“So, I see here you’ve been a personal assistant for quite some time. There's a good amount of experience listed here, I must say. The only thing that gives me a little pause is that your resume shows it was mostly in a corporate setting with only a select amount of touring experience. I’m sure you can understand why this would cause me some concern. Most of your experience isn't quite in my field, really. What is it that’s made you want to make the switch from the corporate world to mine?”
Okay, that starting question wasn’t too difficult to handle.
“Well, to be blunt, I’m an aspiring musician myself, so it just makes more sense to work within the music industry. I never felt like I was the right fit in the corporate world. Music is, without a doubt, the number one interest in my life. It's a passion that's driven me for a long time. Working in the corporate world… Well, yes, I was really good at it, but it didn't move my soul. Not like being in the music business would.”
He nodded, studying me and mulling over what I’d said. Hopefully, it sufficed as a good answer, even if the bit about me having touring experience wasn’t at all true.
“And with touring, it says you’ve organized three tours before? I'll be honest, that's not a lot considering what this job will demand, but I will say that it’s a decent amount for a short period of time. How did you feel with organizing the first one?”
“I was a bit nervous and unsure of myself, as it was totally different than what I was used to doing, but I knew my capabilities and knew I could learn what I needed to know as I got through it. It was a good challenge for my skills, and I feel like I made the switch really well. Everything went very smoothly,” I responded.
Complete, big fat lie. Still, I’d helped organize big corporate events all the time, and figured that it couldn’t be that much different than scheduling tour stops and their venues. His smile widened at me, and a small flutter shook in my stomach. Damn, the man was good looking. Especially when he smiled. He was much more handsome than I thought he would be. No wonder Grace liked his band.
“How comfortable would you be with organizing marketing and promotions for the tour? Things like radio interviews, interviews with rock bloggers, YouTube vloggers, that type of thing,” Owen asked.
Well, if what Grace had said was true, these guys had been kind of a big deal a few years ago. I doubted it would be that hard getting them on the radio, the web, or YouTube during their reunion tour. I was sure, in fact, that it was something that could possibly be done with relative ease, especially with a name as well-known as theirs. Most bloggers or radio hosts would jump at the opportunity.
“I definitely think I can handle that, no problem,” I told him, trying my best to look confident as I sat up a little taller. So far, it seemed the interview was at least going better than his first one—though that probably wasn’t saying too much considering how it ended in water works.
“Well, I'll say this, it’s going to be a lot of work, a lot more than you've done in these previous tours listed on your resume. In addition to that, you’ll be on the road with us during all of this, too, so you need to keep that in mind because that brings with it a whole different set of pressures and troubles to deal with. We have very comfortable accommodations on the bus, but it is still being on the road for nearly three months straight with a bunch of sweaty, crazy guys. And while that might sound like fun initially, I can promise you that it'll be pretty stressful and nerve-wracking, as well. Especially seeing as we're going to have a very tight schedule to stick to, so you need to take all of that into consideration.
“The pay is ten thousand a month, so it'll be thirty thousand for the first leg of the tour. Depending on how the first leg goes, we want to have a second leg of smaller venues later in the year. Also, bear in mind that this is a position with other potential. If you do a good job with it, I am always looking for reliable and dedicated people to work with me at my record company. So, if you impress me on this tour, there may well be a permanent position in line for you—a permanent position with very generous pay and plenty of perks and benefits.
“Do you think you could deal with three months on the road while organizing all of that and keeping the band in check and on schedule?”
I didn’t say anything for the moment. Ten thousand a month was still running through my head. Not to mention the possibility of working permanently at the record company. This would be a dream come true—if I got it, of course.
“Um…yeah, I think that seems fair. If you guys need someone to keep you organized, I’m definitely your woman,” I spouted, surprised at my confidence. I almost had myself fooled that I knew what the hell I was doing trying to organize a three-month tour. Still, if he gave me this job, I’d bust my ass making sure it got done right.
Owen’s face lit up as he studied me. “Well, that’s great to hear. I definitely need to know we’ll be in good hands, whoever we hire. The other guys can get a little crazy, and with the record company to take care of, I simply can’t handle taking care of the tour and them on top of my already insane workload. I mean, I know how to work hard, but doing all of that combined is beyond the capabilities of any human being who wants to maintain their sanity.”
So, he wasn’t a party boy like the rest of them. Interesting. There was definitely something about him, and that little admission that had me even more intrigued as to who Owen Young really was outside of the persona of a successful record company owner and rock star. He stood upright, and I couldn’t help but admire his body as he walked around the desk and held his hand out for me.
“Nalia, it really was a pleasure speaking with you,” he said as he took my hand and helped me out of my seat.
“Likewise,” I responded.
“We’ll definitely be in touch.”
I shook his hand and noticed his gaze roam over my outfit all the way down to my heels. I was glad I went with this particular ensemble. It was my power suit. It made me feel more confident, it looked great for interviews, and it happened to hug the right curves without doing it in too obvious a manner.
Indeed, it seemed like it might be working on him. For good measure, I flipped my hair over my shoulder casually as he let go of my hand. He started to open the door for me, but then stopped.
Chapter Nine
Owen
I couldn’t get over how beautiful this woman was. The outfit she was wearing was killing me. It was like something born straight out of one of those secretary fantasies. Her confidence was sexy as hell on top of her tanned, curvy figure, and I was trying desperately not to get lost in those gorgeous eyes of hers. As hard as it was to believe, she looked even more stunning in person than she had in her photos.
It had been pretty hard to concentrate on the interview questions the whole time I'd been talking to her. In fact, I wondered if she'd noticed me staring at her. I'd done my best to conceal it, trying desperately to keep my eyes locked on her face when they were really scanning her body the whole time.
Thoughts from the night before crept back, the fantasies of my own that I was having about her, and I couldn't deny that I wanted to take her home right on the spot. To hell with the next interview. But fantasies and desires aside, I simply knew I couldn’t do that.
Apart from that being highly unprofessional conduct, I really did need to find a touring assistant, and quick. So far, out of the two girls I had already interviewed, Nalia was definitely the most qualified, and on top of that, she hadn’t run out of the room crying. That was an obvious plus. Besides, I owed it to the band to give this third applicant an interview; it was only fair. But, if the third one even remotely sucked compared to Nalia, the job was going to her.
I looked her over once again as we stood in the office, shaking her hand, then started to pull the door open for her. However, halfway through doing that, I stopped. Regardless of whether she was the most qualified or not, I wanted to see her again. I had to. I knew that much, at least. Somehow, I had to make it happen.
“Nalia, I’d like to see you for a second interview,” I said, trying to sound as professional as possible. It was hard with her standing so close. I could smell her soft, sweet perfume, see how warm her eyes were. “My band is rehearsing at the record company tomorrow around two in the afternoon. I’d like the rest of them to meet you. Just to see if you’d mesh well with everyone. That is pretty important to check out, given that you may well be around us 24/7 over a period of three months.”