Who Wants to Marry A Billionaire?(4)
When Nina arrived at the last office on the right, the door was closed. She had expected an executive assistant to be sitting close by, but no one seemed to be around. She wasn’t sure about the protocol, did she wait or did she knock? Well, the receptionist had said he was ready to see her, so she gently knocked.
From behind the door, she heard a voice call, “Come in.”
Opening the door into Daniel DeVere’s office was like opening a door into a fantasy world. It was, of course, a gigantic corner office. Plate glass windows from floor to ceiling made up two walls of the room. On one end was a bright orange leather sofa facing two, expensive, modern, designer chairs. There was a glass and metal coffee table, and an ultra modern working fireplace set into the wall. The other wall had built in bookcases filled with all manner of books, art objects, and memorabilia—a Ming vase, a baseball signed by Babe Ruth, a copy of Catcher in the Rye that she was sure had to be a first edition. It must be good to be the son of a billionaire.
Daniel had his back to her, apparently contemplating her fate while gazing across Boston toward the Atlantic Ocean. He stood at the window behind his large modern desk. His sandy hair was a bit long, and Nina noticed how it caught the light of the late afternoon sun. It looked soft, she thought, touchable, and then she hardened herself, prepared to take whatever he dished out. If he fired her, she thought, she was not going to give him the satisfaction of seeing Nina Alves cry. She stood in the middle of the room, waiting for him to make a move.
Finally, he turned around.
“Ms. Alves—thank you for coming. Please have a seat.” Daniel made a gracious gesture with his hand, directing her toward the sofa. Nina sat toward one end, while Daniel sat on the other. He lounged back, looking totally at ease. “How are things down on the twelfth today?”
Nina started to relax a little as there was nothing about his demeanor that suggested she was getting fired. “Fine, good really. As I’m sure you know, there’s a lot going on right now with the Foundation.”
He nodded. “I wanted to tell you how impressed my mother was with the report you wrote about the Foundation’s work in the Philippines after the devastation from the typhoon. You’ve really been instrumental in making sure that our resources are going to the right organizations on the ground. It’s really much appreciated.”
Nina couldn’t help but smile at the compliment. She liked her work and she liked helping people in difficult circumstances—she just wished she and her family were not on the verge of financial collapse. “Thanks. It’s really wonderful to be able to do meaningful work. I’ve been very happy working for the DeVere Foundation.”
When she smiled, Nina’s entire face lit up. Her cheeks flushed with a little color, and Daniel couldn’t help but notice. He studied her face and thought it held more than a hint of the exotic. He usually went for the leggy blondes, but there was something about Nina that was appealing. She had plump, kissable lips, but he decided it was her huge brown eyes and long eyelashes that were her most captivating feature—that and her curves in all the right places. Her wardrobe was a little dull, he thought, but they could fix that.
“Your dedication to the Foundation has not gone without notice.”
Nina felt a little excited now. Maybe they had reconsidered giving her a raise! Maybe witchy Elsa just put her off until she could clear it with someone higher.
Daniel continued. “I’ve seen your file. You’ve been with us for six years, first as an intern the summer before your senior year at Williams, then as a program assistant, and now you’re a program coordinator. That demonstrates some initiative on your part. All of your peer reviews have been exemplary. And there’s a dozen letters in your file from our NGO partners saying how wonderful it is to work with you. I understand you’re also putting your siblings through college.”
Starting to feel a little embarrassed, Nina demurred, “Sibling. My sister has a scholarship that’s covering most of her tuition.”
Daniel smiled at her. “So brains run in the family—how about beauty? Is your sister as charming as you?”
Nina felt like she should be getting a little creeped out, but there didn’t seem to be anything malevolent about his manner. What was he getting at? She stammered, unsure how to respond, “Uh…um, I…umm…”
Then Daniel rescued her. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Don’t tell Human Resources—they’ll make me sign up for the seminar on sexual harassment in the workplace.” He flashed that perfect smile at her, and Nina thought he could be telling her not to talk to little green Martians and she would have agreed. There was something so mesmerizing about his face. She tried to get a grip on herself.
“So…may I call you Nina?” Nina nodded affirmatively. “And please call me Daniel. I hate all this stuffy Ms. and Mr. stuff…not my style, really.” Nina nodded again, mouthing “Daniel.” Why did a billionaire want her to call him Daniel? But he continued. “So Nina, it’s come to my attention that you recently requested a raise.”
“Yes, that’s right, but Ms. Woodruff…Elsa, didn’t seem to think it was appropriate at this point in my tenure.” The old witch, Nina thought.
Daniel uncrossed his legs and leaned toward Nina, lowering his voice as if someone might be eavesdropping on their conversation and he wanted to create an air of confidentiality, “I also understand that you are going through some difficult financial circumstances.”