Chapter 112


    We shake hands, and his dark expression is unreadable, though friendly enough, I think.


    "Have you traveled far?" he asks pleasantly.


    "No, I''ve recently moved to the Pike Street Market area."


    "Oh, not far at all then. Please, take a seat."


    I sit, and Elizabeth takes a seat beside him.


    "So why would you like to intern for us at SIP, Ana?" he asks.


    He says my name softly and cocks his head to one side, like someone I know - it''s unnerving. Doing


    my best to ignore the irrational wariness he inspires, Iunch into my carefully prepared speech,


    conscious that a rosy flush is spreading across my cheeks. I look at both of them, remembering The


    Katherine Kavanagh Sessful Interviewing Technique lecture - maintain eye contact, Ana! Boy, that


    woman can be bossy too, sometimes. Jack and Elizabeth both listen attentively.


    "You have a very impressive GPA. What extra-curricr activities did you indulge in at WSU?"


    Indulge I blink at him. What an odd choice of word. Iunch into details of my librarianship at the


    campus central library, and my one experience of interviewing an obscenely rich despot for the student


    magazine. I gloss over the part that I didn''t actually write the article. I mention the two literary societies


    that I belonged to and conclude with working at yton''s and all the useless knowledge I now possess


    about hardware and DIY.


    They bothugh, which is the response I''d hoped for. Slowly, I rx and begin to enjoy myself.


    Jack Hyde asks sharp, intelligent questions, but I''m not thrown - I keep up, and when we discuss my


    reading preferences and my favorite books, I think I hold my own. Jack, on the other hand, appears to


    only favor American literature written after 1950. Nothing else.


    No ssics - not even Henry James or Upton Sinir or F Scott Fitzgerald. Elizabeth says nothing, just


    nods asionally and takes notes. Jack, though argumentative, is charming in his way, and my initial


    wariness dissipates the longer we talk.


    "And where do you see yourself in five years'' time?" he asks.


    With Christian Grey, the thoughtes involuntarily into my head. My errant mind makes me frown.


    "Copy editing perhapsMaybe a literary agent, I''m not sure. I am open to opportunities."He grins.


    "Very good, Ana. I don''t have any further questions. Do you?" he directs his question at me.


    "When would you like someone to start?" I ask.


    "As soon as possible," Elizabeth pipes up. "When could you start?"


    "I''m avable from next week."


    "That''s good to know," Jack says.


    "If that''s all anyone has to say," Elizabeth nces at the two of us, "I think that concludes the


    interview." She smiles kindly.


    "It''s been a pleasure to meet you, Ana," Jack says softly as he takes my hand. He squeezes it gently,


    so that I blink up at him as I say goodbye.


    I feel unsettled as I make my way to my car, though I''m not sure why. I think the interview went well, but


    it''s so hard to say. Interviews seem such artificial situations, everyone on their best behavior trying


    desperately to hide behind a professional fa?ade. Did my face fitI shall have to wait and see.


    I climb into my Audi A3 and head back to the apartment, though I take me time. I''m on the red-eye with


    a stopover in Anta, but my flight doesn''t leave until 10:25 this evening, so I have plenty of time.


    Kate is unpacking boxes in the kitchen when I return.


    "How did they go?" she asks, excited. Only Kate can look gorgeous in an oversized shirt, tattered


    jeans, and a dark blue bandana.


    "Good, thanks, Kate. Not sure this outfit was cool enough for the second interview."


    "Oh?"


    "Boho chic might have done it."


    Kate raises an eyebrow.


    "You and boho chic." She cocks her head to one side - Gah! Why is everyone reminding me of my


    favorite Fifty Shades"Actually, Ana, you''re one of the few people who could really pull that look off."


    I grin.


    "I really liked the second ce. I think I could fit in there. The guy who interviewed me was unnerving


    though," I trail off - shit I''m talking to foghorn Kavanagh here. Shut up Ana!


    "Oh?" The Katherine Kavanagh radar for an interesting tidbit of information swoops into action - a tidbit


    that will only resurface at some inopportune and embarrassing moment, which reminds me.


    "Incidentally - will you please stop winding Christian upYourment about Jose at dinner yesterday


    was out of line. He''s a jealous guy. It doesn''t do any good, you know." C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    "Look, if he wasn''t Elliot''s brother I''d have said a lot worse. He''s a real control freak.


    I don''t know how you stand it. I was trying to make him jealous - give him a little help with his


    won''t," she says hastily at my scowl.


    "Good. Life with Christian isplicated enough, trust me."


    Jeez, I sound like him.


    "Ana," she pauses staring at me. "You''re okay, aren''t youYou''re not running to your mother''s to


    escape?"


    I flush.


    "No Kate. It was you who said I needed a break."


    She closes the distance between us and takes my hands - a most un-Kate thing to do.


    Oh no... tears threaten.


    "You''re just, I don''t know... different. I hope you''re okay, and whatever issues you''re having with Mr.


    Moneybags, you can talk to me. And I will try not to wind him up, though frankly it''s like shooting fish in


    a barrel with him. Look, Ana, if something''s wrong, you will tell me, I won''t judge. I''ll try to understand."


    I blink back tears.


    "Oh, Kate." I hug her. "I think I''ve really fallen for him."


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