Law #2: Don't Play with a Player: A Sweet Office Romance Story (Laws of Love), Agnes Canestri [novels for students .txt] 📗

“Yeah, well, that’s Hudson. The name of the company comes from him. He was my dog. He died four years ago.”

“I’m so sorry for your loss. Losing him must have been hard.”

Laia’s reaction surprises me. I mentioned Hudson during all the other interviews, and none of the women reacted empathically like this.

“Well, it wasn’t easy at first. But having Hudson at the entrance and petting his head each day before heading up to my office keeps his memory alive.”

Laia’s mouth moves into a circle. “You caress that statue every morning? That’s…”

“Weird? Childish?”

Why did I reveal this personal detail to her? It must have been the compassionate glint in her eyes that made it slip.

“I wanted to say sweet and unexpected.” Laia smiles.

I’d like to inquire what she means by unexpected, but I realize we’ve deteriorated from our original topic, so I steer the conversation back. “You prepared well for your interview, for which you didn’t apply. Does that mean you would like to work for us?”

My hunch that Laia could be the perfect assistant is cementing with each minute.

She has a good degree and an excellent memory, which she demonstrated when she chanted, ipsissimis verbis, my company’s mission statement. She’s honest, seems modest and kind, and is definitely not here to tempt me. What more could I wish for?

“Yes, I’d love to be your copywriting intern.”

“And not my assistant?”

Before Laia can answer, my cell phone buzzes.

“Excuse me for a second.” I stand up and walk to the corner of my office, then press reply. “Hi, Sarah.”

“Hi, Devon. I’m calling to give you my impressions of the two candidates for the creative department. I’d come up in person, but there is an emergency with one of the training schedules, so I’m a little short on time.”

“No problem, just tell me on the phone. How did Laia and Fu do? What’s your verdict?”

A slight creak behind me tells me that Laia must’ve heard her name, and she may have shifted her chair in an attempt to eavesdrop.

Sarah clears her throat. “I think the woman is the better option. But the man isn’t bad, either. If we had two intern positions, I’d take them both.”

I exhale. “I see. Well, we might find a way to get around that. What about the accounting internship? Do we need to repost that position?”

“Not necessarily. I know Chelsea Anderson applied for the PA position, but I think she would be a great fit for the accounting internship with her business degree. Plus, she knows a lot about how our company is run, given that we featured in her thesis work. So, unless you really want her for your assistant, we could make her an offer.”

I scratch my head as the image of the attractive blonde flashes through my mind. Her manners were too coy for me to consider her as my PA, but her resume was valid, and she might spice up the accounting department with her tight pencil skirt. That wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

“I think I have a better candidate in mind for the PA job, and I trust your judgment, Sarah. Go ahead and propose Chelsea the accounting position. I’ll get back to my interview now. Thanks for checking in.”

“Of course, Devon. Thanks for your time.”

Sarah hangs up, and I turn to Laia.

She peers up at me while frenetically chewing on her lower lip. “That was your HR manager, right? What did she say about my interview?”

I slowly amble back, but instead of sitting, I circle around to stand in front of Laia. I lean my hips on the desk and cross my arms in front of my chest.

I could easily lie. If I tell her that she wasn’t accepted to our creative department, she might be happy with the PA position. After all, she did say she would like to work for my company.

The thing is, I don’t want to dupe her.

If she decides to work for me it must be because the job sounds interesting, not because it’s her only option. Otherwise, she might not put the dedication and zeal she showed me a glimpse of into her new duties.

“Sarah said you’re her preferred candidate. However, were you to choose another option, like working for me, Fu would get the internship. He was good too, but you’re Sarah’s first choice.”

Laia’s face illuminates. “That’s amazing. Does it mean I get the job?”

“Yes, unless…”

“Unless what?”

“Unless you decide that you’d prefer to be my assistant.”

A confused frown settles on Laia’s face. “You have five women practically dying to work for you. My friend, Chelsea, for example…”

“Your friend will be offered an internship in our accounting department, and I assume she’ll take it because I already told her that she isn’t suitable to be my PA.”

“Wait, you ruled out Chelsea?” Laia sounds like she can’t believe what I’m saying. “But…she would have been perfect.”

I smack my lips. “I think I’m in the position to decide who would be the perfect candidate. And I don’t think it’s your friend. By the way, I ruled out all the other candidates too. Except you.”

“Why me? I’m not more capable than the others. I might not even have the skills you’re looking for.” Laia shakes her head. The hairpin keeping her dark locks in an up-do gives way, and her hair comes cascading down.

Wow, does she have long hair. 

Her mane reaches below her elbows and with it down her similarity to a young Salma Hayek is no longer an opinion—it’s a fact.

“Can you read?” I ask.

“Of course I can read,” she snaps at me with an almost offended tone. She starts twirling her hair and fastens it back up into a low ponytail. “How do you think I got through my degree without reading?”

I let out an amused snort. Laia tilts her head, and her lips curl up as she realizes I’m teasing. “But I make terrible coffee.”

I wave. “To be honest, my secretary takes care of that. It was only a jest I made to cover up my preference for female assistants in front