interview

Note to readers: this is my original work. Don't copy it, translate it, paraphrase it, quote it, or use any part of it without my permission, or I'll make you regret it. You might escape legal action, but you won't escape me. *evil cackle*

Seriously though. Leave my shit alone.

Also, this is a mature book. There are mature scenes (see: erotica, sex, bondage, s&m, etc.) if you are alarmed or offended by any of these things, fare thee well and good morrow kind sir... meaning.... you should leave. Just stop reading now and byeeeeee. (But still feel free to vote!)

And finally, I LOVE reader comments. But if you're a cock-n-balls who likes to point out spelling errors and grammatical mistakes to make yourself feel better, kindly fuck off. This is a draft of a story by an amateur author. Write your own if mine doesn't tickle your jollies the way you want.

All that out of the way, now read!! And vote and comment if you like it. ;)

Ginny's POV

I drummed my fingernails on the granite bar top and sighed heavily as I glanced at the clock for what felt like the millionth time.

3:13 PM. He was late.

"Can I get you another cappuccino, ma'am?" The friendly bartender gave me a sympathetic look across the bar.

After a second's contemplation, I nodded and agreed, "might as well," as I slid my credit card back across the bar. Two cappuccinos immediately before meeting my potential new boss couldn't be a good idea, but considering the guy was nearing twenty minutes late to our interview, I wasn't entirely sure I wanted to work for him in the first place.

I was a strong believer in treating employees with respect and empathy. The fact that Derek Galloway was so late to an initial interview implied to me that he had neither respect nor empathy for his employees, a fact that immediately turned me off to the idea of him being my 'superior.'

Not to mention the fact that he was known as a womanizer and philanderer, with connections to several exclusive "gentlemen's" clubs and bars in the surrounding areas.

A tinkling sound came from the back of the restaurant and I could hear laughter and the sound of several men's voices.

The bartender nodded towards the sound and glanced at me over her shoulder. "Derek's here," she chirped with a smile.

I raised my eyebrows in acknowledgement and cast a meaningful look at the clock behind the bar. The bartender gave me a knowing smile and winked, before turning her attention over my shoulder.

"Hey Derek," she greeted happily. I stopped drumming my fingernails and listened to their conversation. I could usually tell a lot about people from eavesdropping, even if it was my worst habit.

"How's Leanne today?" A cool, slow voice drawled out, a slight twinge of a country accent hinting around the edges, and I felt my breath slow as the sound soothed my nerves. Woah. surprisingly easy on the ears. Intrigued, I strained to hear the rest of their conversation as Leanne dove into an answer, but the sound was drowned out by the cappuccino machine before I could hear his voice again.

I turned instead to doodling on the edge of my napkin as I waited for our appointment to start. As the thought crossed my mind I shot another glance at the clock. 3:20 PM. I doodled the numbers on my napkin and began making swirls around them until a smooth, long-fingered hand came into view and snagged the edge of the paper napkin, sliding it out from under my pen.

"Virginia Sullivan?" I froze and slapped my hand down on the napkin, feeling my face redden at the sound of my full name in that cool, deep country drawl that had a hint of Irish brogue to it.

"Ginny," I corrected, slipping the napkin into my purse as I attempted to regain my composure. I cleared my throat softly, then accepted my cappuccino from the bartender Leanne who twitched her eyebrows knowingly. I pursed my lips.

Yeah he's got a hot voice. I'm not swooning and falling off my bar stool though am I? Sheesh.

Nipping a few dollars out of my wallet to slide across the bar to her, I took a deep breath before swiveling on my stool and turning to face Derek Galloway.

The broad chest covered loosely by a buffalo plaid flannel shirt took me by surprise, and I cocked my head to the side with curiosity as my gaze slid from his chest, past the open collar of his shirt, the stubble-covered neck, and the sharply chiseled chin before coming to rest on a pair of crystal blue eyes that made my heart flip flop in my chest.

Ooof.

I felt the air rush out of my lungs and I silently cursed myself for not Googling a recent picture of this man, or at least pulling up his profile on Linked In.

"Virginia," he insisted with a smirk, holding out his hand to shake mine. I accepted it gingerly and nodded as I felt his cool fingers grip mine.

"You must be Mr. Galloway," I said coolly.

A soft chuckle startled me before he responded, "Derek, Virginia. Just Derek. It seems we both prefer the simplicity of being on a first name basis."

"I just prefer Ginny." I snapped. Realizing how rude I must have sounded, I added, "and I prefer as much distance as I can keep between me and my biological father. Carrying his name around is something I'm unfortunately stuck with, but at least I don't have to hear it very often. My mom picked Virginia." I stopped talking abruptly and took a gulp of cappuccino, making my eyes water as I scalded my tongue on the hot liquid.

Why would I tell him that? Why would I ramble about my long-gone crackhead biological parents?

I felt Derek watching me curiously, a half-smile on his face, as I managed to swallow, then dabbed my eyes with a napkin. I turned to look sheepishly at Derek when I finished.

He was considering me with an unreadable expression on his face. For a moment he didn't say anything, then in one fluid motion he swept my purse off the counter with one hand and caught my hand in his other. Pulling me off the bar stool, Derek spoke over his shoulder as he walked towards the door, semi-dragging me behind him, sputtering protests.

"Virginia, please accept my deepest apologies for being over twenty minutes late to our meeting. I had some other business to attend to this afternoon and some other meetings ran long. I didn't have your phone number on me to call and let you know myself, and I thought if I called here and asked Leanne to relay the message, you would leave immediately without waiting around for me to get back." We neared the front door of the restaurant as he spoke, and when we stepped out into the afternoon sunlight, Derek paused to release my hand and give me back my purse.

Indignantly I took it and slung it over my head so that it hung across my chest before responding.

"So, instead of risking me leaving before our meeting, you show up twenty minutes late and then forcibly remove me from your restaurant?" I snapped back at him, crossing my arms over my chest and shaking my head. "Unbelievable."

Derek caught my arm as I turned to walk away.

"Wait, Virginia, no!" he exclaimed, planting himself in front of me and dipping his head to look into my eyes with sincerity. "I made reservations for an early dinner at DiAvalo's. I meant to spend a few minutes chatting with you at my place, then take you to dinner to seal the deal and offer you the job. Totally professional intentions."

As he spoke, I had been attempting to sidestep him and leave, but he was very good--frustratingly good--at matching my steps, blocking the path to where my car was parallel parked about a block down the street. When I heard the words "offer you the job" I froze and looked at Derek's face again with surprise.

"Off-- Offer me the job?" I stammered, flabbergasted. "But how did you know the interview would even get to that point?" Narrowing my eyes, I waited for Derek to respond.

He was already grinning from ear to ear, looking like a school boy who was excited about a new adventure.

•••••

Author's note - Aug. 2019

I'm overhauling this story. From start to finish, it's getting more fire, more sass, more take your breath away moments, and more to make you swoon as we meet the 4 guys who are going to make Virginia Sullivan's life into one challenge after another.