Blind Date with my Billionaire Boss (Blind Date Disasters Book 5) Page 4

  “I’m not talking about that.” I waited for a few seconds, gathering my courage, trying to piece together the right words. “Why did you threaten to beat up Liam if he took me to the prom? That’s what I want to know.”

  He paused as if thinking through his response and then shrugged. “Just didn’t like the guy.” He continued to maintain eye contact as if he had nothing to hide.

  I stared at him dumbfounded, and hurt nestled in my ribs, but I was too angry to cry. Did he really think I would accept that as an answer? “That’s it? That’s all you have to say?”

  “I barely remember my motives back then much less why I told Liam to leave you alone.” His lip curled in a sneer. “He wasn’t good enough for one of my sister’s friends.”

  My head jerked back, and I gripped the edge of the table until my knuckles turned white. “You didn’t think he was good enough? Why? Because he wasn’t rich? Because he was kind and generous and didn’t mix with the popular crowd?” A feeling of revulsion filled my stomach, and I wanted to stand up and leave. I wasn’t sure how much more of this I could take.

  “Let it go, Maya.” He spoke as if trying to calm a wild horse. “It was a long time ago. I rarely think about who I hung out with back then and you shouldn’t either.” He waved a hand through the air. “Who cares?”

  I wanted to scream, to wipe the floor with him right here in front of anyone who cared to witness it. He needed to understand that he wasn’t above everyone else, and it wasn’t okay to step on people’s feelings. “That’s not good enough. What you did hurt Liam and me. At the very least, I deserve an apology.”

  His eyes flickered with an undecipherable emotion, and then he shrugged as if he couldn’t be bothered. “I’m not sorry for what I did.”

  My mouth fell open at his audacity. “You’re a jerk.”

  “Yes, and it’s gotten me where I am today. That’s how the world works, Maya. You assert your will or others assert theirs over you.” He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “If you plan to let a ruined date with a loser upset you nine years later, you’ve got problems. I can’t help it if…” He cleared his throat. “You’re still hung up over prom.”

  I was not the type to act rashly, but his lack of remorse made me so angry, I could barely contain myself. I stood to my feet and picked up the saucy chicken dish, and before he had a chance to register what I was about to do, I dumped it on his head. Red liquid dripped over his hair and down his face. Little pieces of chicken got caught in his hair, and it would have been funny if I wasn’t so furious.

  “How’s that for asserting my will?”

  I stormed out of the restaurant, not bothering to wait for a response from him. Nothing he said would make it better at this point. In fact, it would only make things worse.

  ***

  “How could you, Charlotte? That was by far, the worst date I’ve ever been on in my entire life, and that’s saying a lot considering the guy who tried to recruit me for his online business.”

  I was at Charlotte’s house not long after I’d stormed out of Mario’s, sitting on her floral couch, holding Scarlet, her miniature toy poodle, as a source of comfort. Guilt pricked my conscience at my lack of forgiveness, but I pushed it away. The Lord wanted me to lay aside my bitterness, but I just couldn’t do that right now.

  Charlotte bit down on her bottom lip as she hovered not far away, appearing afraid to sit down. She probably thought it wise to remain on her feet considering the state I was in. “You have to believe me. I really thought you would connect with each other if given the chance.”

  Exasperated, I threw my arms up in the air, and Scarlet shifted in my lap. “What made you think that?”

  “I’ve seen the way you watch my brother, Maya. Come on. Don’t tell me you aren’t attracted to him.”

  “I’m not.” I bit down on my bottom lip, hating the lie.

  “Right. I don’t believe you.”

  “Fine. He’s handsome. But it can’t make up for his delinquent personality. Attraction is not just about someone’s appearance.”

  A flash of pain washed over her features, but only for a second, and I instantly felt guilty. He was her brother, after all. “There’s a lot more to him than meets the eye. If you got to know him, you’d see that.”

