Cocky Roomie_ A Bad Boy Romance Novel(16)
His eyes turn to ice. Oh shit, I poked the sleeping tiger.
“Are you still married, Drew?”
“I am.”
His eyelashes fall to the resume as a wall erects around him. I can see the bricks slamming on top of each other by the second. Even the air around has grown cold.
“I see. Well, that would have been something you could have mentioned when you shot me down this morning.”
“I didn’t think it was your business.”
He sucks on his teeth, staring at the paper. “I guess it isn’t.”
We sit in a terribly uncomfortable silence until I can’t take it anymore. “I didn’t say anything because we’re separated…and it’s very fresh and embarrassing.”
His gaze drifts up and locks with mine. A heat shoots into my tummy as I watch the wall stop growing.
“How badly do you want this job?”
My lips part in surprise. “Badly.”
“How badly.”
“Why do you ask?”
“I want to know what you’d do for it.”
“Well, what’s that supposed to mean? Are you going to ask me to…”
“…No, Drew. I want to know how you’d approach working in a field you know nothing about.”
Wringing my hands where he can’t see them, I think for a minute. I thought he was going to suggest sexual favors. I wouldn’t put it past him. Not after the things he’s said before.
“I’m very eager to learn. And I’m smart. I will study the business, whatever aspects are most important to know first I’ll focus on, and then grow from there. I’ll spend time studyin’ after hours, too. I know I have a lack of experience to make up for, but the person who really wants the job, and who badly needs it, will be the hardest worker. That would be me, if you give me this chance.”
He is simply staring at me. It’s incredibly unnerving. “Why are you getting divorced?”
I swallow against the dryness in my throat. God, these memories are not what I want to dig up right now! I’m already on pins and needles as it is. I have kept him at a distance for a different reason, but now I really don’t want to tell him why I’m in Atlanta starting over. I know he’s going to say something cruel just to get back at me for rejecting him. His eyes are mean and suspicious and downright chilly!
“Why?” I cry out in frustration. “Why do you want to know that? How does that have anything to do with being an administrative assistant?”
“Mrs. Charles.” He tosses my resume dismissively on the desk as if the interview is over now.
“Oh shit, really? Okay, if you must know, Edward cheated on me. And from what I gather it had been goin’ on for a very long time.” I sit back in defeat. “There! Let me have it, Jake. Give me the best you’ve got, because Lord knows I can take more than I thought I ever could!”
His sharp eyes have clouded over. He’s flicking his thumb with his index finger. “Your husband cheated on you?”
“Yes!”
“After all those years.”
My chest is heaving now. “Yes.”
The tips of Jake’s fingers slowly rest on my mostly-empty resume. “I’m sorry, Drew. That’s fucked up.”
Stunned, I stare at him.
The evil smirk, the darkened eyes, the tension in his shoulders, they’re gone. A friend is staring back at me.
The façade of interviewing me vanishes as Jake’s volume drops on a deep frown. “They’re sending me to Colorado.”
Taken aback, I whisper, “You’re leaving?”
Jake glances to the window. “Yep.”
“For how long?”
He shrugs. “Don’t know.”
“You’re not happy about it?” He slowly shakes his head, staring off into an unwanted future. “Oh God, Jake, I’m sorry about that. Well, if it helps, I was thinking of moving out at the end of the month anyway, what with everything that’s been goin’ on. Us bein’ roommates is clearly not workin’. So you don’t have to worry about me and where I’ll land.”
With a dismissive wave, he mutters, “You can stay. I’m keeping my place while I’m gone. I’ll pay my half.” He looks back at the window with both anger and sadness. I have the urge to hug him, but I don’t know if that’s appropriate, so instead I just whisper, “I’m really sorry, Jake.”
“Why didn’t you work?”
“Well, Edward and I worked for a long time, but then…”
He picks up my resume and cuts me off. “When you were married, why didn’t you work?”
“Oh. Um…if I tell you, will you hire me?”