Page 105 of The Playboy

Two, I was in LA. The HR department of Spade Hotels had flown me over on the red-eye. Once I landed this morning, they checked me into the Beverly Hills Spade Hotel, where I had five hours to nap and get ready before I was picked up and brought to their corporate office. HR had then met me at the entrance, giving me a full tour of the building before I was brought to the executive-level floor and into the private conference room, where the next steps were explained to me, along with who I’d be speaking with today.

And three, I was at, what I assumed, to be the tail end of my first interview, and with one more to go, as long as I did as well on that one as I’d done with this one, there was a good chance this job would be mine.

With those three points swirling through my head at a speed that was making it hard to breathe, there wasn’t a single inch of my body that wasn’t covered in a thin layer of sweat.

“Yeah, we’re good.” Cooper finally looked up. “Do you have any questions for me?”

I had tons.

What has Macon told you about me?

Do you know that we’ve had sex?

That he wants to date me?

If you do, is that affecting the way you’re looking at me? Considering whether I’ll be good for this position?

And in addition to questions, there was relief. I’d gotten past the part where I had to discuss my job history, and I’d survived all the lies I’d fed him.

Even though I felt like shit about it.

Even though it made me feel like the worst person in the world.

I blinked several times, focusing on his golden-brown hair—a color much lighter than Macon’s and a length slightly longer—and his dark blue eyes, compared to Macon’s deep emerald, and said, “I think you’ve answered everything.”

“Great.” He folded my résumé, holding it in his large palm. “I’m going to let Jo know that you’re ready for her.”

Jo was Macon’s first cousin, Walter’s daughter. From what I’d read online, Jo was a boss lady.

I didn’t know why, but I had more anxiety about meeting her than talking with Cooper.

About looking her in the face and giving her the same job history speech that I’d just given to him.

That I didn’t have the nerve to tell Macon about being a maid at the hotel, and now, I was in this horrible situation, and it was my fault.

He stood and reached across the table, clasping my hand, giving it a shake that wasn’t weak, but wasn’t crushing either. “It’s been nice to meet you, Brooklyn.”

“And you.” I smiled. “Thank you for the opportunity to talk to you. It would be an honor to work for your company.”

His lips spread into a grin, and he released my hand and turned his back, leaving me alone in the room.

My purse was at my side, and I quickly grabbed my phone from the inside pocket and checked the screen, where there were texts from Clem and Jess in our sister group chat.

Clementine

How’s it going? Have you taken any pictures? We want to see the building and the offices. Show us everything.

Jesse

You’re still in the interview???

Clementine

If she was finished, she would have replied. She must still be meeting with them.

Jesse

I can’t take all this waiting. My anxiety is through the roof.

---