there, come in.”
Of course. She felt like such a fool. There was no way he could read her mind, or know about her erotic dreams.
“Thank you,” she said, and walked quickly towards the table.
Before she knew it, she was sitting down opposite him, and then she was kicking herself silently. Why had she thanked him? And why had she sat down before he’d offered her a seat? The man continued to look at her, an amused look on his face.
They stared at each other in silence for what felt like an eternity. Nate looked amused, and Emily felt awkward and uncomfortable.
Finally, Nate said, “Well, let’s get this interview over with. Might as well, since I’ve promised HR.”
Emily gulped. Why did he sound so reluctant to interview her? She must have made a bad impression straight off the bat, and she wished she could turn back time and make a more dignified entrance.
Stop it , she told herself. You still have a chance. Ace this interview, and the job is yours. You can charm the socks off this man, you can do it.
Nate was looking at her silently, and Emily decided to give it her best shot. She smiled at him, trying to look sophisticated and charming, and said, “I’m very happy to be talking to you today, Mr. Steele.”
Nate laughed, and Emily relaxed for a split second, until he said, “We haven’t begun the interview yet. How do you know it’ll be a happy one?”
She frowned slightly. Nate Steele was dark and cynical, and she’d probably made a fool of herself by sounding naïve and hopeful. But it was too late to take back what she’d just said, so instead, she replied, “This is a great opportunity and it would mean a lot to me if I got the internship.”
“Really? And why is that?”
Nate ’s eyes didn’t miss a beat, and Emily tried her best to explain. She began to reel off a list of reasons why Alpha Investments was such a great company, and what a wonderful opportunity it was for a new intern.
“Stop.” Nate interrupted her halfway through the spiel, and Emily took a deep breath, trying not to admire the way his face reflected the light from the window. Nate Steele had broad shoulders, and his face was a symphony of hard, angular lines, tanned skin, and dark hair that fell just the right way.
“You have a liberal arts degree,” Nate said, “We usually hire people with backgrounds in economics, finance, or mathematics – people who are interested in investment decisions. Why do you even want to work here? And don’t give me the usual bullshit, I need to know the truth.”
Emily gulped and said, “I’m looking for a job where I can really contribute something to the company, and not just be an unthinking peon. Even though I don’t have a technical degree, I’m a logical thinker and I can analyze real-world situations properly. I do think my skills match up well with the job here, and I can see beyond what most quants see in investment opportunities.”
Nate shook his head. “You’re just one of those girls who move to the big city, hoping it’ll be exciting and glamorous. This job – it’s just part of that plan. Any job would do, and personally, I think you’re better off looking for a proper job that’ll pay better money – not an internship that pays peanuts.”
Emily hated that Nate had seen through her so well. But then again, why was she surprised? A man who ran such a successful company would probably have to be a good judge of character.
“You’re right,” she admitted softly. “I did hope that New York would be exciting and glamorous. But you’re wrong that any job will do. I’m very loyal, and if I got this internship, I’d do my best – I’d work harder than anyone else, and I’d deserve the position more than anyone. I might be new to New York and still trying to settle in here, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’d be one of the best employees of Alpha Investments.”
Nate ’s face was unmoving and his expression didn’t give anything away.
Of course. She felt like such a fool. There was no way he could read her mind, or know about her erotic dreams.
“Thank you,” she said, and walked quickly towards the table.
Before she knew it, she was sitting down opposite him, and then she was kicking herself silently. Why had she thanked him? And why had she sat down before he’d offered her a seat? The man continued to look at her, an amused look on his face.
They stared at each other in silence for what felt like an eternity. Nate looked amused, and Emily felt awkward and uncomfortable.
Finally, Nate said, “Well, let’s get this interview over with. Might as well, since I’ve promised HR.”
Emily gulped. Why did he sound so reluctant to interview her? She must have made a bad impression straight off the bat, and she wished she could turn back time and make a more dignified entrance.
Stop it , she told herself. You still have a chance. Ace this interview, and the job is yours. You can charm the socks off this man, you can do it.
Nate was looking at her silently, and Emily decided to give it her best shot. She smiled at him, trying to look sophisticated and charming, and said, “I’m very happy to be talking to you today, Mr. Steele.”
Nate laughed, and Emily relaxed for a split second, until he said, “We haven’t begun the interview yet. How do you know it’ll be a happy one?”
She frowned slightly. Nate Steele was dark and cynical, and she’d probably made a fool of herself by sounding naïve and hopeful. But it was too late to take back what she’d just said, so instead, she replied, “This is a great opportunity and it would mean a lot to me if I got the internship.”
“Really? And why is that?”
Nate ’s eyes didn’t miss a beat, and Emily tried her best to explain. She began to reel off a list of reasons why Alpha Investments was such a great company, and what a wonderful opportunity it was for a new intern.
“Stop.” Nate interrupted her halfway through the spiel, and Emily took a deep breath, trying not to admire the way his face reflected the light from the window. Nate Steele had broad shoulders, and his face was a symphony of hard, angular lines, tanned skin, and dark hair that fell just the right way.
“You have a liberal arts degree,” Nate said, “We usually hire people with backgrounds in economics, finance, or mathematics – people who are interested in investment decisions. Why do you even want to work here? And don’t give me the usual bullshit, I need to know the truth.”
Emily gulped and said, “I’m looking for a job where I can really contribute something to the company, and not just be an unthinking peon. Even though I don’t have a technical degree, I’m a logical thinker and I can analyze real-world situations properly. I do think my skills match up well with the job here, and I can see beyond what most quants see in investment opportunities.”
Nate shook his head. “You’re just one of those girls who move to the big city, hoping it’ll be exciting and glamorous. This job – it’s just part of that plan. Any job would do, and personally, I think you’re better off looking for a proper job that’ll pay better money – not an internship that pays peanuts.”
Emily hated that Nate had seen through her so well. But then again, why was she surprised? A man who ran such a successful company would probably have to be a good judge of character.
“You’re right,” she admitted softly. “I did hope that New York would be exciting and glamorous. But you’re wrong that any job will do. I’m very loyal, and if I got this internship, I’d do my best – I’d work harder than anyone else, and I’d deserve the position more than anyone. I might be new to New York and still trying to settle in here, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’d be one of the best employees of Alpha Investments.”
Nate ’s face was unmoving and his expression didn’t give anything away.
Similar Books
