Atonement(20)

“The partners and I usually go through our friends’ lists when a position comes up and there isn’t anyone qualified within the company to take the position. It’s worked out so far and it helps us hire American workers—you know, the whole get Americans’ back to work banter. We actually practice it and on top of that, we get fat tax breaks for hiring locally. Most of the company consists of Americans though we have people who have family that immigrated here from every corner of the world. We’re also one of Seattle’s most diverse companies and that makes me proud. Why wouldn’t you want to work for us?”

I rolled my eyes and tried not to feel too badly about all the accolades he was pouring on me. Yes, I was more than qualified for the position but it would definitely be something I would want to discuss with Colin first. However, we were not going out and he wasn’t my significant other. It was ultimately my decision and in a split second, despite my own intoxication, I’d made my choice.

“Sure, I would love to work for uConnect.”

Liam’s eyes lit up as a sly smile crossed his lips. “You won’t regret this. Come by the headquarters tomorrow and ask for me. We’ll get all your paperwork taken care of. I don’t want to give you an excuse to back out.”

“I won’t back out. I have given you my word, haven’t I? What time is good for you?”

“How about eleven in the morning? I usually take a late lunch and I have a meeting scheduled at one.”

“See you then.” I slid out of the booth before I stood and held out my hand to shake his.

He slid out of the booth and stood rather gracefully for someone who was quite drunk. Instead of taking my hand, he slipped his arms around my waist and planted a kiss on my cheek just near my lips. “That’s the only time I could do that and not be accused of sexual harassment, Ms. Bardot.”

I watched as Liam walked away and joined his buddies. My first thought was to say something to Colin but I turned and legged it out of there. We could talk later.





“THE ONLY REASON why he is offering you the position is because he’s sexually attracted to you, can’t you see that?”

I glared at Colin and tried to keep my temper in check. He wasn’t Drew and if I really expressed how I felt at that moment, he might take it the wrong way. Sadly, no man—except my father—knew me as well as Drew did and it was best not to push the situation.

“Not to lay too fine a point on the subject but I do have an MBA from Harvard. Are you saying if I was ugly he wouldn’t have looked at me nor offered me the position?”

Colin sighed and stood from my bed. “No, not necessarily. You are overqualified and we both know it but…I just wanted you to enjoy your time in Europe. Now, all you’re going to do is observe from a distance and dream about getting back here so you can start work.”

“It had to happen sometime.” I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. “Listen, whether or not my sister believes you have jobs that you are overqualified for, you still work. All I do is volunteer. I need to put something on my resume. I’m almost twenty-nine years old and I have never had a job that wasn’t volunteering or doing something for the community. Yes, it is quite honorable but one of these days, I am going to have to start paying into Social Security and what’s a better time than now? After we get back from Europe? It’s a fresh start for me and perhaps I can finally move past my father’s death and all this ‘woe is me’ crap. I don’t like being the victim and I won’t be played like one either.”

“What are you trying to say, Deirdre? There is something wrong with you feeling guilty for what happened to your father? For missing him and mourning his death? You’re human and nothing you have done has been out of character for anyone who has ever lost someone close to them.”

“Yeah, I know but I still feel like I’m hiding and I don’t want to do that anymore. I don’t want to be that angsty girl who can’t let anyone in for fear something might happen to them. That’s not how the world works. We live in precarious times and I want to enjoy life and all the great things about it. I am tired of wallowing in my own misery. It’s been long enough and I have officially run out of excuses,” I explained in a rush of emotion and feeling.

Damn, it felt good just to speak them but for the first time, I actually believed my own words and that was even better.





Chapter Seven