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"From the University of New Hampshire?"
His slight smirk and arched brow irked Jewell. Heat rose in her cheeks. She straightened her spine and squared her shoulders before answering.
"I didn't attend Harvard, Mr. Roth, but I know what I'm talking about if that's your concern."
An amused grin pulled his slight smirk higher. "If I had concerns about your ability you wouldn't be here, Jewell."
His smugness unnerved her. She pulled a deep breath in through her nostrils and cleared the lump in her throat. "Is that the only reason I'm here? My credentials?"
One eyebrow arched. "You're not only a smart woman, but you've got courage. I like that. I don't like working with people who won't stand up and speak."
"Is that why you were so hard on Carol Soldano?" He didn't want her to hold any punches? Fine, she wouldn't.
"Carol Soldano didn't put enough effort into her work because she didn't believe she should be required to do so and I became aware of her tendency to push her work onto April. I don't accommodate for laziness."
“You didn’t make it easy for her, from what I saw."
What was it about this man that riled her up so quickly and so easily? He ignited her defenses full force and made her want to come back at every comment with an equal ferocity. If Jewell didn't watch it, she'd talk herself right out of the job.
"I won't make it easy for you either. That doesn't mean I will intentionally make it more difficult. You're getting paid very well to do a hard job. If you're not up for it, we have nothing further to discuss. If you don't think you can handle it, tell me now. But I don't think that's the case."
Jewell smiled slowly and held his eyes without wavering, raising her chin in subtle defiance. "I can handle anything you send my way, Mr. Roth."
"Good." He leaned back in his chair and brought his hands in front of his chest to change to Sign for communication. "I will require one further responsibility from you. It is obvious you are fluent in Sign."
She nodded, matching the form of communication. "I sign as well, if not better, than I speak. I can adapt from ASL to PSE to SEE as needed."
"Good. From now on, you will attend all meetings I attend. Although I don’t generally find it necessary, on occasions it would be helpful if I have an interpreter. Especially in large groups when some are too far away for me to see their faces."
"I understand. Will I be welcome at some of these meetings? I am sure executive assistants do not usually attend many of the same meetings as fund managers."
"You are welcome if I say so," was his response.
His statement made her heart skip. Upon being offered the job, Jewell refreshed her memory of B.P. Roth and his business accomplishments. She'd been familiar with some of the funds he managed, but she hadn't connected his name with the handful of funds that still managed to produce a gain during a harsh market. Only a couple of publications made mention of his disability. Mr. Roth was apparently a very powerful man at Bulwark Mutual Funds. More powerful than she originally speculated at their first meeting.
"Do you have any problem with working late on occasion?" he asked, bringing her out of her musings.
"On occasion, no. But I do make plans ahead of time once in a while. If you can give me as much warning as possible, I would appreciate it. Emergencies aside.”
Mr. Roth touched his fingers to his mouth and tapped his fingertips against slightly pursed lips. "I understand, Ms. Kincaid. What about company functions? I occasionally attend business dinners, parties, conferences, and such. If you could accompany me on occasion, it would be," he paused and his stare seemed to intensify, "helpful."
“Knowing ahead will help, but I don’t see any ongoing issues with attending.”
His shoulders bounced in a silent chuckle. "There is a large networking event involving many in the industry two weeks from Thursday evening at the Ritz-Carlton on Boston Common at seven. Are you free?"
Jewell paused before answering and intentionally took the time to unlock her phone and check her painfully blank calendar. She didn't want him to think her calendar was so wide open she didn't need to check. Of course, she didn't have anything planned. Greg might come over, or she might meet up with her friend Kip for lunch, but that was about it. After a sufficient pause, she nodded.
"I'm free."
"Good. It is, of course, a formal dinner. I will pick you up at six. Text me your contact information and address.” He took a business card from the holder on his desk and slid it across the blotter to her.
Jewell nodded and took the card. Why did she feel like they'd just set up a date? Of course, it wasn't. So, why did she have a funny twittering sensation around her heart? Her thoughts raced to trivial things, such as what she would wear and how she would do her hair. She pushed them away and brought her thoughts back to the conversation.
Mr. Roth picked up a thin folder from where it sat near his elbow. He leaned forward and passed it to her over the desk. Jewell raised up from the chair enough to take it from his hand. Their eyes met and Jewell's breath caught in her throat. His eyes shifted momentarily from her eyes, then back again. It was so fast, that Jewell wasn't sure she could trust what she saw. Did he have any idea how much power he held with those eyes?
"This is the first project I'd like you to work on. I'm researching a breakout company in Singapore for possible investment in our Pacific Rim Advantages Fund. They just began trading on the Hang Seng Market last week. If they prove to be as promising as I suspect, I want to get in while the stock is young."
"You didn't choose to purchase at IPO?"