  I ran my fingers through Scarlet’s reddish-brown fur, taking comfort in her steady presence. “Look, he’s your brother, so it’s natural you would defend him, but Charlotte, he wasn’t sorry at all for what he did to me in high school. You must see why I’m so frustrated.”

  “I get it, but I think there’s probably more to the story than what we heard. I remember when all that happened, and Easton wouldn’t talk about it with me. Something was wrong. Mom and Dad were concerned.”

  That was all news to me, and I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but even so, it didn’t excuse his behavior. “Okay, let’s just say hypothetically that he was in the right. If that were the case, he would’ve told you what went down. But he knows he’s wrong, and that’s why his explanations are so vague.”

  Charlotte winced. “Despite what you think, Easton isn’t a terrible man. He truly has a heart, Maya. I wish you would give him the benefit of the doubt.”

  “Like he did for Liam when he gave him a black eye?”

  She pursed her lips together as if not ready to believe Easton was the cause of that. “I never told you this, but I wasn’t sure about Liam. He made a comment that rubbed me the wrong way.”

  “What?”

  “He was walking in the hallway with one of his friends, and he didn’t know I was behind him. He said hot chicks were a dime a dozen, and he could juggle more than one at a time. He said it in a joking tone, so he might not have been serious.”

  “I’m sure he wasn’t.”

  “Perhaps not, but he did say it, and there might be something to it.” She let out a breath and finally took a seat on the couch next to me. “I’m just telling you so you’ll stop putting him on a pedestal.”

  “I’m not doing that. He never talked to me again, so I’m not saying he’s perfect, but Easton bullied him, and I’m not okay with that. To be honest, I don’t know if I can ever get over it.”

  ***

  A few days passed after that, and I did my best to put the horrible date with Easton out of my mind. I concentrated on sending out resumes in hopes of getting a new job. I was a human resources admin at a small startup company called LAPicnic. The company made picnic lunches and delivered them all over L.A., but they had a rocky start, and there were a few times the owner almost wasn’t able to pay his workers on time. They had a good business model, but the demand just wasn’t there. The medical benefits weren’t great as well, and due to my history, I needed something better.

  At the end of the day, I drove home and made a quick dinner of stir-fried chicken and vegetables over white rice. My cell rang, and I glanced at the screen but didn’t recognize the number. I clicked the silence button and let it go straight to voicemail. A minute later my phone dinged, alerting me to a voice message. I put it on speaker and played it back.

  Hey, Maya, this is Easton. I feel bad about how things went on our date, and I’d like to make it up to you. Give me a call.

  He wasn’t particularly enthused or excited, but he didn’t sound angry either. If I had to describe a word to convey the tone of the message, I would say professional described it perfectly.

  I took a moment to ponder what would have made him reach out to me. Did he actually feel bad or was he going through the motions for Charlotte’s sake? And if he felt bad, which part was he referring to? The part where I dumped the chicken on his head? Or something else completely? And what did he mean by “make it up” to me? Was I supposed to go on another date with him? That would never happen. Ever.

  There were so many questions going through my mind that I couldn’t think straight. I put my phone away and blocked all thoughts of Easton, knowing no good would come of dwelling on the past. Three hours later, Ch
arlotte called.

  “Hey, girl, did you get Easton’s message?”

  “Uh…yeah. Why?”

  “He said you haven’t returned his call yet. He wants to make it up to you.”

  I closed my eyes, feeling tired and worn out from the day. Charlotte was an amazing woman, but she was extremely persistent when she wanted something, and it seemed she wanted Easton and me together. She would have to get used to disappointment because I wasn’t budging on that issue. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t want him to make it up to me. In fact, I don’t want to see him ever again.”

  There was silence for several long moments and then she cleared her throat. “He’s not asking you out if that’s what you’re worried about. He wants to offer you a job.”

  I frowned, confused by the notion. “Why?”

