Page 8 of Bully's Second Chance
“Done.”
She pointed at me. “And, I want one week of paid medical leave.”
I didn’t even hesitate. “Done. But, it can only be used for medical emergencies either pertaining to you or your family.”
She snickered. “That won’t be an issue, trust me.”
I eyed her carefully. “How is your family?”
She didn’t look me in the eye. “I don’t know.”
I furrowed my brow. “You don’t know? I thought you were close with your family.”
“Well, looks can be deceiving. You know, like people thinking you were a good kid.”
Her words actually hurt. “Right.”
She cleared her throat. “When do you want me to start?”
At least she’s back in my atmosphere.“As soon as possible. There’s a lot of work piling up, and it’ll take someone very organized to sift through it all.”
She stared at me for a long time before her lips curled up into an effortless smile. But very quickly, her face wrinkled. She cupped her hand over her mouth and started giggling, but the sound continued to mount until she was doubled-over in front of me, laughing so hard that she couldn’t even catch her breath.
“Uh, what’s so funny?” I asked.
She leaned up, trying to take deep breaths. “I can’t work for you. Are you insane?”
I blinked. “So, you thought I was joking.”
Her laughter paused. “Wait, you weren’t?”
I shook my head. “No. I’m very serious about this.”
And, of course, she started laughing all over again. “Jax, I can’t work for you. You made my life a living hell when we were growing up! All I ever wanted for the longest time was to never, ever have to go back to my childhood. And now, you’re offering to pay me to do just that! Can’t you see how insane that is?”
That shocked me. “I made your life a nightmare?”
She wheezed with her bombastic laughter. “I would never divulge something so damn personal to someone who treated me the way you did. Ever.”
I didn’t see how any of this was funny, but apparently, she thought it was hilarious. Still, I brushed off the insult and was determined to hire her. I wanted her in my world. I wanted her around as much as I could stand. And if it took half a million every year for a damn secretary to get her there, then I’d do it.
I’d pay that, and then some, to get Lily back into my life. “Five hundred thousand,” I said.
She stopped laughing immediately. “What?”
“That’s what I’ll pay you annually. Five hundred thousand. That, plus health benefits, plus matching 401(k) contributions up to six percent, plus the vacation and medical leave we just outlined. It’s all yours if you accept the job.”
She drew in a solid, deep breath. “What’s the catch?”
I slid my hand into my breast coat pocket and pulled out my business card. “Here, that’s got my office number, the address of your new workplace, and my business cell phone. Do you have a pen?”
She blinked. “Why?”
“So I can write my personal number on the back.”
She stared at me for a long time before she dug one out of her purse. “Here.”
I took the pen from her and scribbled my number down. “There. That’s all of the ways you can contact me. The job is Monday through Friday, eight to five, with an hour lunch break at 12:30. No working on weekends, I’m very adamant about that. Oh, and you’ll get a work laptop, a work cell phone, and a business credit card.”
