“Mr. Varik?” the woman said in surprise.
“Janice.” His voice was low and rough, almost like two boulders grinding against each other. “What progress has been made on finding me an assistant?”
“I’m working on it, sir. I was just interviewing an applicant—”
Ethan finally broke from his dumbstruck awe and jumped to his feet, extending his hand to the tall man. Even standing, Marcus Varik towered over him by at least five inches. “Ethan Cline, sir,” Ethan introduced. His heart pounded in his chest and he prayed that Marcus couldn’t hear it. At least his hand didn’t shake when Marcus stared at it for a second before taking it.
His hand was warm. Ethan hadn’t expected that. He’d thought his skin would be cold and clammy, but he was warm. Ethan curled his fingers when their hands parted, as if he were trying to hold on to that surprising heat to study it later.
“Marcus Varik,” Marcus replied. “You’ve been given the details of this job?”
“I was just starting to, sir,” Janice said.
“I’ve moved several times during my life, sir,” Ethan added. “I’ve gotten quite good at properly wrapping, labeling, and packing things away in a quick and organized fashion. I can get all your property safely moved to your new home.”
“And unpacked again,” Marcus said. “The job would require you to briefly relocate to Connecticut. Your living expenses would be covered during that time as well as your travel. You would have to unpack my property and see that it is properly placed around my new home.”
“That’s not a problem. I love seeing new places.”
“You would also be running various errands for me at all times of the day.”
“Not a problem.”
Marcus narrowed his eyes at Ethan. “Even at two in the morning for violin bow rosin?”
Ethan didn’t even let himself blink at the strange request. “I know of an all-night super store that should carry it. I could be at the store and then here inside of an hour.”
Marcus’s brow furrowed as his frown deepened. “Where do you live?”
Ethan’s heart stuttered in his chest, and he fought to keep his smile in place. “In the suburbs. Glenpark. But I can be here by train in about thirty minutes. I’d need to study the schedule for around two a.m., but that’s not a problem.”
“That’s not good enough,” Marcus muttered as if talking to himself. He looked around Ethan to Janice. “I want him no more than ten minutes from the town house.”
“That would require downtown housing. That could be expensive.” She gave a little shake of her head as if realizing at the last second what she was saying. “Of course. It will be handled today.”
“Do you drive?” Marcus said.
“I’m sorry…” Ethan replied, his brain struggling to keep up. Had he just been hired? Was he getting put in a swanky new apartment downtown rather than his rat-infested studio?
“Do you drive?” Marcus repeated. From the sharpness of his tone, Ethan could guess that he was a man who did not like to repeat himself.
“Yes. Yes, I’ve got my license. I don’t currently have a car. Between the gas, insurance, and upkeep, it’s just too expensive. But I can drive.” Ethan inwardly winced. He was babbling and didn’t manage to catch himself until it was too late. Marcus Varik didn’t give a damn about his money troubles.
“Fine.” Marcus looked at Janice again. “Add him to the insurance and see that he has access to the black Mini Cooper.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Birds,” Marcus said suddenly, turning his attention back to Ethan. “Do you have any problem with or allergy to birds?”
Ethan struggled to keep his face completely blank in the face of that slightly insane question. Definitely not something he’d ever been asked in an interview. “Umm…no. No problems with birds.”
Marcus nodded and extended his hand. “Be here promptly at ten a.m. tomorrow. I’ll show you around for the first two hours, and then you can get to work. The rest of the time you will start at noon. Tonight, you will research potential places to live while you are working for me. They will need to be within a ten-minute walking distance of the town house. Have them to Janice before you arrive here tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir,” Ethan said, nearly laughing at his good luck.
Marcus paused long enough to acknowledge Janice with a small nod before he was gone again.
Janice sat down in her chair and cleared her throat. “I will also be checking your references. This position will remain contingent upon positive reviews, of course.”
Ethan dropped back down in his chair, his knees threatening to give out in his relief. “Yes, of course. I don’t think you’ll have any problems. Is there any price range I should be looking in for the temporary lodging?”
Janice frowned slightly at him. “Not specifically. Mr. Varik is trusting you to use your best judgment and to not waste his money. That being said, he will not approve of you living in a slum either. There are plenty of furnished executive apartments in the area that offer short-term leases.”