  “I mentioned that you’ve been looking and need a better salary and benefits. He’s willing to hire you.”

  Oh. My. Goodness.

  I could feel hives breaking out over my skin at the thought of working for Easton. That was a nightmare in the making. Nothing would compel me to work in the same space as that man. Nothing.

  “I dumped a plate of saucy chicken over his head. How am I supposed to work for him after that? If he didn’t hate me before, he does now.”

  “You wouldn’t have to see him on a day-to-day basis. He pretty much shuts himself away in his office and doesn’t come out.” She laughed. “He’s not the most sociable person, but then again, you already know that.”

  What if that was his way of getting revenge? He would hire me and then fire me a day later, and I’d be out of a job. “Tell him thanks, but no thanks. I’ll find a position on my own.”

  “Just talk to him. Find out what the opportunity entails.”

  “You’re the one who pushed him to do this, aren’t you?”

  “Actually, no. This is coming straight from him.”

  That was surprising, but then again, if he was behind it, my hire and fire theory might not be too far off. “Charlotte, I love you to death, but nothing will convince me to go to work for your brother. I hope this doesn’t come between us, but I just can’t do it. He’s not the sort of boss I’m looking for.”

  “Will you at least pray about it?”

  I sighed. “Yes, I will do that.” But I wasn’t changing my answer.

  Chapter 5

  Maya

  Two weeks passed, and I managed to put all that business with Easton behind me. Somehow, I was able to forget about him and put my focus on more important matters. Such as finding a new job.

  Problem was, no one wanted to hire me. I’d taken the job at LAPicnics straight out of college, and it was an administrative position in the Human Resources Department. Everything I’d come across required more experience than I currently had. I had faith that I would find something eventually, but it was proving difficult.

  It was a Friday evening, and I’d just gotten home after a long day at work. All I wanted was to relax and have some downtime, so I considered ordering takeout. I was about to call my favorite Chinese restaurant when there was a knock at my apartment door. I didn’t typically get unannounced visitors, so I wasn’t sure who it would be unless it was a solicitor. When I answered, the breath was nearly knocked out of me.

  Easton Radcliffe stood before me wearing a navy suit, appearing slightly uncomfortable, his dirty blond hair brushed off his forehead. His blue eyes stared back at me, beautiful and intense. Why did he have to be so good looking? Someone so mean shouldn’t look that handsome. A muscle in his jaw pulsed as his gaze swept over me, sending a slight shiver up my spine.

  He had a moody vibe about him this evening that reminded me of a character in a Jane Austen book, minus the misunderstood aspect as he was a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of man. Still, I knew all too well how women could fall for a guy like him. I personally wouldn’t, but I understood why others did. Looks went a long way with people, and he had the charisma and leadership to draw women in. It was a good thing I was too discerning to let appearances affect my opinion.

  For a moment, I was lost for words, unable to comprehend why he was even here, and then it occurred to me that my persistent best friend had probably sent him. “How can I help you, Easton?” I kept my tone light but indifferent.

  “You never called me back.” It sounded like an accusation, but there was a note of vulnerability in his voice that was different from before, almost as if he wasn’t used to people not returning his calls.

  “I assumed Charlotte told you I wasn’t interested in working for you.”

  He glanced down. “I…” We stood there for what seemed like forever, and then he raised his head and locked his gaze with mine. “I’m sorry for how things went on our date. It wasn’t my intention to offend you. You were upset for good reason, and I’d like to make it up to you by offering a job at my company.”

  I hadn’t expected him to be so…civil. “Is that an apology?”

  The corners of his mouth tugged upward as if he were trying to hold back a smile. “Yes.”

  It wasn’t a full apology, and he hadn’t taken ownership of what he did with Liam and me, but it was better than nothing. At least it was a step in the right direction. “I appreciate that. As to the job offer, it’s not necessary. I’m willing to put all of this in the past and forget about it.” And I meant that. It was wrong of me to hold a grudge, and I was tired of it, anyway.

