Page 6 of Guarded King

I follow her over, and once inside a stainless-steel car, Lena presses the button for the fourth floor. Before the doors close, three tall men stride in behind us. Three men I immediately recognize from the research I’ve done on the company. The dark-haired one with the piercing blue eyes is Cole King, the King Group’s chief of operations. The blond one with golden-brown eyes is Tate King, the chief of marketing, and the third is—my throat dries as I take him in fully—the third is Roman King, the CEO.

My potential new boss.

Photos don’t do any of the men justice, but especially Roman. From his height—easily six-three or six-four—to the breadth of his shoulders in that immaculately tailored charcoal suit, and from his perfectly styled, nearly black hair to the commanding line of his jaw, he’s by far the most attractive man I’ve ever seen in real life.

As the doors finally slide closed, his gaze flicks to me, sharp and unreadable. A slow sweep, wolf-gray eyes fringed by thick dark lashes burning their way down my body, sending a flash of heat sizzling through my veins. When that mesmerizing gaze meets mine again, a subtle charge crackles in the air between us. Though it must just be in my imagination; apart from a slightnarrowing of those incredible eyes, his stony expression never changes.

“Good morning, Roman,” Lena says brightly, and his attention snaps to her as if he’s only now noticing her presence. “Looks like you get to meet one of your prospective assistants after all.”

He focuses on me with laser-like intensity once again. “Is that right?”

His voice is deep and smooth and almost as unreadable as his expression. And the tension in the air when he looked at me the first time has disappeared completely—if it was ever there at all.

Despite how dry my throat is, I force myself to swallow and hold my hand out to him, smiling as warmly as I can. “It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. King.”

He hesitates for a moment before his large hand engulfs mine. “Nice to meet you.” With his icy expression, I half expect his skin to be cool to the touch—like he might actually be some kind of sinfully gorgeous vampire. Instead, his palm is warm and dry. Though the contact does send a little shiver up my spine.

Before I have a chance to examinethatreaction, he lets go.

A moment later, the elevator comes to a stop, the doors open, and Lena says, “This is us.”

I give Roman another smile, but he’s already turned back to his brothers.

Heat prickles through me at his disregard. He may be gorgeous, but he’s not exactly charming. Though maybe that’s good. Lack of charm I can deal with. Working for a manthatattractive, who’s warm and kind as well, might be dangerous, the risk of developing a crush a little too high for comfort.

And everyone knows crushing on the boss is asking for trouble.

The doors slide shut behind us, and as I fall into step with Lena, I clear my throat. “Is Mr. King always so…” I struggle to find a word that will convey the impact of his presence.

Lena laughs. “Intense? The short answer is yes. But I’d say a better term is driven. He’s one of the best businessmen I know, but he’s very focused. Which means he expects everyone who works for him to be focused too.”

“That isn’t a problem,” I hasten to say, even as my ever-present concern over Dad’s care niggles at me.

She leads me into a small but luxuriously appointed room and gestures toward a pair of couches facing each other over a glass coffee table.

Once we’re both seated, I glance at the door. “Mr. King won’t be joining us?”

“No. Unfortunately his schedule is completely full. But he trusts me to choose someone suitable.”

I nod, unsure whether being relieved that my potential boss won’t be interviewing me is a good sign. But if he were here, looking at me the way he did in the elevator, I don’t know that I’d be able to think clearly, let alone speak without stumbling over my words.

“So,” Lena says with a smile. “Tell me a little about yourself.”

We spend the next twenty minutes talking about my education and my past employment. I respond as tactfully as I can when she asks about Geoff. I don’t want to be known as a person who badmouths their previous boss.

“So, you were with Talon for three years. What was your reason for leaving?” she asks.

The pressure in my chest that’s plagued me for the last two weeks returns. “The company was bought out, and a number of positions were cut during the restructure—including mine.”

She hums, the sound more like confirmation of something she already knew. I imagine it’s probably a detail the recruitment agency passed on.

“Now, have you?—”

My ringtone shrills from the purse at my feet, piercing the quiet room. Shit. I forgot to put it on silent when I arrived. It’s not something I’m in the habit of doing, because I usually keep it on in case Dad needs me.

“I’m sorry.” I scrabble in my purse, desperately hoping it’s just a random call that I can decline. But when I finally find it and Dad’s name is flashing on the screen, my heart sinks. “I’m so sorry,” I repeat. “I have to take this quickly.”

Lena arches a brow but merely nods.

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