Atonement (The Atonement Series) (9 page)

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, all you’re going to do is observe from a distance and dream about getting back here so you can start work.”

“It had to happen sometime.” I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. “Listen, whether or not my sister believes you have jobs that you are overqualified for, you still work. All I do is volunteer. I need to put something on my resume. I’m almost twenty-nine years old and I have never had a job that wasn’t volunteering or doing something for the community. Yes, it is quite honorable but one of these days, I am going to have to start paying into Social Security and what’s a better time than now? After we get back from Europe? It’s a fresh start for me and perhaps I can finally move past my father’s death and all this ‘woe is me’ crap. I don’t like being the victim and I won’t be played like one either.”

“What are you trying to say, Deirdre? There is something wrong with you feeling guilty for what happened to your father? For missing him and mourning his death? You’re human and nothing you have done has been out of character for anyone who has ever lost someone close to them.”

“Yeah, I know but I still feel like I’m hiding and I don’t want to do that anymore. I don’t want to be that angsty girl who can’t let anyone in for fear something might happen to them. That’s not how the world works. We live in precarious times and I want to enjoy life and all the great things about it. I am tired of wallowing in my own misery. It’s been long enough and I have officially run out of excuses,” I explained in a rush of emotion and feeling.

Damn, it felt good just to speak them but for the first time, I actually believed my own words and that was even better.

Chapter Seven

THE FOLLOWING DAY
was interesting to say the least.

After my heart-to-heart with Colin, I arrived earlier than usual to meet up with Liam at the uConnect Headquarters and filled out my employment paperwork. Afterwards, we made small talk and he quickly introduced me to his other two partners at uConnect: Jake Kagasuki and Dinesh “Dennis” Gupta. Both were born and raised in Seattle and smart as whips. The three had also been friends for a very long time and had all graduated from Harvard with MBA degrees along with Bachelors in Business.

“As you can see, we are seriously lacking in female talent so it is great to have you on board,” Dennis greeted in an authentic Washington accent I had tried so hard to get rid of.

After a lot of work with voice coaches, I’d mastered the “California” accent or having no regional accent at all. Both were shocked and amazed I was a native of Washington state as they stated many times during our brief chat I didn’t sound like I’d been born and raised in Seattle.

My sister never gave a damn about losing her accent and therefore it was quite strange because when we were together, her accent was pronounced while mine wasn’t noticeable at all.

Afterward, he offered to take me out to lunch. I agreed because I honestly thought any other answer would sound rude and unappreciative. He’d been the perfect gentleman and had not come on to me. Now that he was officially my boss, he treated me like a very valuable employee he wanted to wine and dine—not because of a sexual interest but in the chance he could keep me happy enough to stay with his company for a very, very long time. With my track record, I didn’t believe his attitude was too far fetched.

One complaint Liam would never suffer from would be frugality. His choice of restaurant was one of the hippest and best in Seattle, Sitka & Spruce. I’d been to the restaurant more times than I could count but it was always a treat. The place was damn near a city institution and the height of fine yet understated dining.

For an appetizer, he ordered bread, a vast array of cheeses specific to the Northwest and salami. With a bottle of Evian we shared between us, the food was absolutely delicious and we hadn’t gotten to our entrees yet.

“I truly believe you are going to be happy at uConnect. That is the point, you know. We value the contentment of our employees and we do everything in our power to make sure their needs are met.”

He paused and buttered a slice of soft bread. “For instance, many of our employees prefer to stay fit. There is a gym on site and it is available twenty-four hours per day. There are security cameras attached so you should never feel unsafe.

“I desperately want to convince you the right decision has been made. I’m not big on charity but you impressed the hell out of Jake and Dennis. They both participate in Habitat for Humanity and the local chapter of HFFIN—Homes for Families in Need—so if you ever feel those heartstrings pull at you, I can get you in touch on a future project with either organization and you are free to participate.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, why are you doing this for me?”

“Well, to be honest, I can see how much you are into my brother and I want you to feel self-assured in yourself to think a relationship between you two could be possible. He does have a reputation for being a ‘ladies’ man’ but it isn’t like that. He’s just picky and I can see he likes you just as much as you like him,” Liam explained in a sincere tone.

I picked up a sliver of cheese and bit delicately. “So, basically, you have no ulterior motives other than setting me up with your brother? What if I don’t like him the way you think I do?”

“Well, your emotions are pretty transparent. I understand your complicated relationship with Drew but it isn’t going to destroy their friendship if you end up with him. You two are going to be in very close quarters for at least one month. A lot can happen in that space of time. You’re a decent person not to mention beautiful and intelligent. Why wouldn’t I want my brother to be happy? He deserves it after all this time especially after Sierra messed him over.”

I sipped from my water. “As in Sierra Granger?”

“You know her?”

“We attended the same high school. She was always known as a heartbreaker but if I am not mistaken, isn’t she married now?”

Liam merely nodded. “The worst part is she was dating both Colin and Kevin at the same time. At the end of the day, she made her choice and dumped him just days before her engagement to Kevin was announced. It nearly destroyed him. You see, Colin was also a founding partner of uConnect with the three of us but he equally sold his shares to Jake, Dennis and I; he hasn’t been interested in business much since then. He prefers to dick away his life on endless European vacations and working at that shitty little coffee shop and bar.

“To say he has disappointed our father is a grave understatement. He wants him to become a productive member of society again and you might just be able to save him and force him to live up to the expectations set by our father.”

The waiter intervened and we ordered our main courses. I chose the Neah Bay king salmon while Liam ordered the gently poached chicken. He also arranged for a very nice bottle of white wine to accompany our lunch.