  He studied me as if trying to figure out why I wasn’t cooperating by taking his offer. “I was told you need better medical care.”

  “Yes, that’s true.”

  “I can offer you top-notch benefits as well as a higher salary. As you know, Project Helpers has a great reputation and even if you decide not to stay long, any experience with my company will look great on your resume.”

  I was aware of Project Helper’s standing and reputation since Charlotte and I were friends, and he was right. Project Helpers was innovative, and their products were selling like hotcakes, which meant job security for employees. The company was similar to Home Depot, but it focused on kits for various home and outdoor projects. It was a great concept, and I’d even used a few of the kits over the years. Still, as much as I’d love to work at Project Helper’s, I didn’t want to work with Easton.

  I folded my hands and looked him straight in the eye. “I understand, but you don’t owe me anything.”

  He pressed his lips together and glanced to the side, frustration showing on his face. “You’re being stubborn. There’s no good reason to decline my offer.”

  “I don’t want to work with you.” There was no point in lying or trying to pretend. That was the main reason I didn’t want to take the job. That, and I had a certain level of pride and didn’t want to be indebted to him.

  “You won’t have to report to me if that makes you feel any better. George Layman is over human resources, and he will be the one to supervise you.”

  “But you would still be my boss. You own the company.”

  “Yes, but we won’t have much interaction.”

  “But I’ll have to see you.”

  He laughed outright. “Am I that bad to look at, Maya? Last time I checked, I wasn’t a monster.”

  His smile was so genuine that it caught me off guard. I blinked and took in his handsome features. Strong jaw. Full lips. Broad shoulders and a trim waist. Piercing eyes that didn’t miss a thing. My heart fluttered being the subject of his attention, and I found my knees weakening. Good grief. What was wrong with me?

  “I never said you were a monster.”

  “But you’re thinking it right now.” His grin widened, lighting up his face, and I was struck by how appealing he was when he smiled like that.

  “No, I’m not.” Truth be told, I was thinking about his smile.

  “Good. If you don’t have a problem with me, and you’ve really put everything in the past, you should have no issue taking the job. It’s in your best interest.”

  �
��I’ll have to give it some thought.”

  A gleam flashed in his eyes as if he’d just been presented with a challenge, and he widened his stance, ready to take me on. “How can I convince you?”

  I thought about that for a moment and sighed. He’d checked all the right boxes. An apology, even if it wasn’t the full apology I wanted. The assurance that I would report to someone else. Better benefits and a higher salary. But there was one thing that still nagged at me.

  “Guess I’m worried you’ll fire me once I take the job, and then I’ll have nothing.”

  He gave me an incredulous look. “You think the worst of me, don’t you?”

  I didn’t know how to answer that, so I remained silent.

  “Maya, despite all my flaws, I’ve never fired someone for undue cause, and I do my best to be fair in the workplace. I won’t mistreat you if that’s what you’re afraid of.” He stepped forward, his large frame towering above me, an intent expression on his face. “I promise to treat you well.” His eyes flashed with mischief, and he smiled wider. “All I ask is that you talk to me if you’re unhappy. No need to dump your lunch on my head.”

  I couldn’t stop the grin that pulled at my lips. “Sorry about that. I lost my temper, but that’s no excuse. I shouldn’t have done it.”

  He ran a hand along the side of his jaw and stared at me in amusement. “No one has ever tried something like that before. Personally, your boldness impressed me. Didn’t know you had it in you.”

  “You don’t know me that well.”

  “Perhaps you’re right. What do you say about accepting my offer?”

  I felt myself weakening, but the stubborn part of my nature refused to give in right away. Nine out of ten people would have said yes after a speech like that because Easton Radcliffe was the one providing the assurances, and I understood why. Something about him made you want to please him. He had this certain quality that drew you in, but I already knew what would happen if I let my guard down. I would get burned, no doubt about it.