Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 83070 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83070 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
My breath shakes as I start to speak. I practiced my speech late into the night and during the morning drive. I know what I want to say by heart. I have facts, statistics, and fun anecdotes to share with Gannon. But sitting here now beneath his gaze, none of it feels right.
He takes pity on me, but not without a scowl.
“Your company, which consists solely of you, would come into our facilities a day or two a week and resurrect our plants. Is that correct?” he asks.
“Yes. Resurrect. I see you’ve done your homework and looked around your office.”
“Or I just pulled up your website and read your services page.”
Oh.
“I never go into a meeting unprepared, Miss Johnson.”
I lift my chin. “Neither do I, Mr. Brewer.” I pull a sheet of paper from my folder and slide it across the table to him. “This is a proposal of what I think you need and a price list. You’ll see I’ve given you a very deep discount, as promised.”
Gannon picks up the paper and inspects it like it’s a million-dollar deal.
“Since you’ve been on my website,” I say, “I hope you reviewed the testimonials. I’m thorough, careful, and professional. I pride myself on being on time. Many of my clients are wealthy, and they trust me to come into their homes and—”
“It’s possible to talk too much in contract negotiations.” He gazes at me over the paper.
He sets the proposal down slowly, his eyes never leaving mine.
The intensity of the connection between us makes me shift in my seat. I’m not sure what to make of it. Whatever he’s thinking is locked tightly behind his dark eyes, and I couldn’t access it if I tried.
“Are you ready to order?” Joseph asks, making me jump.
Gannon watches me expectantly.
My time is up if he’s serious about giving me only a few minutes. Because he’s so hard to read—so overwhelming in every way—I don’t know what to do. And that frustrates the hell out of me.
“Thank you, Joseph,” I say. “But I think my meeting with Mr. Brewer is finished.”
Gannon rolls his eyes. “Do you like salmon?”
“What?”
“Salmon,” he says. “Do you like it?”
“I love it. Why?”
He turns to Joseph. “Two potato and egg fritters with smoked salmon, please. Double crème fraiche.”
“Coming right up, sir,” Joseph says before turning away.
“You look hungry,” Gannon says, unfolding his napkin onto his lap. “Don’t overthink it.”
“You obviously don’t know me. I overthink everything.”
He takes a quick sip of his coffee. “Why should I hire you? Why do you want to work at Brewer Group so badly that you harass me via text outside of business hours?”
“Harass you? I sent you one text.”
“You’re not answering my question.”
I huff a breath. He’s not going to take me seriously, and I’m never going to get this job. He had his mind made up before I walked through the door. I should thank him for his time, leave, and be done with it.
But right before I excuse myself, his jaw stops clenching, and I see slight concern in his expression. A peek of the man behind the icy exterior catches me off guard, stealing my breath. A warm wave of hope ripples through me, and I cling to it like a lifeline. Then I do what I do best—jump in without thinking. After all, that’s how I got here in the first place.
“I was at my father’s when I texted you last night,” I say, holding his gaze steady. “I was outside on the porch because he was inside with his new wife, telling me without telling me that he didn’t want me there for dinner.”
His jaw sets again.
“He was bragging about her career accomplishments, going on and on about how many clients she has and how amazing she’s doing. Then he turns to me and asks how my little endeavor is going.” I laugh angrily. “He doesn’t even know that my business is called Plantcy.”
I sit back as the wash of emotions splashes through me again.
“Every time he looks at me, he sees a disappointment,” I say. “And, yeah, Plantcy hasn’t been a tremendous success. But it’s new. I’m figuring it out. I’m finding my way. I know that leaving my job and starting this business on a whim wasn’t the smartest thing in the world, but …” I pause, taking a deep breath. I’m so freaking sick of feeling like I don’t quite measure up. “Dammit, I want to prove him wrong.”
He nods, his eyes dark and brooding.
I take a deep breath until I settle down.
Shoulders back. Chin lifted. Gaze steady.
“You should hire me because I’m passionate about what I do, and I’m going to transform the energy in your office for pennies on the dollar,” I say. “If you don’t agree after a month, we’ll go our separate ways. Just give me a chance. Let me prove myself to you.”