Fresh Temptation: Barboza Brothers, Book One by Reeni Austin Read Free Book Online Page A

nearby
notepad. “I’m writing down a number. You tell me if this annual
salary is acceptable to you.” When he finished, he shoved the paper
across the desk.
    Cara’s eyes grew wide when
she saw the figure. It was almost double what she made in Chicago.
“I don’t know if I can live up to this. I’m pretty sure the head of
my department didn’t even make this much money at my last
job.”
    “Cost of living. It’s much
higher here than Chicago. Come on. We can use someone with your
skills.”
    “The cost of living
isn’t that much
higher here.”
    He put his hands on his
desk, fingers laced together. “In these situations you’re supposed
to negotiate a higher salary, not a lower one.”
    “I guess I’m not like most
people.”
    “No, you’re not. That’s
why I need to hire you. Come on. Say you’ll work for
me.”
    She leaned forward in her
chair, staring at the scrap of paper atop his desk. Her voice was
weak. “Yes. I’ll work for you. I’ll do my best to live up to your
high expectations.”
    “Great.” He displayed a
grin, not the beaming smile he hid inside. “You can start on
Monday.
    “Monday? I can start
tomorrow morning if you’d like.”
    “No. Please take the rest
of the week to care for your son.” Victor smiled. “And tell him Big
Toe says hi.”
    Cara blushed at the
remembrance of his conversation with her son. She nervously bit her
bottom lip. “That’s it? We’re finished with the
interview?”
    His jaw firmly set, he
confidently said, “Yes, that’s it.” He knew he should have kept the
interview going a little longer but she’d caught him off guard with
her own line of questions. “Oh, and here.” He pulled an envelope
out of his top drawer and handed it to her. “It’s a small advance.
It’ll be withheld from your upcoming paychecks at a rate you can
determine when you fill out your new hire paperwork.” His friend at
the IRS had informed him that most of the employees at Doyle
Construction had not been paid in a while.
    She peeked inside the
envelope and let out a tiny gasp. “Are you sure? Is this because
you feel bad about—”
    “Ms. Green, if we’re going
to have a good working relationship, you’re going to have to stop
asking so many questions about how I do business. Your job will be
to streamline our public relations. Employee benefits are
determined elsewhere.”
    “Okay…if you’re sure about
this.”
    “Absolutely.” He turned to
his computer, typing. “I’m sending an email to HR. Take the
elevator down to the third floor and follow the signs to the main
HR reception area. They’ll get you all set up.” He finished typing
and stood. “Now, let me show you out and I’ll see you
Monday.”
    They both walked to the
door. Cara said, “Thank you again,” and reached down to turn the
knob at the same time as Victor. When his hand covered hers, she
inhaled a gasp in embarrassment, expecting him to move.
    But Victor’s eyes caught
hers. His hand lingered for a moment before he took it away. “See
you Monday.”
    He was still looking into
her eyes when she opened the door to leave.

    * * *

    Marcy and Patty bombarded
Cara the instant she walked through the door.
    Marcy yelped in excitement
and took the giant Macy’s bag full of clearance rack clothes from
Cara’s arm. “Tell me everything! Tell me everything!”
    Patty took her daughter’s
wrist and pulled her into the living room. “Yes! Don’t leave out a
thing.”
    Cara unbuttoned her blazer
and kicked off her shoes. “Where’s Isaac?”
    “Don’t worry,” Patty said.
“I finally got him to take a nap a few minutes ago. He’s fine. Come
on. What happened?”
    Marcy sat on the couch,
dumping the contents of the bag beside her. “Holy cow! The new job
must be upscale. Look at these.”
    Cara, in a daze, shook her
head and took a seat on the opposite side of her new pile of
clothes. “No, they were all on sale.”
    Patty sat in the recliner,
her eyes huge behind her