Page 7 of Oz
“No. That’s just a hobby.”
He coughs and sits back, enjoyment of this showing clearly in his face. “And you’re working where now?”
“Foxton, Brown and Associates,” I say calmly. “Or at least I was until a few days ago.”
“Oh, you’ve left?”
I nod happily. “I had a slight difference of opinion with my boss.”
“Which was?”
“I said he shouldn’t shag my replacement in our bed. He disagreed.”
The pale young man chokes on the water he’s just sipped, and Niall looks even more entertained. “That’s unusual, Oz.” Silence falls for a beat before he stirs. “Should I ask what your job description was, or would that be inappropriate?”
“Not at all,” I say, waving my hand in a very cavalier manner. “Let’s see. I organised his diary, booked his travel arrangements, made his coffee, and had sex with him whenever he wanted.” I lean forward. “Mainly whenhewanted, I’m afraid. I’m too much of a people pleaser. It’s a problem.”
The other man is staring at me as if I’m a mirage while Niall just smirks. “Interesting,” he murmurs. “Not quite what you’ll be required to do in this job, I’m afraid.”
I seesaw my hands. “Swings and roundabouts.”
He snorts. “Indeed.” He flicks my CV up and down, fanning himself leisurely. “The position that you’re interviewing for is that of the house manager of Ashworth House. Can you tell me what you think this entails?”
I shrug and smile winsomely. “I imagine it’s a bit like being a tour manager, only with less drugs and hookers.”
There’s a stunned silence but then his face cracks slightly. His eyes light up. “Such an interesting description,” he purrs. “Milo, make a note of that for the next job advert we run.” At the sound of his name I shoot Milo an apologetic look, but he seems oblivious, ignoring the irony and writing busily in his notepad. I sigh sadly.
Niall leans forward, licking his finger and paging dramatically through my CV. “The estate you’d be working on is going through a bit of a transformation. The Earl of Ashworth is intending to open the house and gardens to the general public for six months every year. As you’d imagine, that entails a lot of building work and organisation to get it ready. The last manager left rather suddenly and under a cloud. Have you any experience in organising workmen?”
I lean forward and smile ingeniously. “If you look at my CV you’ll see that I organised the decoration of a flat in the Crandon Block in Tottenham.”
He bites his lip. “I saw that. It was quite … fascinating.”
My lip quirks.Bastard,I think admiringly, but I lean back and smile calmly.
“So how is this experience going to help in this job, Mr Gallagher?”
“Well, it demonstrates patience,” I say sagely. “Have you ever dealt with the council?” He shakes his head. “Well, I can tell you that after one and a half hours of a very tinny rendition of Adele’sHello,the fact that I didn’t fracture my own skull with the receiver should tell you a lot about my level of patience.”
Milo gives a choked snort but Niall smiles and rifles through to the last page. “And the owner of the flat who is providing you with a reference has the same surname as you. Is that a coincidence?”
“Not really,” I say placidly. “That’s my mum.”
Milo stares at me in mute horror but Niall smiles. “Interesting. What does your mum say about you, Oz?”
“Have you ever worked for a five-foot-four Irish woman?” I ask, and he shakes his head. “Well, let me tell you that my mother is more demanding than Prince Charles but with better ears. If she was in heaven she’d be running it.” I shrug. “She’ll tell the truth.”
Niall stares at me, his eyes twinkling. “Well, I think that’s all from my side. Do you have any questions?”
I stare at him. No way have I got any chance with this job. Smirking slightly, I hold my hands out. “What do you think of my nail varnish?”
There’s a stunned silence in the room before he leans forward. “I think it’ll look good in Cornwall,” he says deliberately.
“What?” I jerk out.
He smirks. “Welcome to the staff of Ashworth House, Oz. I think you’re going to do well.”
“Are you mad?” I demand loudly. “I just gave the worst interview of my life.” Milo nods frantically and I gesture to him. “Yes. Even Milo knows this, don’t you?”
