Because of His Past Read Online Free PDF Page B

hear that,” she said softly.
    Red paused, as if on the verge of
commenting on her statement, and then seemed to think better of it.   “The other reason I’m calling is in
regards to a position I need filled at my company.”
    Grace switched the phone to her other
hand, as her palm was so sweaty from gripping it tightly that she needed to
wipe it on her blanket.   “What kind
of position?” she asked, wondering why he was calling her about a job opening
at his company.
    Red Jameson, after all, ran one of the
biggest advertising agencies in the world.  
    “It’s an executive assistant position,”
he said.   “Originally, the post was
filled by Kennedy—the woman who was recently married to Easton Rather in
the wedding ceremony you attended.”
    I
didn’t actually attend it.   Grace thought.   I
was a servant, a service provider for the rich folk who really did attend.
    “You’re calling me about an executive
assistant position?” she said. She felt her cheeks getting hot.   “I’m confused.”
    “I know, it probably seems a little bit
out of left field,” Red laughed.   “The thing is, Kennedy was promoted out of the position and we’ve had
some trouble filling it since then.   Finding good employees is not nearly as easy as it might sound.”
    “My brother runs a wedding planning
business and that’s pretty much all he ever says—how hard it is to find
good help,” Grace said.   Which was
true.   Of course, usually when Scott
was saying that, it was because Grace was trying to help him with something and
he needed to remind her how bad she was at whatever task he’d given her.   Not exactly a ringing endorsement.
    “For some reason,” Red continued, “you
stuck in my mind after we met the other day .   And I kept coming back to the idea that
you’d make a great assistant for Easton Rather.”
    Grace swallowed hard.   “Really?”
    “Really,” he laughed.   “Even though I have no idea what your
background is.   Do you type?   Can you use a computer?”
    “I’m okay,” she said.   “I type about fifty-five words per
minute—at least, that’s what the temp agency told me a year ago.   I’ve got basic computer knowledge, like
how to use Word and pull up the Internet—that sort of thing.   But I don’t have all that much office
experience, Mr. Jameson.”
    “Call me Red.”
    “I don’t have that much experience,
Red.   I’m not sure Easton Rather
would be very happy with me.   I
mean, don’t people like him usually have assistants that type a hundred words a
minute and know PowerPoint like the back of their hand and all?”
    “Usually,” Red agreed, chuckling.   “But Easton Rather isn’t a normal guy,
and he hasn’t done well with the few replacements we’ve found since Kennedy
moved into her new role.   So I’m
trying to think outside the box.”
    “Well, what makes you think I could be
the right fit then?”
    There was a slight pause, and she thought
she’d blown it.  
    I
should be selling myself to him, not making him tell me why I should get the
job.   What a fool.
    But then he answered.   “When I saw you stand up to Anne
Houston, who’s a real shark—I knew that you had the kind of backbone
required to make it in my industry.”
    Grace couldn’t help but smile.   “Fat lot of good that backbone did me,”
she sighed.
    “I’m sorry to hear that you’re no longer
in touch with Liam.   But I’m not
talking to you because of your connection to him.   I think you should consider my
offer.   Salary is negotiable, but
off the top of my head, I see this as starting at $65,000.   With bonuses and raises, you could be
making close to $100,000 within the next year or two if things go well.”
    Grace lost the power of speech yet
again.   She’d never considered
trying to apply for a job that paid so well, let alone having one thrown in her
lap.
    “I—I accept your offer,” she said,
trying to contain the squeal in her voice.