Park Avenue Player(5)

“If you bothered to read further than my last position, you would see that my degree is actually in early childhood education, and I worked taking care of twins in high school.”

“In high school. Great.” I let out a frustrated sigh. “I’m afraid you don’t have the kind of background that would make you a suitable candidate to look after an eleven-year-old girl.”

“I beg to differ. I think my most recent line of work prepares me just fine for this position.”

Genuinely intrigued by her assertion, I tilted my head. “Oh, really? Tell me exactly how it relates, Ms. Atlier. Because for some reason, I feel like you’re avoiding telling me anything you actually do at your current job.”

Her face turned red. “My job has prepared me to handle almost anything. In my line of work, I’ve had to deal with all types of people. I’ve had to learn self-defense. If you want me to test that on you, I’d be happy to. And…it also has taught me how to remain calm under pressure. I think these are all attributes that would apply to the position at hand. Addison filled me in a little about Hailey. I’m also a good fit because I know a thing or two about troubled kids…because I was one.”

My eyes bore into hers. “And that’s supposed to make me feel more confident, that someone with a troubled past, who can’t drive and who’s spent the better part of the past few years working for a private investigator doing God knows what, is the right person for this job?”

She straightened in her seat. “I’ll have you know that, yes, it takes one to know one. That’s why I would absolutely be the best person to relate to a young girl who has family issues. I’ve dealt with my own share of those. Hailey’s background sounds quite similar to mine. And do I have to remind you that my deficiency is in parking...not driving? I’m actually a damn good driver.”

“Is this a job interview or a sparring match?” Addison interrupted. “Holy cannoli, you both are pieces of work.”

Addison was right. This was ridiculous. I needed to put a stop to it. “With all due respect, Ms. Atlier, I think we need to end this right now.”

Elodie’s big eyes narrowed to slits. “You know what your problem is? You think just because you’re rich and powerful you have the right to judge people.”

“I absolutely think I have the right to judge people—this is an interview for a position, you know. That’s what you do: judge the candidates.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

I stood. This was a waste of time from the beginning. “Thank you for coming, but you’re not the best person for a nanny job, no matter how you try to spin it.”

Her expression fell, the disappointment palpable. “Okay. Well, I’m not going to sit here and beg for a chance if you don’t want to consider me.” She turned to Addison. “The truth is, he made up his mind about me the second he saw my face.”

“I’d have to agree with you,” Addison said.

“Thanks for your support, Addison,” I barked. “Maybe you should ask Elodie to find out if there are any openings doing this and that at her current employer.”

“I think I’d quite enjoy a job somewhere else for a while. Maybe she and I can switch for a day. She’ll want to blow her brains out here.” Addison laughed. “Oh, come on, Hollis. In all seriousness, you’re looking for Mary Poppins, and she doesn’t exist. Why not give Elodie a shot?”

I was just about to consider that possibility for a millisecond when Elodie shot up from her seat and proclaimed, “Mary Poppins would poke your arrogant ass with her umbrella!”

And there goes any hope of giving her a shot.

Buh-bye, Elodie.

Nice knowing you.

I bent my head back in laughter. “And she wonders why she can’t find a decent job.”

“Goodbye, Hollis. It was a pleasure.” Elodie marched toward the door. “I have better things to do than be mocked by someone blinded by his ego.”

“Better things? Does that involve Junior Mints?” I teased.

Elodie flashed the iciest glare. Something about that made my dick twitch. Was I seriously getting aroused from fighting with this woman?

“Thank you for the opportunity, Addison,” Elodie said before she took off down the hall.

My amused expression faded when I sat back down and turned to meet Addison’s scowl. She threw her folder at me before storming away, leaving me alone in the conference room.

I swiveled in my chair, tapping the pen against the table. The high of that experience was wearing off. While I didn’t think Elodie was right for the job, maybe I’d been too hard on her.

She’d definitely been hiding something, though, and whenever I got that feeling from a woman, it tended to put me on offense. Yet another thing I could thank damn Anna for.





Chapter 3




* * *





Hollis – 14 years ago




“You suck.”

“I have cancer, dude.”

I reached over and knocked the backward baseball cap off Adam’s bald head. He’d buzzed his hair the other day after finding the first patch missing because of his treatments.

“Yeah. And if I found a magical pill to cure it tomorrow, you’d still suck at this game. So don’t try to play the C card with me. You already have Anna fooled.”