Mr. Personality Read Free Page B

exclaimed.
    “—but due to the asinine—“
    He stopped, starting again with, “the typist I’m trying to replace, I’ll probably be working until nine or ten each evening.”
    At this, even the older applicant looked startled, glancing over at the non-actress, who had gone from dismayed to obviously distressed.
    Forgetting to keep her head down, Nicole glared at the back of his head. Sixteen hour days? The man was insane.
    No wonder his last secretary had quit. This guy expected way too much.

 
    CHAPTER TWO
     
    On the far side of the room, the actress got up. “I think I’ll be going, thanks. I have other priorities besides this job.”
    “Then you’re not the one for the job.” He sounded almost cordial as he stepped aside to allow her to proceed him out of the room.
    They left a stricken silence behind as he let her out of the apartment. The younger woman looked scared and both applicants seemed seriously doubtful about a job that would take over their lives.
    While Nicole couldn’t help disapproving of the actress’ disregard for job-seeking etiquette—you didn’t just get up and walk out of an interview!—she still understood the woman’s assessment of the job. Most people wouldn’t submit to those working hours.
    No wonder he had staff problems. The man’s people skills were abysmal.
    Shifting in her chair, she heard Maxwell Tucker’s footsteps as he crossed the hall, returning to the room. Even though she sat to the side, her head down, she still couldn’t believe her good fortune in that he hadn’t noticed anything about her that made her seem unlike the other applicants.
    Max Tucker closed the door and turned to face the remaining applicants. “If anyone else doesn’t feel like working for the exorbitant salary I’m offering, you may leave as well.”
    The bite in his words was unmistakable.
    The younger woman seemed to shrink a little, but she didn’t get up.
    “May I see your resumes, assuming you have, in fact, had previous gainful employment?”
    Did the man always use this cool sarcastic tone, Nicole wondered resentfully. She wasn’t looking for a job, but even if she were unemployed, she wouldn’t tolerate this. Unfortunately, he was in a position to make life difficult for her father. She had to deal with him.
    With the ease of several years of teaching experience, she shifted into her assessment mode. In her line of work, she was faced daily with not only educating some pretty rough kids, but she also sought to bond with them enough to get them motivated to change their lives.
    Something about Max Tucker’s ruthlessly walled-off emotions kept reminding her of her students. In school, she got through to young toughs everyday. The kids in her inner-city school faced tremendous social, emotional and physical hardships. She couldn’t help wondering what danger Max Tucker faced that had him so defensed.
    “My resume. Of course.” The older applicant shuffled through her bag and produced a sheet of paper.
    Sitting to the side of him, Nicole was in a position to observe Max Tucker. As he scanned the sheet of paper the older woman handed him, Nicole found herself sizing up the competition as if she were, in fact, seeking the job he offered.
    Pretty slim pickings. The one woman was annoying and the other one too emotionally delicate.
    When Max looked at the younger woman expectantly, she seemed to shrink further into herself. “I-I’m afraid…, I didn’t realize—The woman at the employment agency took mine. She said this was just a personal interview today.”
    Max Tucker’s expressionless face chilled several more degrees. “In case I haven’t made myself clear, there will be nothing ‘personal’ between us. I’m not looking for a friend. I’m hiring an employee.”
    Barely stifling the exclamation that rose to her lips, Nicole lifted her head to stare at him. Did this guy treat everyone with the same complete contempt? So what if these women weren’t great employee