Hypnotic Seduction (The Seduction Series) Read Free Page B

handle such a high-level position?
    She wasn’t altogether sure she wanted to work for the tyrant, anyway. What had his friend called him—JC? Only a megalomaniac would identify himself with the same initials as the man who a good portion of the world believed to be the Son of God.
    Moreover, Edward’s grandson was way too good-looking. She’d made a fool of herself, ogling those six-feet-plus inches of muscle. And then his electric gaze had unnerved her to the point she couldn’t speak. He must have taken her for a total imbecile.
    Then again, she really needed the job. Between the lost deposit on the canceled reception, buying her now useless wedding gown, and paying the tuition for the spring semester, she’d pretty much wiped out her savings. And after Kevin’s rejection, her pride could definitely use the boost of skipping a few rungs on the career ladder.
    A few minutes later, the inner office door swung open. Jordan Calder stepped behind her and expelled a breath, peering over her shoulder at the monitor. “ Thank God , you fixed it.”
    His hot breath stirred the tiny hairs on Hannah’s nape and sent a gaggle of goose bumps skittering down her back. Upon inhaling his spicy aftershave, her throat seized again, so she simply nodded.
    After what happened in her previous job, the last thing she needed was to be attracted to the CEO. However, Kevin’s betrayal had decimated her ego and left her in such a susceptible state her deficient love life made any guy with clean fingernails and a full set of teeth look good.
    “Do you mind telling me what was wrong with it?”
    “Uh—no, Sir,” she croaked like a bullfrog.
    “So you do have a voice.” His intense eyes glittered at her as he leaned against the desk, waiting. “Well?”
    Her heart hammered her ribs so hard, surely he could hear her bones rattling. She cleared her throat, trying to work up enough saliva to speak coherently. “The document was in a weird variation of Times New Roman called Special G2. I simply converted it.” She showed him how the full font identification hadn’t fit in the little formatting window.
    “Ahh—that explains why we didn’t see it. Thanks.” He jerked his thumb toward his office. “Since you managed to solve that mystery, why don’t you come inside for an interview, and we’ll discuss my expectations.”
    Said the lion to the mouse .
    “And mine?”
    His head whipped around. “Excuse me?”
    Oh, crap. Had she actually said that out loud? “Uhh— my expectations of you . The employer/employee relationship goes two ways, doesn’t it?”
    The corner of his mouth twitched. “So you have a spine as well as a voice.”
    “With you, she’ll need it,” Edward said, wandering out to the reception area. “Good luck, Hannah.” The sweet old man squeezed her hand. “I’ll leave you to get acquainted.”
    Standing, she wobbled and nearly fell off her dagger heels. “Thanks so much, Mr. Calder.”
    “I was Edward half an hour ago. Let’s keep it that way.” He winked. “I’m sure I’ll see you again very soon.” He nodded to his grandson on his way out. “We’ll talk tonight.”
    The intimidating CEO stepped back from his door and made a sweeping gesture with his hand. “After you, Miss Oliver.”
    Her knees quaking, she stepped inside his luxurious office. It was decorated in varying shades of steel blue and gray, and....Holy Guacamole! The pewter-toned carpet had to be three inches thick.
    The humongous room was split into two sections. Near the entrance sat a massive cherry desk, bookcases, and filing cabinets. At the far end, was a sitting area larger than her entire garden apartment. It included an enormous flat screen television, a state of the art sound system, and a wet bar complete with an efficiency kitchen.
    She poked her head through a carved door on the right that led to a spacious conference room containing a long polished table and well over a dozen executive armchairs.
    “There’s