Since he’d initially met with the board of QTR International he’d grown a beard and mustache, which he found itchy, and he’d cut his longer hair super short. To finish the look, he’d given up his contacts and purchased dark-framed glasses. Even his own mother would hesitate to recognize him.
His only problem was that he didn’t expect Sage White to be so young. He must have missed her age when he’d done his research. And more than that, he didn’t expect her to be such a jaw-dropping knockout. The pictures online certainly didn’t do her justice. With her dark hair, fair complexion and vivid blue almost violet eyes, he was sorry that they were on opposite sides of this magazine deal—very sorry.
“Mr. Renault?”
There he went letting himself be distracted. He was going to have to work harder to remain focused when he was around her—if he got the job.
“Oui.” He cleared his throat. “I mean, yes.”
She gave him a strange look and then in a blink it was gone. “I must admit your résumé is quite impressive.”
She leaned back in her chair, looking quite at ease as though she were born to sit there. And perhaps she was at ease, considering her father had been a legend in the publishing industry. But something had gone astray after her father’s death and somehow Sage White had been blackballed from the industry...until now. What did his father know about Sage White that he didn’t?
Sage sent him an expectant look.
“Merci.” He’d worked hard to make sure his qualifications would catch her attention. However, the trick was making sure he didn’t appear to be overqualified.
She arched a dark brow as she gave him a pointed stare as though she were trying to read his thoughts. “Why would you want to work here at QTR?”
To find out about your special brand of magic. And put a stop to it.
Suddenly finding his mouth a bit dry, he cleared his throat. It was best to stick with as much of the truth as possible. “I’ve heard you’re making great strides in turning the magazine around and I would like to be a part of it.”
She nodded as though his answer was acceptable. Then she glanced down at his résumé. “I don’t see where you have any experience working in the publishing industry.”
He’d noticed that, too, when he was putting together his first-ever résumé. He’d never needed one before since he’d started his own software company while still in college. He’d always been his own boss. In fact, he was used to people answering to him, not the other way around. This arrangement was definitely going to take some adjusting for him. But how hard could an assistant position be?
Still, he hadn’t wanted his résumé to be too perfect or it would have been suspicious. Nor did he want it to be filled with too much fiction. And so his work experience was limited to positions within a few trusted friends’ companies.
Trey swallowed hard. “Publishing is new to me. But I like challenges. And I’m a fast learner.”
Again, she nodded. She sat back in her chair and gave him a serious stare. He couldn’t help but wonder if she was deep in thought or if she was somehow trying to intimidate him.
“It sounds to me like you get bored easily,” Sage said. “Is that the case?”
How had she done that? Read him so easily? He had to admit that it made him a bit uncomfortable. He enjoyed being a man of mystery. “I...” His voice died away as he desperately sought out some answer to assuage her worries. “I thrive on challenges.”
The worry that had been reflected in her eyes faded. “I can definitely challenge you.”
Suddenly his imagination veered from the subject of business. In his mind’s eye, she was challenging him, but it wasn’t with reports or emails; instead it was with her glossy full lips. They were so tempting. And the berry-red hue made them stand out against her ivory skin.
He swallowed hard and drew his gaze upward to meet hers. “Then it sounds like we’ll make a great team.”
“Not so fast. I didn’t say you were hired.”
“But you will. You need me.” He sent her one of his best smiles.
She didn’t appear phased. “I don’t need anyone.”
“So you’re one of those.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Not about to stumble down that rabbit hole, he said, “You need me, you just don’t know it yet.”
Sage leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. If she was trying to look intimidating, it wasn’t working. “You have a very odd way of interviewing.”
He did? That was quite possible, but he’d gained her attention. She wouldn’t forget him.
“I’m the man you need. I’m smart, timely and efficient.”
“And not lacking in conceit.”
He shook his head. “It’s not conceit when it’s a fact. Give me thirty days and I’ll prove it to you.”
He could see by the look in her eyes that he was getting through to her. She would hire him. He was certain of that. This interview had lingered longer than he’d ever imagined and she genuinely seemed interested in him—in his skills, that is.
HE WAS COCKY. She’d definitely give Trey that much.
But sometimes that wasn’t such a bad thing.
Sage always did like a challenge. It was his third day on the job and he’d presented a very big challenge. But of all the candidates, he struck her as a get-it-done type. And that’s who she needed on her team right now—if she hoped to continue to turn around this magazine.
An email popped up. Sage was just about to call a management meeting, but the subject line caught her attention: Elsa White. That name was enough to send her good mood in a downward spiral. What was her stepmother up to this time?
Sage had always known that her stepmother had outmaneuvered her into gaining control of White Publishing. Sage had been young and naive. She’d wanted to believe that her stepmother wasn’t a monster, but reality was much harsher than Sage had been prepared to accept at the tender age of eighteen. It had been that particular birthday when she’d lost her childhood home, her destiny and her naivety. She’d been forced to grow up—it came with a lot of painful life lessons.
She knew that if she was wise, she’d let go of the past and keep moving forward, but she couldn’t. She remembered being a little girl and sitting behind her father’s large desk at the headquarters of White Publishing. Her father would swing her chair around until she was looking out over the bustling city and he would tell her that one day all of this would be hers. But she was never to take it for granted. As the head of White Publishing, she would have a great responsibility and it went beyond the quarterly results. She needed to be generous, understanding and compassionate with everyone around her.
That had been before he had been bewitched by Elsa. After that, nothing was ever the same. Had her father truly changed his mind about the business and her role in it? It was a question she’d been contemplating off and on for years. Sometimes she thought she knew the answer, and other times she wasn’t so sure.
Knock. Knock.
Trey ducked his head inside the door. He looked as though he were going to say something but then he hesitated.
“What did you need?”
“Um...” He stepped farther into the room. “I’ve sent out that email to the department heads, so I was going