Page 4 of Obsession

Shut up, Negative Nancy.I shook my head. I couldn’t think that way. Not and keep my world together. Because I couldn’t lose that house. I was willing to do anything to keep it. Even stand here and beg a stranger.

The little voice that kept trying to pipe up finally shut up when a door opened out of the seamless glass. My jaw dropped. Had we been transported to a spaceship between the time Mr. Hollister had shown me in and now?

My teeth snapped together. A very tall man walked in, and I knew he wasn’t expecting me. He had the stem of a pair of glasses between his teeth and he was buttoning the cuff of a crisp white dress shirt.

Was that ink swirling up his arm?

He cleared his throat, and the flash of deep sepia tones were gone. My gaze shot to his face, and I had to swallow. He was deeply tanned and sharp-featured. Young. Surprisingly young.

He took the stem out of his mouth. “I was unaware I had another appointment.”

His deep voice was commanding and clipped. I managed to get my tongue and lips to work. “Last minute addition.”

His dark brow rose as he slid the glasses on his face. They instantly changed his features into something more serious and somehow older. His hazel eyes were startling behind the lenses. There was no polite interest there. Actually, there wasnothingthere.

Not displeasure.

Not humor.

Not even a drop of friendliness.

How the hell was I going to approach him?

“Let’s hope you’re more competent than the last eleven applicants I’ve seen this afternoon.”

My breath stalled. That wasn’t good.

He moved to the large glass and chrome desk by the window. He flipped through papers in a file. “Which agency are you from?”

“No agency.”

His gaze flickered. “Oh?”

I wanted to clear my throat so badly, but I didn’t want to show any sign of weakness. He needed to see me as an equal. All my plans to make him see reason slid away. I wasn’t exactly sure he’d give a fuzzy puppy a chance, let alone a woman playing the needy card.

I wasn’t needy.

But I wasn’t exactly sure he’d see it that way.

I licked my lips and played up my confidence. It was just like selling to a very rich, very entitled asshole. Now I was going to lie for all that I was worth.

God help me.

I crossed to him and held out my hand. “Grace Copeland.”

Just before he took my hand, he frowned. “Copeland?”

“Yes.” His hand was firm, dry, and huge. The man was big everywhere. I was petite, but I was wearing four-inch heels, and he towered over me.

You can do this.

His brow smoothed. “Your name is not on the list.”

“You need an assistant, don’t you?” Before he could open his mouth, I released his hand and sat down in the dove-gray chair across from his desk. I folded my hands in my lap to hide the tremble. I was just going to have to wing it.

He was a man who liked his power, if his office was any indication. I tipped up my chin to meet his gaze, making sure to be slightly submissive. We were not equals, as far as he was concerned. “If your lobby is any indication, then you need more than that.”

Forgive me, George.

---