Bound (Forbidden Series - Book 1) (22 page)

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 see you try and hide beneath your ridiculously baggy clothes, and large glasses, but there’s something about you that makes me want to find out what it is you don’t want the world to see.” He paused, making her tug on her blouse again. “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 nondisclosure agreement before ever setting foot into my office, correct? Whatever is said by me is strictly confidential…and that
legal
agreement highly enforced. A former employee tried to go to the media —
once
. Let’s just say, she’s now lost everything…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
ruin 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 losing everything because she had nothing to lose. Besides that, 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 keep friends. A few had come and gone in her life, but none had lasted the test of time, thinking she was far too boring for their liking.

Her one attempt at acting like a normal college student…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 that, 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.”