“Yes. Of course,” she responded. “My mother is being well taken care of. She’s not even aware of who I am at this point. It won’t hurt her in the least if she doesn’t see me for long stretches of time.”
He circled her again, causing her foot to twitch. When she was nervous, she did one of two things — tapped her foot, much to the annoyance of everyone around her, or bit on her thumbnail. She felt the urge to raise her hand, to make contact between thumbnail and teeth, but with great mental effort she kept her hands folded in her lap.
“I can see that as a hindrance, but as she’s the only family member you have, I’ll let it slide for now.”
Was this guy for real? He’d let it slide? Ari was taking in air through her nose in long, deep pulls to keep her temper at bay. She needed the job, she kept reminding herself as she clenched her fingers tightly and locked her jaw to keep the words she wanted to throw at him from rushing out.
“Is something upsetting you, Ms. Harlow?” he asked, his voice smooth as molasses as he came back around and looked into her eyes again. She felt as if he were analyzing her, breaking her down into parts, trying to decide whether she was a waste of his time or not. She was sure that was how he conducted all his business. It was most likely why he was where he was in life, at the top of the ladder, and why she was at the bottom.
Some people oozed pure confidence, the ability to command and conquer the universe, and Mr. Palazzo had that in spades. She’d have given her soul for just a piece of his winning attitude and unyielding faith in himself.
“Everything’s fine, Mr. Palazzo,” she replied, proud of how calm and level her voice sounded, especially since her nerves were fried.
“You intrigue me, Ms. Harlow. I don’t hesitate once I make a decision, and I’ve decided to hire you…temporarily. I can see that your temper might cause a problem, but then again, meek has never been my style. Obedient…yes, but not meek.”
Ari gaped at him as she tried to decipher his words. What was he talking about? What did meek and obedient have to do with anything?
“You’re aware you signed a privacy notice before ever setting foot into my office, correct? Whatever is said by me is strictly confidential…and highly enforced. A former employee tried to go to the media — once. Let’s just say, she’s now in prison…and the rumors were quickly squashed. I very much play hardball, Ms. Harlow, and it would behoove you to not become my enemy,” he said in a conversational voice.
Ari swallowed hard as her eyes continued to follow him intently. He spoke of a woman’s going to prison as if he were absently mentioning what he had eaten for lunch the previous day. Did she really want to work for this man?
But honestly, what choice did she have?
“I’m aware of what I signed, Mr. Palazzo.” Ari sat up straighter in her chair, the reality of obtaining the job starting to set in. She wasn’t afraid of being locked up in prison because she knew how to keep things private. It wasn’t as though she had any girlfriends to gossip with, anyway. She’d always been too focused on school to make new friends.
Her one attempt at socializing…the thought made her shudder. It was the reason she was stuck in an interview for a job she was afraid to know the title of, instead of sitting in class listening to her professor.
Rafe Palazzo’s searing gaze fixed her to the spot. He’d said that he didn’t go back once he made a decision, but the assessing look in his eyes belied his words. She could see that he was undecided whether he wanted actually to hire her.
She said a quick prayer that she hadn’t blown this opportunity. Of course, her mother’s words of advice as she’d dropped Ari off at the Stanford dorms for the first time flashed through her mind. Her mom had told her, if the situation looks too good to be true, then it probably is, and you should run like hell in the other direction. Maybe she should start running, Ari thought.
“Very well, then, Ms. Harlow. The job position is for a mistress…my mistress, to be exact.”
***
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Emily: Sex and Sensibility Page 23
