Read Online Atonement (The Atonement Series) by Elle Chardou - Free Book Online
Authors: Elle Chardou
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the ground off and running.”
I leaned against my arm as the alcohol I’d consumed on an empty stomach began to catch up with me. “So, what is this position?”
“Human Resources manager. Yeah, I know, you have a MBA but that makes you more than capable for the position. The salary is six figures and the benefits are excellent. Not quite two months vacation but you do get twenty days vacation as long as you’re willing to not take it all at one time. The hours are pretty normal. You might have to work some overtime but nothing too drastic. How does that sound you?”
I finished the rest of my dirty martini. “Seriously, why are you doing this for me? Is this some kind of pity offering or is it because I know Colin?”
Liam’s blue eyes stared at me as if I’d lost my mind. “You’re highly qualified and to be honest, we’re a pretty incestuous company. We don’t hire much from the outside. People just continue to move up the ranks and we actually run an internship program. Those who are successful get a job at the bottom and they have the ability to work their way up. It’s perfect and it keeps the company young, vibrant and full of people with fresh, new ideas.
“The partners and I usually go through our friends’ lists when a position comes up and there isn’t anyone qualified within the company to take the position. It’s worked out so far and it helps us hire American workers—you know, the whole get Americans’ back to work banter. We actually practice it and on top of that, we get fat tax breaks for hiring locally. Most of the company consists of Americans though we have people who have family that immigrated here from every corner of the world. We’re also one of Seattle’s most diverse companies and that makes me proud. Why wouldn’t you want to work for us?”
I rolled my eyes and tried not to feel too badly about all the accolades he was pouring on me. Yes, I was more than qualified for the position but it would definitely be something I would want to discuss with Colin first. However, we were not going out and he wasn’t my significant other. It was ultimately my decision and in a split second, despite my own intoxication, I’d made my choice.
“Sure, I would love to work for uConnect.”
Liam’s eyes lit up as a sly smile crossed his lips. “You won’t regret this. Come by the headquarters tomorrow and ask for me. We’ll get all your paperwork taken care of. I don’t want to give you an excuse to back out.”
“I won’t back out. I have given you my word, haven’t I? What time is good for you?”
“How about eleven in the morning? I usually take a late lunch and I have a meeting scheduled at one.”
“See you then.” I slid out of the booth before I stood and held out my hand to shake his.
He slid out of the booth and stood rather gracefully for someone who was quite drunk. Instead of taking my hand, he slipped his arms around my waist and planted a kiss on my cheek just near my lips. “That’s the only time I could do that and not be accused of sexual harassment, Ms. Bardot.”
I watched as Liam walked away and joined his buddies. My first thought was to say something to Colin but I turned and legged it out of there. We could talk later.
“ THE ONLY REASON why he is offering you the position is because he’s sexually attracted to you, can’t you see that?”
I glared at Colin and tried to keep my temper in check. He wasn’t Drew and if I really expressed how I felt at that moment, he might take it the wrong way. Sadly, no man—except my father—knew me as well as Drew did and it was best not to push the situation.
“Not to lay too fine a point on the subject but I do have an MBA from Harvard. Are you saying if I was ugly he wouldn’t have looked at me nor offered me the position?”
Colin sighed and stood from my bed. “No, not necessarily. You are overqualified and we both know it but…I just wanted you to enjoy your time in Europe. Now,
I leaned against my arm as the alcohol I’d consumed on an empty stomach began to catch up with me. “So, what is this position?”
“Human Resources manager. Yeah, I know, you have a MBA but that makes you more than capable for the position. The salary is six figures and the benefits are excellent. Not quite two months vacation but you do get twenty days vacation as long as you’re willing to not take it all at one time. The hours are pretty normal. You might have to work some overtime but nothing too drastic. How does that sound you?”
I finished the rest of my dirty martini. “Seriously, why are you doing this for me? Is this some kind of pity offering or is it because I know Colin?”
Liam’s blue eyes stared at me as if I’d lost my mind. “You’re highly qualified and to be honest, we’re a pretty incestuous company. We don’t hire much from the outside. People just continue to move up the ranks and we actually run an internship program. Those who are successful get a job at the bottom and they have the ability to work their way up. It’s perfect and it keeps the company young, vibrant and full of people with fresh, new ideas.
“The partners and I usually go through our friends’ lists when a position comes up and there isn’t anyone qualified within the company to take the position. It’s worked out so far and it helps us hire American workers—you know, the whole get Americans’ back to work banter. We actually practice it and on top of that, we get fat tax breaks for hiring locally. Most of the company consists of Americans though we have people who have family that immigrated here from every corner of the world. We’re also one of Seattle’s most diverse companies and that makes me proud. Why wouldn’t you want to work for us?”
I rolled my eyes and tried not to feel too badly about all the accolades he was pouring on me. Yes, I was more than qualified for the position but it would definitely be something I would want to discuss with Colin first. However, we were not going out and he wasn’t my significant other. It was ultimately my decision and in a split second, despite my own intoxication, I’d made my choice.
“Sure, I would love to work for uConnect.”
Liam’s eyes lit up as a sly smile crossed his lips. “You won’t regret this. Come by the headquarters tomorrow and ask for me. We’ll get all your paperwork taken care of. I don’t want to give you an excuse to back out.”
“I won’t back out. I have given you my word, haven’t I? What time is good for you?”
“How about eleven in the morning? I usually take a late lunch and I have a meeting scheduled at one.”
“See you then.” I slid out of the booth before I stood and held out my hand to shake his.
He slid out of the booth and stood rather gracefully for someone who was quite drunk. Instead of taking my hand, he slipped his arms around my waist and planted a kiss on my cheek just near my lips. “That’s the only time I could do that and not be accused of sexual harassment, Ms. Bardot.”
I watched as Liam walked away and joined his buddies. My first thought was to say something to Colin but I turned and legged it out of there. We could talk later.
“ THE ONLY REASON why he is offering you the position is because he’s sexually attracted to you, can’t you see that?”
I glared at Colin and tried to keep my temper in check. He wasn’t Drew and if I really expressed how I felt at that moment, he might take it the wrong way. Sadly, no man—except my father—knew me as well as Drew did and it was best not to push the situation.
“Not to lay too fine a point on the subject but I do have an MBA from Harvard. Are you saying if I was ugly he wouldn’t have looked at me nor offered me the position?”
Colin sighed and stood from my bed. “No, not necessarily. You are overqualified and we both know it but…I just wanted you to enjoy your time in Europe. Now,
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