“Money, sex, and love, not necessarily in that order.”
He lets out a deep, pleasant chuckle. “Yes, that’s right. We happen to sell all three of them. We’re not selling them the car. We’re selling them the sex appeal. A sleek car does not make a sixty-three-year-old portly balding man sexy.”
“It doesn’t hurt.”
He bursts out into gruff laughter that sinks into my skin and soothes my nerves. I already like it.
“Touché, Miss Ried. Women find men of means sexy. It’s biological. We’re helping the human race survive.” A knowing smile plays on his attractive mouth. “A flashy car, a nice home, a nice nest egg. It doesn’t hurt, as you say.” He leans in slightly as if sharing a secret. “Modern man has accomplished much, but through it all he’s still the same peacock flashing feathers like the rest of the animals.”
I look down and stifle a smile as I wring my hands. “Do you agree, Miss Ried?” he asks.
“Yes, sir. I see it every day.” Maybe it’s why men love cars so much.
“Have you ever wanted something so badly that you couldn’t live without it?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you want it?”
“I thought it would make me happy.”
“Did it make you happy?”
“Not as happy as I thought, but to some extent, yes.”
“Miss Ried, I did not start a successful advertising company by not understanding what makes people tick. We go to the very core of human desires, wants, and needs. I promise to meet those needs. Our clients expect it. Consumers demand it. If you are willing to learn, I can teach you.”
I feel my cheeks flush from his deep voice and fiery stare.
“I am willing to learn.”
“Good, Miss Ried. Good.”
He hands me his card, and I glance at it. TALVIS Advertising, Kalin Davis, CEO.
“Do you have any questions for me?”
“So this position reports directly to you?”
“Yes, it does, Miss Ried. Quite honestly, I don’t typically do interviews. I leave that to my management team in various departments. I made an exception in this case.” He shows me a hint of a smile. “The successful candidate will be reporting to me, and the compensation is considerably more than similar positions you may be entertaining. As my personal assistant and marketing specialist, I will make sure the right candidate is taken care of properly. I will personally see to it.”
His big brown eyes bore into mine like smoldering coals.
Tension tugs at me from the room, and I take a deep breath. I feel a bead of sweat roll down my torso.
“Are there products that you specialize in, or do you take on all clients?”
“We are very selective with our clients, Miss Ried. We don’t work cheap, and we don’t take on every client. Usually that means we have higher-end clients in highly successful markets. We focus on them exclusively.”
“Do you work a lot of overtime, or is there an emphasis on a work-life balance?”
“We do work hard and play hard here. But I make sure that both our clients and our employees are happy. Sometimes we have to show people what they are missing before we can show them what they really want. After that, our job becomes easier because they cannot get enough of what we have to offer.”
I take a breath and try to cool my body from the heat emanating from his presence. “You can’t miss what you never had.”
“Yes, Miss Ried. Give them a taste, and they will come begging for more.”
Oh, my.
I swallow and place my hand on my portfolio. My heart races as a ghost of a smile moves his full lips, and his milk-chocolate-brown eyes melt me in my seat.
I purse my lips and glance at the table. “I am sure that I can learn a lot from you, Mr. Davis. It sounds like a great opportunity, and one that I am definitely interested in.”
He moves his long index finger across the side of his cheek as he listens to me. I am sure he is suppressing a smile, but his mouth his mostly hidden by his other fingers.
“Do you have any more questions for me, Miss Ried?”
“No, not at this time.” I fold my hands and give him my best smile.
“Let me walk you out.”
He stands up to show me to the door. He towers over me as he opens the wide glass door for me, smiling as his eyes meet mine.
He walks me to the elevator.
“Do you live close by?” he asks.
“Yes, it’s an easy commute.”
“That’s good. Sometimes I need my assistant on call in case we have an urgent request. Our clients can be quite demanding, but we are paid well by them.”
“I can be here. It sounds like a wonderful opportunity.” I turn to him to make eye contact and drop my pen …again! What the hell is wrong with me today? He swoops down gracefully, bending one knee to pick up the pen, and hands it to me. His eyes meet mine, and are close enough that I can see flares of hazel and yellow and brown. He smiles and straightens up. His clean masculine scent floats deliciously around me.