I Do the Boss (Managing the Bosses Series, #5)(31)

"Yeah, I've already said several prayers for you this morning, girl. Several of these women look good on paper, but I don't know..." she smirked.

"What do you mean?" Jamie pressed her tablet to her chest.

"Two called for directions from the parking lot and another asked if lunch was included in the interview today. Her interview is at three this afternoon."

"Oh, gimme a break!" Jamie turned and walked to the conference room, dreading the idea of having to talk to anyone. She was behind on wrapping up a project for the quarterly earnings release, as well as finding a wedding dress. Alex hadn't set a date with her just yet, but she knew he wanted it to be sooner rather than later. How he thought her capable of planning a wedding while she was knee-deep in all the drama around them was beyond her.

She'd just sat down when someone darkened the door of the room. Mark.

"How are you holding up?" He gave her a warm smile.

"Good. You?" She sat down in the chair closest to the window.

"I'm good. Alex still on the schedule for a release tomorrow?" He leaned against the door frame and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Yeah. He's hoping so. Me too." She pulled out the first résumé and skimmed it. "I have an afternoon of interviewing for Kristen's position."

"Yeah. She said she was ready to get back home. I don't blame her."

Jamie glanced up as Mark ran his fingers through his hair. "You okay? What's going on?"

"Nothing. I'm just ready to live a little. Wearing this suit and sitting in this office is only going to go so far. I'm a salesman by heart and a lot like my brother. I want to own something of my own. To watch it grow and thrive. I can't do that here. Alex and I got into a small tiff before everything happened, on the process we use for vacation accruals." He shrugged. "I just want to make my mark somewhere. I'm thinking it's not here."

"I can see that." She leaned back and crossed her legs. "Let's talk later about all of it. We'll figure it out." She could see him standing on his own. He’d needed his brother but now he was thriving and doing well. “Ahhh, it looks like my little broken-winged bird is all mended.”

“Shut up,” he said, laughing good naturedly. “I love ya too, momma.”

“Momma?”

“Like a mother hen. You know.”

She laughed. “Oh you bugger!”

A smile played at the edge of his mouth.

"What now?"

"I had to stop by and feed Jake last night since you were at the hospital, and I couldn't help but notice the magazines scattered all over the big table. Wedding dress time?" He grinned, loving it because he knew Jamie thought it was pure torture.

"Yeah, I think so. I was actually just starting to feel a little panicked. I haven't picked out a dress, but it's kind of irrelevant seeing that we haven't set a date. With everything that's happened, who knows when we'll get married? It was more of a means of distraction while I’m home without Alex." She let out a frustrated sigh as he moved back and Kristen brought in a woman who looked like she belonged on the cover of Playboy, not in a stuffy office answering phones.

"Call me later." Mark moved back as his attention diverted to the girl.

"This is Kinsey." Kristen plastered a smile on her lips. "Kinsey, this is Jamie Connors, Mr. Reid's assistant and director of operations."

"Nice to meet you, Kinsey." Jamie stood up and extended her hand. "Can you shut the door for us, Kristen?"

"You bet. Let me know if you need anything." Kristen closed the door, and Jamie couldn't help but notice the subtle disappointment on the woman's face.

"So tell me a little about yourself. Your résumé looks great and speaks volumes, but—"

"Am I not being interviewed by Alex? I thought the job was to work directly for him. Am I applying for the wrong position?" The girl's voice was tight with what sounded like aggravation.

"That's the position, but he's not available today. I'm the next best thing."

"And the job would be to work with him, right? Not you?"

Jamie stifled a laugh that bubbled up inside of her. Was this girl for real? Where did these women come from? Just because Alex was once the city's most eligible bachelor didn't mean he didn't run a tight operation at the office. There was no way he would hire someone only to seduce them.

She shook her head, ignoring the small voice in her head that said that her story was a little like that, and yet nothing like it at all. She'd been overweight, lacking confidence, and needed someone to believe in her. And he had. Completely. His confidence and attention had given her a breath of fresh air and a reason to push forward into the new life she wanted so badly.

And now we're getting married.

"Are you listening to me?" The girl leaned forward, pulling Jamie from her thoughts.

"Hmm? No. Thanks for coming in today. I have all I need." Jamie got up and walked to the door, opening it and moving back. "Tell Kristen to send in the next interviewee please. We'll be in touch."

"You didn't even ask any questions." She picked up her purse and moved out into the hall.

"I didn't need to." Jamie turned and walked back into the conference room, sitting down and jotting down a few reasons why Kinsey was a bad fit for the firm.