Page 15 of Falling for My Billionaire Fake Date

But she had schooled her features into a blank face and spared me not so much as a glance, acting as if I didn’t exist. For some reason, that really irked me, and I poked at her immaturely, insulting her in the process. It doesn’t matter how she had judged me at our first meeting, I shouldn’t have said what I said.

Oh man, I’m right back at it. What is there about her that makes mesomeone I’m not?

Sighing, I decide I’ll apologize for what I said earlier. I’ll be the bigger person here.

I look at my desk and see the list of candidates for the interview. She’s the last of six. Aurora Blaze, the name suits her perfectly well, I think, remembering her blazing eyes, expressing more thoughts than she knows she does.

I call the secretary, asking her to let the first candidate in.

The interviews pass by in a blur of resumé reviews and questioning. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have conducted this interview myself. I kind of dislike sitting through interviews. But since the chosen candidate will be working directly for me, it makes more sense to choose the candidate myself, then let HR finish the busy work. And so far, not a single candidate has intrigued me.

I blink blearily, checking the time on my wristwatch. It’s been over an hour since the interviews began. Putting back my focus on the current candidate, I realize he is still droning on about buzzwords and industry jargon, showing off his knowledge about the construction industry.

I massage my temples and try my best to look interested in what he has to say. Glancing at the list, I realize he is the next to last person, leaving only one person on the list: Aurora.

I perk up at the realization, but refuse to dwell on the reason why.

“I hope I will get to work in this prestigious company of yours, Mr. Reynolds. I look forward to receiving an acceptance mail. Have a good day sir,” he finishes, flashing his teeth all the while.

Seriously, he should be the model for a mouthwash company or something. Not trying to work in a construction company.

Any moment, Aurora will be entering for her interview. I sit up straighter and ensure my desk is arranged, even though I haven’t scattered it to begin with. And again, I refuse to dwell on the reason why I did that. Trying my best to school my features into a professional one, I wait for her entry.

As if summoned by my thoughts, she enters cautiously, as if entering a lion’s den. Is the spitfire nervous? This should be good, I grin inwardly. She takes her sweet time shutting the office door as if prepping herself before starting her interview. Not wanting to give her enough time to do that, I decide to make myself known, literally. Time to ruffle the princess’s feathers.

“Good morning, Miss. Blaze. How’re you doing this fine morning?” I say, acting as professional as I can, but I can’t stop the grin from framing my lips as I notice her freeze.

She turns very slowly as if willing me to have disappeared before she fully faces me. She finally looks towards me and I realize her eyes are shut tightly, muttering some things under her breath.

I love how surprised she is. Temporarily taking down the silver-plated plaque that had my name on the door was a very good idea. I reckon she would never have stepped foot into my office for the interview if she had known thatI’mthe CEO.

She opens her tight-shut eyes, and I can literally see the fire spill out.

“What are you doing here?” she asks, the words flying out like shards of glass. I point to the glass plate which has my name inscribed on it in cursive blackletters: ‘JACOB L. REYNOLDS CEO, Precision Construct.’

She tenses, as if all hope about the situation being a nightmare has evaporated. She clenches her bag tightly and turns to leave. “This is a terrible misunderstanding. I am under the misconception that the CEO is another person.”

She must really dislike me to have decided to give up the interview her friends had tricked her into. Grasping for something to say, anything to say to stop her, I blurt the first thing that pops into my mouth.

“So, you’re just going to disappoint your friends who got you the interview?” I ask, and I mentally face-palm myself, seeing the fire in her eyes flare more than I’d ever seen.

That wasn’t what I had in mind when I opened my mouth to stop her.

“And why are you trying to stop me when we have such a mutual dislike towards one another?” she retorts.

I slam the brakes on that thought, satisfying myself with the fact that getting Aurora riled up is beginning to become a favorite pastime of mine.

“You don’t know anything about me, or my friends. Why don’t you just mind your business and carry on with your CEO duties?” she spits at me.

And at the mention of “friends” her eyes glint with murderous intent, and I am glad that such ire isn’t directed at me. Turning once more, she opens the door to leave my office.

“Look, Britt called in a favor on your behalf, and so did Ryan. I would really love to get mypart of the deal done,” I say, clearing my throat, not wanting to sound as if I am actually interested in interviewing her.

I should be sending her on her merry way. Well, her angry way. Nothing will change her mind, so I do the next best thing: push her buttons.

“Are you sure you’re not going through with the interview because I’m the CEO, or you’re just going to use that as an excuse to not go on with the interview?” She goes rigid at that. Yup! It worked.

Shutting the door, she marches angrily to the visitor’s chair opposite my desk, flings the red folder containing her files on my table, and sits without asking. Crossing her legs, she steeples her hands on her chin, leveling me with a professional look—well, not counting the undisguised dislike in her eyes.

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