Page 78 of The Bad Boy Prince in Love

Hallie decided to call him the next day.

This would be a good test of whether Luke really liked her or was just toying with her out of his usual boredom.He wouldn’t bother to hire her for a job if he was just interested in some hanky-panky...or would he?

Anyway, she needed a job.She felt like being at home was going to drive her insane.She sat at the small desk in her bedroom, spinning nervously in her chair as she dialed his number.

As soon as Luke said hello in his velvet voice, Hallie knew it was not just wanting a job that made her call him.

“Hello, it’s Hallie.”

There was a pause on the other end.Hallie wondered what he was thinking, whether he was going to hang up.

“Who are you again?”he said at length in his arrogant, snooty voice.

She was prepared to put up with a certain amount of posturing from Luke, which was inevitable.

“Your ‘girlfriend’.”

“You’re the one who conferred upon me an honorary PhD in geology?”he asked in a laid-back tone.

“That’s right, only it was an honorary STD.”

“I’m happy when a woman doesn’t give me arealSTD.What can I do for you?”

Hallie decided to take the plunge right away.“Remember that time you said I could work for your company?Well, I’m looking for a job.”

“Oh yeah, I did offer you a job.But on the other hand, I’m known to be devious and deceptive...”

“Luke, I don’t have time for your games.Will you give me the job or not?”

“So this is how you talk to your employer?”

“Right, this was a stupid idea.I’m hanging up.”

“Wait,” he said, his voice coming across as more serious.“I’ll give you the job.Come by tomorrow at 3.And don’t be late!I like punctuality.I’m not very punctual myself, but I like it in other people.”

“I just want to be very clear,” she quickly added.“I expect an apology for all those things you said to me in our last conversation.”

“And you will get one when you come and see me in person,” he said without hesitation.

Was he eager to see her after all?

“And another thing,” Hallie added, “I’m not interested in a relationship with you.This is purely about work.”

“Of course, that’s why you called, isn’t it?”he replied calmly but maybe with some sly hint of sarcasm.

Hallie hung up, thinking this was probably a huge mistake.However, it did give her a chance for a real job, so she was willing to try it.

***

THE BUILDING THAT HOUSEDLuke’s office was a gigantic glass tower in the center of Austin.As Hallie entered the echoing lobby, her heart began to beat at double speed.

She felt like she didn’t belong there.She had often felt intimidated by the pristine environment of such places with people going by wearing expensive suits and talking about their business acquisitions.

Just fake it ‘till you make it, she thought to herself.

She took the elevator up to the ninth floor, where his office was supposed to be.And there it was, Solar Sarkadia, written in bold golden letters on a plaque.

Hallie pushed the door open, only to encounter the stern, flinty face of Miss Santer.