Page 5 of Boss

“Yes.”

The answer threw her. But thanks to Daniel she was prepared. She reached for her purse and opened it. She removed her wallet and located her driver’s license. She handed it over. He gave it a cursory glance and passed it back. She wasn’t even sure if he read the date.

Tarek nodded to someone behind her. A waiter appeared from out of nowhere. Tarek reached inside his blazer and removed his bill fold. He handed the waiter a black card. The man gave a curt nod and walked away.

“What is it you want Ms. Brown?”

“I was hoping for an interview,” Kassidy quickly spoke up.

“You just had one,” he informed her.

“Am I hired?” she asked.

“You think it’s that easy?” Tarek asked and smiled for the first time. His smile did strange things to her insides.

“Easy? No. I wouldn’t call you easy Mr. Marshall,” she said. Underneath the surface of his hard veneer she saw a glimpse of the charming young man who rode her on his motorcycle through Crystal Beach. Or maybe that was just a childhood memory that she couldn’t trust.

“Contact my secretary and she will put you in touch with H.R.,” Tarek said. “It was my pleasure Angela Brown.” He accepted the silver tray with his bill and his credit card. He signed it. He was leaving.

“Ah, Mr. Marshall. I'm sorry if I was too forward in asking for this meeting.”

“Why would you think you were?” he asked.

“Well, you've dismissed me.” Kassidy smiled.

“Typically I'm not rejected so soon by a prospective client.”

“Ms. Brown, I'm sure you did your homework. There is nothing typical about me.”

“Okay, I guess the direct approach doesn't work with you. Maybe I should put together some proposals for your team. For you to consider. How's that?”

Tarek once again stared at her. Kassidy felt the nervous twitch in her gut that made her want to stare back. Could it be possible that he recognized her? Could he know who she was?

He reached inside his blazer and withdrew his billfold. Inside he plucked a card. He handed it to her. But when she reached for it, his finger flipped up to keep her from taking it. “Be careful approaching men in bars in that dress. You might not be taken seriously,” he said.

The smack to her pride made her mouth gape in surprise. Kassidy fumed. She wanted to toss her wine into his face. Instead she pressed her lips to a firm line and held back from responding. He then flipped the card to her and she took it from his two fingers. He picked up her card and put it in his billfold, which was a surprise.

“If you do want to be taken seriously. Present something worth my time.” Tarek stood. “Enjoy your stay in Chicago Ms. Brown.”

“Goodbye Mr. Marshall, you do the same.”

He walked off.

“Bastard,” she mumbled. She looked at the card. It wasn't a direct number. It was company card that would no doubt ring an assistant. He probably had layers of assistants she would have to breech to get next to him. Daniel was worried about her going too far. He said the Marshalls were dangerous. Daniel had no real concept of how evil Tarek Marshall was. Only she knew the truth about the man. For Daniel the Marshall brothers were business men. Ruthless, calculating business men, that spent more money on lobbyist in Washington protecting their interests in dismantling the energy bill before the President than organized crime. And that was true. Tarek was a collector. And women, vulnerable women, were collateral damage. Not anymore. Kassidy would have her revenge, and the only way to get it, was to dig out and destroy his black heart.

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