Free Because He Watches Me (Because He Owns Me, Book Nine) (An Alpha Billionaire Romance) by Hannah Ford Page A

her intently.
    She took a breath. “I look forward to learning, and if conflict is part of that, I welcome the challenge.”
    “You may find yourself under a great deal of mental and emotional pressure. The strain can be enormous. Working for Red is never easy.”
    She swallowed. “You mean Mr. Jameson?”
    He nodded. “He’s also very egalitarian and likes to meet everyone. That’s why he interviews all prospective employees.”
    Nicole gulped audibly. “He interviews everyone ?”
    “Yes, if we think the candidate is appropriate Jameson International material. In fact, there’s a good chance you’ll be meeting him very soon,” he grinned.
    Nicole licked her lips and tried to still her shaking hands. “It must be overwhelming for someone with Mr. Jameson’s schedule and responsibilities to meet with everyone .”
    Edward laughed heartily. “We’ve been trying to get him to stop for years, but he won’t. That’s how seriously he takes his business. And he expects that dedication and intensity from every one of his employees.”
    “I find that refreshing,” she lied. Actually she found it horrifying. She wasn’t ready to come face to face with the man she’d been studying from afar.
    Edward sat back and looked at her anew. “Working for Red can be particularly challenging for female employees.”
    “It can?” She didn’t know exactly what Edward meant, but her arms broke into gooseflesh anyway. She thought back to the things she’d seen on those online forums. Women who worked here probably fought tooth and nail to gain his approval and notice.
    Edward tapped the table lightly with his hand. “In any case, you’re a great candidate, and everyone speaks highly of you. I’m going to recommend that Red meet with you today.”
    She felt woozy from all of this. “You’re hiring me for the internship position?”
    Edward sighed. “Pending Red’s approval. But that’s why I’m trying to give you fair warning. This is a tough business, but for someone like yourself it could be positively torturous.”
    “Torturous?”
    “Just…be prepared, Nicole. If you can do this job, you’ll go very far in this business. But if you’re a wilting flower—it won’t be a pretty sight. I’ve seen the ones who crack and it can get ugly.”
    “I won’t crack,” she said, suddenly sitting up straighter. She didn’t like his implication that she was a wilting flower. Maybe she was fresh out of college, but she’d never failed at anything in her life. In high school, she’d been debate champion three years running and when she was even younger she’d won chess tournaments playing against kids twice her age.
    Edward seemed to take stock of her and find what he’d wanted to see. He smiled, stood up and shook her hand. “I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of one another in the future, Nicole. Just hang tight for a minute.”
    And then he left her alone in the small conference room.
    She was suddenly aware of being incredibly thirsty. Checking her phone, she realized she’d been in here for nearly an hour and a half now. It hadn’t felt nearly that long, but time had flown in the midst of her anxiety, and the endless questions and trying to make a good impression.
    Well, apparently she’d done it. Now she just had to make a good impression on him .
    As if to confirm this, the blonde receptionist opened the door to the conference room. “Miss Masters? Please come with me.”
    She wanted to get a drink of water, but the receptionist was already walking ahead of her, striding confidently, elegantly. Nicole was too intimidated to ask for a cup of water. Instead she followed her to a different set of elevators.
    When the doors opened, the inside was opulent. It looked like an old fashioned elevator from some nineteenth century mansion. A man dressed in a dark blue uniform smiled at them. “Top floor?” he asked with a delicate smile.
    “Yes,” the blonde replied, barely looking at him.
    Nicole tried to