my personal space. He could have motorboated me with the distance to my breasts.
“Baby puke.” I beat him to the punch. “I got puked on, okay.”
“By your baby?”
“No, not my baby. Miss Chase’s baby.”
“So, you’re single?”
“Wha…what? What does that have to do with it?”