The Allure of Julian Lefray (The Allure #1)(11)

My hands twisted together beneath the table. “Uhh, actually it’s been about two weeks.”

“Wow, so the move is still fresh,” he said.

“Very fresh,” I admitted. I was still learning how to handle the big city. As soon as I thought I’d seen it all, I’d step off the subway and in the span of three blocks I’d see a couple fighting, breaking up, and then getting engaged. On any given day, half of the subway cars smelled like urine, and attempting to get anywhere on time was nearly impossible. It was stressful to live in the city and I still hadn’t found my niche, but I had dreams. One day when I’d paid off my massive pile of student loans and was working for Vogue, I’d move to the Upper East Side and get to experience the city in a whole new light.

“So you studied at a fashion school in Texas?”

He was doing his best to withhold judgment, but I could tell he was less than impressed by my lack of experience.

“I assure you, I had a great education there. Very hands on classes and I interned with Kendra Scott while in school. She’s a Texas based jewelry—”

“I know who she is,” Julian interjected, scanning down to my resume.

“I might not be as qualified as some of the other applicants, but what I lack in experience, I make up for in commitment and work ethic.”

He studied me intently as I spoke and something in his gaze forced me to glance down at my coffee to regroup. Having his attention on me, his eyes on me, was hard to stomach. It felt like a rare treat, something not every woman was fortunate enough to experience in her lifetime. I wanted to savor his attention while I had it.

“I’d like to offer you the position.”

My gaze shot back up to him to see if he was kidding. The dimples were there, but the smile was gone. His eyes were bright and clear. His sharp features were relaxed and focused. He wasn’t kidding.

How many people had he interviewed before me? Two? Three, tops?

My mouth opened but it took a few seconds before words finally spilled out. “You’re offering me the job right now? What if someone better comes along this afternoon?”

SHUT IT. He’s giving you the position.

“My gut says to go with you and it’s yet to fail me.” He smiled, brushing off my concerns so easily.

Well that’s because your gut is probably made up of rock hard abs; they wouldn’t fail anyone.

“I have one condition,” I said.

His brow arched.

“I think I could use my skills as a blogger to rejuvenate your brand’s image. For the last few years, Lorena has been focused solely on her designs, not the branding side of things. She’s not utilizing social media like other fashion brands. I mean Rachel Zoe and Diane Von Furstenberg have camera crews following them around 24/7 for reality TV. We need to get Lorena Lefray out there in the public eye.”

“And you think you can help with that?”

I straightened my back. “I have a pretty large following on YouTube and Twitter. I know I can do it.”

“Excuse me,” a sweet voice said from behind me. I twisted in my chair to see a woman about my age, standing with a padfolio clutched in her arms. She was pretty, angelic really.

“Are you almost done?” she asked, flitting her gaze between the two of us. “I don’t mean to be rude. It’s just that the other interviews only lasted about five minutes and I have to run back across town for an appointment in fifteen—”

Julian waved his hand, silencing her and standing at the same time. He reached for his suit jacket and looked out toward the other few applicants who’d gathered in the room without my notice.

“I think we’re all done here.” He paused and glanced my way. “That is, if you’re ready to accept?”

I had two seconds to make a decision. Two seconds of staring into Julian Lefray’s f*ck-me eyes and deciding if I wanted a job where I could stare at him all day, every day.

Easiest decision of my life.

I nodded and stood to shake his hand. “I accept.”

I tried to conceal my megawatt smile as his warm hand engulfed mine once again.

He nodded and glanced back to the small group of applicants. “Thank you all for coming today, but the position has been filled.”

I smiled.

Now if only he could fill something else…

And so the sexual fantasies begin. Lovely.





Chapter Seven


Julian





“I think they’re trying to poison me here.”

What?

I glanced over at Lorena to see if she was serious. My sister, the eccentric artist of the family, sat up in her bed and crossed her arms. She pointedly stared at the food in front of her. It looked decent enough to me, albeit a little bland.

“Relax, Lorena. You’re in the top rehab facility on the east coast, not with Nurse Ratchet.”

She sneered.

“Well it feels like I’m in the loony bin. Look at this stuff! It looks like lettuce with a bad perm!”

I rolled my eyes. “That’s kale, Lorena.”

She waved me off as if I wasn’t making any sense.

“I can’t fit into any of my old clothes either,” she said, redirecting her glare to the overflowing closet, grimacing at the piled garments she hadn’t cared to hang up after trying them on.