Perhaps I should have been grateful that Nikki was on the receiving end of those eyes, but I felt even more uncomfortable when the siblings continued to speak as if I wasn't there.
'A little young, don't you think?' he said.
'Don't start, she is more than qualified. You read the profile.'
'It's just paper.'
'Well, what are you going to do then, Ben, because you can't keep up what you're doing; it's ridiculous. Ruth may be a wonderful housekeeper but she can't be your nanny, too. Have you even held your daughter today?'
His rage was palpable. If looks could kill I would have been seriously concerned for Nikki's safety. But she refused to back down, ignoring the vein that bulged in his neck.
'Go home, Nikki, and worry about your own brood.'
Nikki breathed out a laugh. 'You are just as selfish as Dad. Come on, Sarah, I'm sorry you had to witness this.'
I was more than happy to follow her out and get away from him. At least I had clarity once and for all: come Thursday, I would fly home and write this off as an experience.
We had barely made it to the stairs when Ben's voice stilled us.
'I didn't ask Sarah to go, just you.'
Nikki looked at me from the step below; she appeared as shocked as I was. 'What?' she asked.
Ben leant casually on the doorframe, sighing wearily and rubbing the stubble on his jawline. 'Might as well get this over with, saves having Mother and Emily on my doorstep tomorrow.'
'Yeah, well, nobody wants that,' agreed Nikki. She stepped up to be level with my terrified expression. 'I'll wait for you downstairs, and then Dave can drive you back to the hotel,' she told me.
'I'll make sure she gets home.'
'It's no trouble, I'll wait,' Nikki said adamantly.
'I don't know how long this will take.'
How long could it take for him to say I wasn't suitable for the position? I could tell Nikki was thinking the same.
'I'll wait,' she said pointedly.
Ben shook his head. 'You're stubborn as a mule.'
'I could think of worse traits.' Nikki turned to me. 'Go on, I'll be downstairs.' She spoke like I was about to go off to war. Maybe I was.
As she started to descend the stairs, leaving me alone with Ben Worthington on the landing of his penthouse suite, I switched into another mode. Adopting a new bravery, I turned and met his expectant stare, ready to hold out my hand and properly introduce myself, but I was curtly cut off.
'This way,' he said, pushing off the doorframe and stalking down the hall.
All I had to do was follow.
I really didn't want to.