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“Of course.” She stood, smoothing her skirt into place. Her stomach rumbled, and she rested her hand over it for a brief moment. She hadn’t felt right the last few days and wondered more than once if she was coming down with something.
Slipping out of her cubicle, she followed Alex through the office, noticing that everyone watched them as they passed by, their eyes wide with curiosity. Surely a flurry of gossip would launch the moment they walked out of the room.
Her head throbbed just imagining it.
He led her into an empty meeting room, closing the door behind her when she walked inside. He gestured for her to sit and she did so, watching as he rounded the large table and sat across from her. He smiled again, unusual for their normally dour CEO, and she had the distinct feeling he was trying to put her at ease.
“I received an email from our human resources manager this morning,” he started.
She nodded once, clutching her hands together. Great. So she’d have to deal with Alex versus Hunter. She didn’t know which one was worse.
Gracie frowned. Probably Hunter.
“It stated in the email that you requested a temporary leave of absence from Worth Luxury.” He paused, watching her. “I don’t mean to pry, but I usually like to conduct an informal interview when such a request is made. You see, we don’t get them very often, and if it’s something personal, please tell me so upfront.”
She swallowed hard and nodded again but otherwise didn’t say anything.
“Is there a problem in the marketing department you’d like to speak to me about, Miss Hayes?”
Why yes, I had sex with your brother and now I can’t stand to be around him for too long. I live in fear of being unable to restrain myself and jumping his bones on a constant basis.
That so wasn’t going to fly.
“You’re right. It—it is a private matter, Mr. Worth. It’s in regards to my family, nothing serious, but I feel I should spend some time with my grandmother. We haven’t been in contact for many years, and she’s not in the best of health.” Her grandma seemed hearty as could be, so maybe Gracie was embellishing it just a bit, but she didn’t want to say the reason she wanted a temporary leave was because of constant heartache.
“I understand completely. Family should always come first. Though I must tell you, Becky made it sound like you had specific trouble with your superior.” His gaze was razor-sharp; he stared her down much like an eagle watched its prey. Almost as if he wanted to break her. At the very least, be able to read her mind. “Are you finding it difficult to work with Hunter?”
His outright question surprised her. How she wished she could squirm in her seat but he would notice. And that wouldn’t do. “I have no problems with Hunter at all.”
“According to Becky, you do.”
She pressed her lips together, trying not to get upset. What in the world had Becky said? Now she looked twenty times the fool. “Hunter is a great boss. The Worth in-house marketing team is one of the best in the industry.”
“I appreciate the compliment. You are part of what makes it the best in the industry.” His eyes were kind, though his expression was still somber. “We don’t want to lose you.”
“You won’t,” she said hurriedly, not knowing if that was exactly true. It might be best if she did try and find another job. Somewhere else. Somewhere as far from Hunter as she could get. “I have no plans for leaving Worth Luxury.” Yet.
He contemplated her quietly, leaning back in his chair. It creaked, the sound loud in the otherwise utter quiet of the room, and she wished she could hide under the table. Like she did when she was a child and wishing she could disappear.
“Hunter told me you’re one of his most valuable members on the marketing team.”
Warmth suffused her at the compliment. He really said that? “I appreciate his kind words.”
“When I informed him of your request for a temporary leave, he seemed surprised.” Alex paused, as if gauging her reaction. “He said he doesn’t want to lose you.”
Her cheeks heated, and she tore her gaze from Alex’s, staring at the edge of the sleek black conference table. “It’s very flattering that he feels that way. I really only want a month off, nothing more than that.”
“I understand,” he said again, and she sensed he really did. “But what if I were to make you a deal, Miss Hayes?”
She glanced up quickly, her eyes widening. “A deal?” Her voice croaked like a frog and she cleared her throat.
“I trust my brother’s opinion. When he says you’re the most valuable player on his team, I tend to believe him. When he claims he doesn’t want to lose you, I believe that as well. Since you say there’s nothing wrong, you just need a short break, perhaps I can tempt you to return sooner. It sounds like we can’t afford to lose you, even for a short amount of time.”
“What sort of temptation are you talking about?” To say she was surprised by his change in tactics was an understatement. And most definitely a compliment to her work. She was ready to get down to business if Alex was willing to make an offer. She’d never meant for this to happen.
But she wasn’t about to turn him away either. She wasn’t that dumb.
“I’m willing to offer you the position of marketing director. With it would come a raise, of course, a percentage on par with your increase in responsibilities.”
