“I didn’t think I was stealing from you personally,” I said. “I’m just struggling to make it right now, and your hotel happens to be close to where all my latest interviews are. I was planning to pay you back once I got a job.” I pulled out my phone and clicked on my calendar, showing him the screen. “The red x marks are every time I ate breakfast here. I was going to multiply that by fifteen dollars and—”
“The cost of gourmet breakfast for non-guests in my hotels is eighty-five dollars.” He interrupted me.
Silence.
“Um, well …” I blinked. “I’m probably still going to have to multiply the red x marks by fifteen dollars and send the manager—well, you, an apology-note with a check.”
“What are the blue x marks for?”
The times I’ve stolen the gourmet lunch from here. “Days I finish my workouts.”
“You have the word ‘workout’ already typed in some of these date boxes already.”
“Must be a glitch.” I moved my phone away from him. “I’m serious about paying you back, though. I have a third interview with a company today, and I’m certain I’m going to get it. I feel really confident about that.”
“What company are you interviewing with?” he asked.
“The Russ Stock Exchange.” I gasped as I looked at my phone again. It was now two minutes past my interview time.
“Something wrong, Miss Lauren?”
“Yeah … I’m missing my interview right now. Do you think you could call and tell them why I’m late?”
He gave me a blank stare.
“Right. Well, I um—” I swallowed. “Thank you for not calling the cops on me. I need to go.”
“We’re not done talking.” His voice was firm. “What exactly is your interview for?”
“Was,” I said, doubting they’d give me a chance now. “It was supposed to be for the CEO’s executive assistant.”
He raised his eyebrow. “You have a business degree?”
“Yes, and a law degree as well. Not that they mean anything.”
“Where was your last job?”
“I’m still looking for my first one.”
He stared at me long and hard, not saying a word and I wasn’t sure if he was going to say anything else. And now, for the first time since I’d moved to New York City, I was ready to break down and cry.
“Well, thank you very much for um, hearing me out about this,” I said, standing. “I appreciate it.”
“You should.” He leaned back in his chair. “Can I expect that I won’t see you stealing food from any of my hotels again?”
“Not unless you also own The Grand Alaskan on Fifth Avenue.”
“I do own The Grand Alaskan on Fifth Avenue.”
“Oh.” Shit. “Do you also own The Loft on Wall Street?”
“Yes.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “You’re not familiar with all the hotels in my portfolio?”
“No, but I’ll look up all the alternate names for the Marriott and Hilton hotels tonight, and I promise to avoid them accordingly.”
“This is a Parker Hotel, Miss Lauren.” He looked offended. “There are twenty in this city alone, and we bring in more revenue than all the Marriott and Hilton hotels combined.”
“Oh …”
“Yes,” he said. “Oh.”
“Well, in that case, will it really bother you if I don’t pay you back then? What if I just send you a proper apology without the check?”
He looked as if he was holding back a laugh, but he pressed his lips into a line instead. “Only if you agree to make this the last day you steal from any of my hotels. Next time, I’ll have you locked up personally.”
“I agree to stop.”
“Good. You can also keep your apology note, seeing as though I don’t think you’re really sorry about anything.”
“I’m sorry I was caught.”
That slow, sexy smile spread across his face again, and I felt my heart begin to race.
I couldn’t stop staring at this man if I tried, and I knew right then and there, that his face was going to be featured in all of my fantasies for a very long time.
“Mr. Parker?” A voice came over the intercom, shattering our stare-fest.
“Yes?” he answered.
“Mr. Tanner wants to know how much longer your breakfast meeting is going to be.”
“I’ll be finished in five minutes.” He stood to his feet.
“It was nice meeting you,” I said, extending my hand.
“Likewise, Miss Lauren. I’ve never met a criminal this up close and personal before.” He shook my hand, and I immediately felt warm tingles running up and down my spine.
When he finally let my hand go, he opened the door and gestured for me to step out. Employees scattered once again, as if their lives depended on it.
“What specialty did you study in business school?” he asked, walking me to the elevator.
“I had three,” I said. “Accounting & Taxes, Public Relations, and Project Development.”
“How impressive.”
“Clearly not impressive enough for most companies in this city.” I stepped onto the elevator, expecting him to go back to his office, but he stepped on with me. He hit ‘H’ instead of lobby and stepped closer to me.
“I’m currently hiring here,” he said. “And while I don’t normally consider thieves as hire-worthy, something tells me that I should make an exception in your case.”
“Well, thank you …” I couldn’t think straight with him this close to me. “Do you mind me asking how much your housekeepers make an hour?”
“This wouldn’t be for housekeeping, Miss Lauren.” He closed the gap between us. “I need an executive assistant—someone who can work under me with ease—and handle the length of the work involved.”
“You mean the depth of the work involved?”
“That as well,” he said. “I prefer someone with hotel experience, but seeing as though most of the people I’ve hired in the past tend to quit early, I think it’s time I go in a different direction.”
“Why exactly did your few last assistants quit?” I asked, curious.
“I guess they didn’t have the stamina to keep up with me.” He smiled.
The elevator stalled on level G before slowly descending again, and I tried not to focus on the way the word ‘stamina’ rolled off his lips.
“Nonetheless, if you actually do have law and business degrees, I’d be more than willing to hire you as my next executive assistant.”
“Without an interview?”
“We just completed the interview.”
The elevator doors sprung open on ‘H’, revealing another luxurious space. All-white walls, shimmering chandeliers, and sleek grey furniture.
Mr. Parker remained on the car, and motioned for me to step off.
Obliging, I looked back at him—still utterly confused.
“So, should I fill out an online application and wait for you to verify that I do have those degrees?”
“No, Human Resources will do that for me in a few minutes.” He pointed down the hall. “If that checks out, you’re hired.”