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Chapter 1:- Chapter 1, Part 1 - Revised
Mina kept her knees clamped primly together, her back straight, hands clasped in her lap as she nervously watched her prospective employer review the resume she’d presented him with. It was a drill really. She wasn’t entirely naïve. Mina had seen the other women who’d been called into the office of Scott Travis. Tall, leggy women who flaunted their sexuality as if it was one of the qualifications required for the job.
What chance did she have against the blonde with the plunging neckline that had just left? The woman’s cleavage ran halfway to her neck, and the little skirt she’d worn barely covered her bottom. Mina tried to stay focused, forcing herself to sit quietly while Mr. Travis scrutinized the application she’d completed as well as the letters of recommendation. It wouldn’t matter, none of it.
While his attention was trained on the forms, Mina took the opportunity to openly ogle him. She was still a little unnerved from their initial greeting and the furious blush that had scorched her cheeks when he stood up to shake her hand. The man had to be at least six foot three or four, with broad shoulders, jet black hair, and eyes the color of a clear summer day. She’d almost sighed with relief when he let go of her hand and asked her to take a seat because her knees were as wobbly as her smile. He was, she decided, the most devastatingly handsome man she had ever seen
Not that she’d been out in the big world long enough to have seen many men, but Scott Travis exuded a masculinity so potent women probably threw themselves at him shamelessly. Mina almost laughed out loud. There was no probably about it; she’d seen enough of the sugary smiles and batting eyelashes as her competitors filtered in and out of his office to know it was a certain fact.
What she should have done was leave the moment she realized things like intelligence and competence were only important if accompanied by a pair of shapely legs and spiky heels. Yet another day wasted, she thought, covering her mouth to hide a bored yawn. Why was he even bothering to read everything all the way through? She certainly couldn’t compete with the entourage of femme fatales that had come before her, or those that still remained in the waiting area.
Her eyes wandered around the room, stopping at the vast display of what were obviously family photos. None of Mr. Travis with other women though, she noted. The men in the pictures all bore a remarkable resemblance to Scott Travis, as did the two pretty women. Two sisters, three brothers, Mom and Dad, and an older woman who was most likely his grandmother. There were some younger children, a few babies too, but they were pictured with his siblings. It was incredibly sweet to have so many mementos of his family. Mina was the only girl in her family, but she had four brothers of her own and the pictures made her feel homesick.
Scott eyed the woman in front of him. For the moment, his family photos had drawn her attention away from the interview. He hadn’t missed the yawn she’d tried so hard to cover or the smile that played on her lips as she studied the pictures. Mina Lynette Harmon had quite an impressive resume as well as coming highly recommended.
He wouldn’t say she was plain exactly, but the dour dress and the way she’d twisted her dark hair into such a severe bun did nothing to enhance her appearance. She had exceptionally pretty eyes, a lovely shade of green that reminded him of emeralds, and the smile she now wore transformed the scared little farm girl look she’d been wearing when she arrived into something quite enchanting.
Scott glanced back at her application. Mina was twenty-six, almost eight years younger than he was. Her last position had been as an Account Executive for a large corporation in northern Washington. The recommendation from her previous employer stated her work was exemplary, her attendance excellent, and she possessed an ability to comprehend and take command of difficult situations.
She typed eighty-five words per minute, took short-hand and dictation, managed travel arrangements and was willing to travel. She was proficient at every computer program his company utilized, in addition to several they didn’t. She also spoke fluent Spanish and French as well as having an intermediate grasp of German.
He lifted his eyes again, idly sweeping over her figure. It was hard to tell with what she was wearing, but it didn’t matter much anyway. She wasn’t stick thin like the surgery enhanced women he’d been interviewing all day and Scott found it quite refreshing. A woman should be soft and curvy, not have their bones sticking out all over the place. Judging by the pristine way Miss Harmon was sitting, he also doubted he’d have any problems with her rushing out early on Fridays for a date.
He rubbed the back of his neck wearily. He was tired of the mindless twits that had shown up all day, obviously believing their chances of being hired depended on how much skin they revealed. One woman even had the audacity to ask how much longer the interview was going to take because she didn’t want to be late for her nail appointment.
Most of the applications had gone directly into the trash can as soon as they’d left. He wasn’t looking for an assistant who would show him a good time if he overlooked her sloppy work, he wanted an assistant who would actually do the job and do it well. Someone who took pride in their work, someone conscientious who wouldn’t try to distract him with flirtatious banter. What Scott needed was Mina Harmon.
