The Ex Who Hired Her. Kate Hardy

In a different league from her own family. The ground floor of their entire house could’ve fitted into the Smiths’ living room.

      He didn’t look as if he believed her. ‘Let me refresh your memory. My great-grandfather started the store,’ he said. ‘My grandfather took over from him. And then my father.’

      So it was his family business. ‘And now you’re the CEO. Following in their footsteps.’ That much she could work out for herself. ‘But it doesn’t quite add up. Since it’s a family business, why isn’t your surname Field?’

      He shrugged. ‘It’s my middle name. My father refused to change his surname when he married my mother.’

      Oh. So the store belonged to his mother’s family. With a heritage like that, no wonder Vanessa Smith had been so confident. And maybe she could understand now why Vanessa had made that accusation when Alexandra had gone to her for help—an accusation that even now made a red mist swirl in front of Alexandra’s eyes because it had been so unfair and so unjust.

      Jordan looked at her. ‘Speaking of names, I notice you’ve changed yours.’

      Was that a roundabout way of asking her if she was married? Under employment law, he couldn’t ask her; marital status was nothing to do with someone’s performance in their job. On the other hand, it wouldn’t hurt if he thought she was still married. Just in case he was under the very mistaken impression that she wanted anything from him other than this job. ‘It’s my married name.’ And she’d kept it after the divorce.

      ‘Even your first name’s different,’ he mused. ‘I knew you as Alex.’

      When she’d been a very different person. Naïve, believing that she’d been lucky enough to find her soul mate at the age of seventeen. Except she’d kissed her handsome prince and he’d turned into a slimy toad. She shrugged, affecting a cool she definitely didn’t feel—even thinking about kissing when Jordan Smith was sitting right in front of her was a mistake. ‘Xandra is a perfectly valid diminutive of Alexandra,’ she said crisply.

      ‘Very “marketing”.’

      Which was what her tutor had told her when she’d started doing the evening class. Look the part, sound the part, act the part, and you’ll get the part. She’d followed that to the letter. ‘Is that a problem?’

      ‘No.’ He paused. ‘I told Harry and Gina I knew you.’

      Knew her. Yeah. He’d known her, all right. In the Biblical sense. ‘Didn’t that put me out of the running?’

      ‘They liked you.’

      And he’d made it very clear that he didn’t. Definitely guilt talking, she thought.

      Meeting his gaze was a huge mistake. The man had proved to her years ago that he had no integrity where personal relationships were concerned. He’d abandoned her when she’d needed him most, let her down in the worst possible way. How could she possibly still find him in the slightest bit attractive? She reined her thoughts back in.

      ‘If Field’s were to offer you the job, would you take it?’

      If that was his idea of an apology, Alexandra thought, it was much too little and much too late.

      Then again, this was a real opportunity: to be the marketing manager of a traditional, well established department store, with a brief to bring it bang up to date. If she was offered the job, it’d be a real plus on her CV. If she turned it down just to spite him, she’d really be doing herself a disservice. ‘I’d consider it,’ she said.

      ‘The job would mean working with me.’

      ‘Is that a problem for you?’

      He looked straight at her. ‘Not if it’s not a problem for you.’

      In other words, it could work if they didn’t talk about what had happened ten years ago. Could she do that, for the sake of her career?

      She took a deep breath. ‘That depends on what you offer me.’

      Pretty much what she’d said to his mother.

      Alexandra might look different and have a different name, but deep down she was still the same person. Still on the make. Jordan had to fight not to scowl at her and to keep his voice even. ‘That depends,’ he said, ‘on what you can offer us. We’ll see you here tomorrow at three.’

      ‘I’ll be here,’ she said.

      Yeah. And he’d just have to hope that this time she managed to show her true colours and put Harry and Gina off.

      CHAPTER TWO

      ‘SHE’S the one,’ Harry said the following afternoon, when Alexandra left the room after her second interview. ‘No question about it.’

      ‘I really like her ideas for taking the store card to a new level, especially combining it with an app so customers can have instant access to all their account information wherever they are,’ Gina added. ‘And her presentation was flawless as well as enthusiastic. You’d never believe she only got the brief yesterday. She’s going to be a real asset to Field’s. The Board’s going to love her.’

      Jordan couldn’t think of a single argument to change their minds. Mainly because they were right. Much as he hated to admit it, she was the best person for the job.

      Maybe that huge ambition of hers could be harnessed to work in their favour.

      Maybe.

      Well, he’d never been a coward. He’d always stepped up to the mark, always shouldered his responsibilities. That wasn’t going to change now. ‘Let’s call her in and give her the good news.’

      The serious look on Jordan’s face confirmed Alexandra’s gut reaction. She hadn’t got the job. Given that he was on the interview panel, that wasn’t so surprising. Hopefully the debrief would tell her where she’d gone wrong; though she had a feeling that the real reason for her rejection lay ten years in the past.

      What an idiot she’d been, putting herself in a position where he could reject her for a second time.

      ‘Ms Bennett. Do sit down.’

      She thought about defying him and remaining on her feet; but she was very glad she had taken the seat when he added, ‘Welcome to the team.’

       She’d got the job?

      It surprised her so much that she was actually lost for words.

      But her silence didn’t seem to faze him. He continued, ‘Mr Blake will sort out the details with you—when you’re able to start, setting up an induction day so you can meet the rest of the team, sorting out your security for the store and the computer network.’

      ‘Thank you.’

      ‘Do you have any questions?’ Harry asked.

      ‘At the moment, only one.’ She paused. ‘Is the culture here always this formal? I’m more used to working on first-name terms.’

      Jordan looked at her. So she was going to start challenging him already?

      OK. He’d let her think she’d won this one, because it really wasn’t an issue. ‘No, it’s not. Everyone here calls me Jordan.’

      ‘Jordan,’ she repeated.

      It was the first time he’d heard her say his name in a decade, and he felt the colour rise through his face because he could remember a completely different tone to her voice, back then. When she’d cried out his name as she’d climaxed.

      What an idiot he’d been. Not an issue, indeed; suddenly she’d made it one. And she hadn’t just won this round, she’d completely flattened him. He needed to get out of here before he said something stupid. He glanced at his watch. ‘I’m afraid I need to be somewhere. Excuse me. Thank you for your time, Ms B—Xandra.’ He deliberately