Chapter 1
Nerves raced in my stomach as I made my way to the interview. The sky was grey and it was drizzling slightly. A flash of lightning cracked the sky, followed by loud, ominous thunder. I swallowed hard as I made my way along the sidewalk, walking as quickly as I could in my stripper heels. Heels I would never have worn to my job at the law firm, but then this wasn’t a lawyer position.
I walked quickly into the building. I didn’t want to give myself time to change my mind and hobble back home like a nervous Nellie. The building surprised me as I looked around. It was unassuming and normal. There was nothing ostentatious about it. Nothing that screamed of money or class. There was nothing that screamed ‘private club’ about it at all.
“Are you here about the position?” An older lady looked me over in my short, tight dress and pointed me towards a door. “Go in there. He’s waiting for you.”
“He?” I looked at her uncertainly. “Can you tell me his name, please? I don’t want to go into the interview without knowing it.” I gave her a small smile. With narrowed eyes, she looked at me like I was crazy.“You don’t need to know his name. Just go and wait in there. He’ll come and get you.” She looked back down at her desk and started typing on her computer. I guessed that was my dismissal, and I walked quickly to the door she had pointed me towards.
I sat there waiting in the dark hallway, playing with my long red wig, wondering what the hell I was doing. I knew nothing about bartending, and frankly, I didn’t really even care to learn. I was still in shock that I’d been fired from my associate position at the law firm I’d worked so hard and tediously for. This was not a part of my life plan. I was supposed to be on a partner track, not a drinking-for-free track. I bit my lower lip as I tried to stop myself from laughing hysterically. I didn’t even know if I would be allowed to drink for free as a bartender. I jumped up, ready to leave, when a door opened.
“You here for the interview?” The voice was dark and mysterious. I looked up to see the man’s face, but it was hidden in the shadows. I shivered slightly as the cold air ran over my skin.
“Um, yes,” I managed to squeak out and walked towards the door.
“What’s your name?” he asked in a voice that was close to a growl.
“Jada.” I paused right in front of him and looked up slowly. “My name’s Jada.” I swallowed hard as I lied. I stared at the man in front of me. He was about six foot four, with dark blue eyes and dark blond hair. I stared at his muscles through his well-fitting white shirt. The crisp white of his shirt complemented his golden tan and his perfect white teeth. “What’s your name?” I gave him a small smile and waited for his answer. He stared at me blankly for a few seconds and then turned around and walked back into the office. I stood there uncertainly, not knowing what to do.
“Are you coming?” He looked back at me and I hurried in after him.
“Sorry, I didn’t know,” I mumbled and wanted to slap myself. You are a strong, smart, independent woman, Meg O’Riley, I lectured myself. You are a lawyer. Do not act like a punk.
“You didn’t know what?” He raised an eyebrow at me, and I felt my face flushing.
“Nothing.” I shook my head. “I’m just here for the bartending interview.”
“Bartending?” He stared at me for a second and laughed. His gaze fell down to my partially exposed chest and the long expanse of my legs. “Sure.”
“I am,” I protested too loudly. I stared at him again for a second. Something felt slightly off in this whole situation.
“Take your clothes off.” He sat down and started playing with some papers on his desk.
“What?” My voice was loud as my mouth fell open.
“I said, take your clothes off.” He looked back up at me. “Now.”
“I heard you.” This time my voice was firm. “What you heard wasn’t me asking you to repeat yourself, but more a vocal expression of my shock and anger.”
“Shock and anger.” He cocked his head and really looked at me then. His eyes studied my face and narrowed. “You’re not really here for a bartending gig, are you?”
“That’s what the advertisement said.”
“Hold on.” He picked his suddenly ringing phone up, but his eyes never left mine as he spoke. “This is Greyson Twining.”
I watched his lips as he spoke. Greyson. Nice name. He doesn’t look like a Greyson. He looks more like a Brody or a Josh. I looked around the room and started shivering as I realized he was still staring at me body. I knew that I should just run out of the building and leave, but my feet wouldn’t move.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Brandon. You can’t tell me who I can and can’t hire.” Greyson’s voice was harsh. “No cute blondes named Meg have come in today. I gotta go.” He hung up the phone and stood up again, walking over to me slowly. “So, Jada, tell me more about you.”
He stopped in front of me and leaned in towards me. I froze as his lips stopped a mere inch from mine. I didn’t know whether I should slap him across the face or close my eyes and wait for his kiss. For some reason, my body went with the latter, and I waited in sweet anticipation to feel his lips upon mine.
“So, Meg,” Greyson whispered in my ear lightly. “Tell me why Brandon Hastings just called me and told me not to hire you.” My eyes opened slowly and I swallowed hard as I saw my wig in his hands. I looked into his eyes and saw that he was laughing at me. I knew I should turn away. Brandon had warned me not to come here and had called Greyson and told him not to hire me. I knew that there had to be a reason. I looked at the door and debated with myself for about ten seconds.
“I think the more important question is do I have the job.” I ran my hands through my blond hair and shook it out. “Don’t you think?”
"Why did you lie about your name, Meg?" He looked at me curiously.
"Why didn't you tell me your name?" I raised an eyebrow at him, my brain working furiously. "What's really going on here?"
"Do you think that's a smart question?" His eyes darkened at me. "How do you know Brandon Hastings?"
"I don't. I met him once."
"And he wanted you and you turned him down?" He smiled wide. "He never did take rejection well."
"How do you know him?" I changed the subject. Who cared how he thought I knew Brandon? Let him think what he wanted. I didn’t have to tell him that Brandon was my best friend’s ex-boyfriend or current boyfriend. I wasn’t even sure what was going on with the two of them right now.