Title: The Boss Project
Author: Vi Keeland
Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 11, 2022
Excited about Vi Keelandโs upcoming release,
The Boss Project?
Check out this SNEAK PEEK and meet Merrick and Evie!
Merrick
โMr. Crawford?โ My assistant, Andrea, poked her head into my office while I was eating lunch with Will. โSorry to interrupt, but HR asked me to find out if you might have time to talk with one of the candidates for the in-house therapist position?โ
I shook my head. โI donโt need to talk to the applicants. I already gave my input to Joan. HR is holding second-round interviews and will let me know what they think when theyโre done.โ
โApparently one of the candidates asked if she could have a minute with you after her appointment with HR. But her meeting is starting now, and I know you donโt like anything on your schedule during trading hours.โ
โWhich candidate?โ
โEvie Vaughn.โ
I leaned back in my chair with a chuckle. โSure. Why not?โ
She nodded. โIโll let her know.โ
Will lifted his chin after Andrea shut the door. โWhat was that little grin about?โ
โOne of the candidates for the stress therapist job is interesting, to say the least.โ
โIn what way?โ
โHer first-interview appointment wasnโt until five one day last week, so when the market closed, I ran downstairs to Paloma to pick up a suit Iโd bought and had tailored. After I left the store, I thought Iโd forgotten my cell phone in the fitting room, so I went back to check. When I opened the door, I walked in on a woman.โ
โI hate those places that have one fitting room for both men and women.โ
โActually, this place has separate ones. The woman was just in the menโs room. But thatโs not the best part. When I walked in, she was half undressedโฆand smelling her armpit.โ
Willโs brows shot up. โCome again?โ
โYou heard me right. Anyway, a few minutes later, my five oโclock appointment walks in, and itโs her. The woman from the fitting room.โ
โThe pit sniffer? Get the hell out of here. What did you do?โ
โNothing. I played it off like I didnโt recognize her, though she definitely recognized me. I could see her squirming.โ
โShit like this only happens to you, my friend. So what went down? How did the interview go?โ
โShe was the least-qualified candidate. I donโt even know how her resumรฉ made it into the group that got called for interviews.โ
โYet sheโs back here today for a second interview?โ
โShe is, indeed.โ
Will shook his head. โWhat am I missing?โ
โWhen I got home that night, I started thinking about how the board is shoving this position down my throat. They mandated that I hire someone, not that the person be competent.โ
Will smiled. โGenius.โ
I shook my head. โI need my people to be focused and ruthless while theyโre hereโnot getting in touch with their emotions.โ
โI hear you.โ
As we finished lunch, Andrea returned and knocked. Evie Vaughn stood right behind her. Her wavy blond hair was up today, and she wore a simple black skirt and jacket with a red blouse underneath, giving her the sexy-librarian look every male fantasizes about at least once in his life. I tried to ignore the stir seeing her caused in me and forced my gaze down.
Andrea peeked her head in the door. โDo you need more time?โ
I looked at Will. โWe need to discuss anything else?โ
He shook his head. โNot that I can think of. Iโll get the Endicott buy order placed as soon as it hits forty a share.โ
โGood.โ I turned my attention to Andrea. โPlease show Ms. Vaughn in.โ
Will left, tossing me a smirk over his shoulder as he passed Evie.
When the door shut, she took a few steps forward, then hesitated. โThank you for seeing me.โ
I nodded and gestured to the guest chairs on the other side of my desk. โHave a seat.โ
โYour assistant mentioned you donโt usually take appointments while the market is open.โ
โI donโt.โ Leaning back, I tented my fingers. โWhat can I do for you, Ms. Vaughn?โ
โItโs Evie, please. Andโฆwell, I was hoping you could clear something up for me.โ
โWhat would that be?โ
โWhy am I here? For a second interview, I mean. You made it pretty clear during the first one that you didnโt think I had the right experience for the position, and I didnโt exactly make a winning first impression in that fitting room. Soโฆwhy am I here again?โ
I folded my arms across my chest and deliberated how to answer. The politically correct and professional response wouldโve been to say Iโd reconsidered based on how sheโd handled herself during the interview. But Iโd never been accused of being politically correct or professional.
โAre you sure you want the real answer? Sometimes itโs better not to know and just accept the outcome.โ
She folded her arms across her chest, mimicking my posture. โMaybe, but Iโd like to know anyway.โ
I liked her spunk. It was a challenge to keep myself from smiling. โYou were invited back because you are the least qualified of all of the people we interviewed.โ
Her face fell, and I felt a tinge of guilt, even though sheโd said she wanted the truth.
โWhy would you do that?โ
โBecause hiring an in-house stress coach wasnโt my idea. My board of directors is forcing my hand.โ
โIs it a problem because it wasnโt your idea?โ
โI employ a hundred-and-twenty-five people whose jobs are to give me ideas.โ I shook my head. โNo, I donโt have an authority issue, Ms. Vaughn.โ
She pursed her lips. โDoctorโitโs Doctor Vaughn. I prefer to be called Evie, but if you insist on using formal etiquette, you might as well use my proper title. I hold a PhD in clinical psychology.โ
I couldnโt hold back the smile that time. I nodded. โFine. No, I donโt have authority issues, Doctor Vaughn.โ
โSo youโre against the position, in general, and you wanted to hire the worst person to prove a point?โ
I nodded once. โYou could say that.โ
โAre you against therapy?โ
โI believe some people can benefit from therapy.โ
โSome people? But not your employees? Do you believe your employees donโt have any stress in the workplace?โ
โThis is Wall Street, Ms.โDoctor Vaughn. If it werenโt a stressful job, my average trader wouldnโt earn seven figures. I just prefer my people to be focused while theyโre here in the office.โ
โDid you ever consider that you might be looking at things backward? Taking an hour out of the day to speak to someone isnโt whatโs interrupting a stressed-out personโs focus. Theyโre already not focused because of their stress level. Therapy could help center someone so they can concentrate better.โ
โNoted that thereโs more than one way to look at things.โ I studied her for a moment. โIs there anything else you wanted to ask? Or have we reached the point in the discussion where you tell me you hope we never see each other again?โ
She smiled shyly. โIโm sorry about that. It wasnโt an appropriate thing to say.โ
I shrugged. โItโs fine. Believe it or not, Iโve been accused of being inappropriate a time or two myself.โ
She laughed as she stood. โGee, I never would have guessed that from the man who sniffed me during my interview.โ Evie held out her hand. โThank you for your time. And your honesty.โ
RELEASING
JULY 11th!
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Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles are currently translated in twenty-seven languages and have appeared on bestseller lists in the US, Germany, Brazil, Bulgaria and Hungary. Three of her short stories have been turned into films by Passionflix, and two of her books are currently optioned for movies. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.
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