Page 31 of Recruited By the Billionaire

“Yes, Tay, who else is it going to be? I don’t know anybody else in this town that would be knocking on my door. Just do it!”

Frankie began hurrying to her closet while Taymar began hurrying out of the bedroom. And suddenly Taymar was nervous too. She worked in Robert’s HR department, and had been his employee for the past two years. But she’d never met him before. Or anybillionairefor that matter! This would be a first time for her.

And when she opened the door and saw the man she only knew as Robert Marris from his photos on the internet and interviews on television, she almost froze. It was so surreal!

But she rallied quickly and smiled. “Hello, Mr. Marris. Come in.”

Robert was surprised to see somebody else answer Frankie’s door. When he reviewed the background report he ordered on her, it did not mention that she had a roommate. And a pretty one at that, he thought, as he walked on in. “You know my name,” he said, “but I don’t know yours.”

“I’m Taymar Grier,” Taymar said, extending her hand. “I’m Frankie’s best friend. Or, at least, one of her best friends.”

“She has many?” Robert asked as he shook her hand.

“Just two. Royce and myself. Only Royce is still in New York. She’s in the fashion industry. Florida is nice, but it’s not exactly the fashion capital of the world. Unless you’re an old lady.”

Talkative too, Robert thought. “No it isn’t known as a fashion hub,” he said.

Taymar realized she was going on too much. “Have a seat,” she said, motioning toward the sofa in the small apartment. “She’ll be out in a few.”

It was very clean, Robert could see that right off, and beautifully decorated. He could see Frankie all over it. But Taymar? “You’re Francesca’s roommate?”

She loved the way he said Frankie’s Christian name. “Me and Frankie living together? Oh no, sir! We’re too different.” She grinned as she sat down in the chair that flanked the sofa. “We’d kill each other.”

Robert could easily see that. Francesca was more poised and introspective. This girl here was all out in the open. She seemed to have no filter.

“You’ve known her long?” Robert asked her.

“Oh yes. Decades. We all met in college. And by all I mean myself, Royce, and Frankie.”

“Which college?” Robert had forgotten what he read about the school she attended.

“Hampton. It’s an historically black--”

“I know Hampton very well,” Robert said. “Very prestigious school. I’m impressed.”

Taymar smiled.

“So what do you do for a living?”

“What do I do? Oh! I . .. work for you, sir.”

Robert was surprised. “Do you? Here in Florida?” The only business Robert had in Florida was completely related to his football team.

“Yes, sir,” said Taymar. “I’m an associate in your HR department.”

“I see. How long have you?”

“Two years. I guess I shouldn’t say this, but I’m the one who recommended Frankie for her position. She was a big-time copy editor in New York before. . . That is, before she wasn’t, and I knew she needed a change of pace. She’s a very hardworking woman.”

“Yes,” he said. “You shouldn’t say it.”

Taymar was confused. “I shouldn’t say she’s a hardworking woman?”

“You should never have discussed with your boss that you recommended your best friend for a position in his organization. An organization with rules against nepotism.”

“Oh!” Then her heart dropped. “Oh.”

Robert smiled. “You needn’t worry about it. I’m glad you did recommend her. It was a good recommendation. But I don’t think it’s cool to discuss such a personal subject involving Francesca with somebody you just met.”

---