“How’s that?” Chrissy said casually. She flipped open a presentation book to scan the latest company promotional materials created by their advertising company.
“A half million? You could take me on as a personal assistant for a hundred thou a year, and I wouldn’t complain.”
“I’m sure you wouldn’t. But have you considered the tax ramifications of earning that kind of money? After federal and state withholdings, I’ll take home only half of that, and then if I pay you I’ll be left with a measly $150,000 a year. That’s only double my salary now, so it hardly seems worth the trouble of world-travel at the drop of hat, spending hours in meetings with the most powerful people in the world, and eating on the company dime at the most glamorous restaurants in the world with one very handsome and indescribably rich man. It really seems quite exhausting.”
Jessica crossed her arms across her thin cardigan sweater and glared at Chrissy. “I don’t appreciate you yanking my chain,” she said. “I’d kill for a job like that and you’re making a joke about it?”
“Trust me. I'm doing this for your own good,” Chrissy said with a sly grin.
“My own good? Girl, I’m calling up some New York psychiatrists and getting you an appointment with one of them for today. How can you pass up an opportunity like that? What are you thinking?”
Chrissy had thought about it, all night in fact. The
job would be everything that James Pearson said and she might be tempted if she liked, merely liked, the guy. But she didn’t. She’d spent all her life around predators like him. Her experience told her a man like James Pearson was likely to use her up and spit her out when he was done with her.
There had to be a reason why no one assistant lasted longer than five years, and she suspected a number lasted less than that. A man with many businesses and the pressures that went with them had to be exceptionally demanding. And, as she saw at lunch, he was tactless and thoughtless with his words. She imagined him taking out the worst part of his days on her, simply because she was there.
Chrissy did not need or want to be the babysitter for a forty-something billionaire. “You can do that, but sadly you’ll find out that I’m quite sane in this matter.”
Jessica huffed. “I’m not sure about that.”
“Don’t you have some calls to make to some nice mental health professionals?”
Jessica stuck her tongue out and flounced out of her office. Chrissy shook her head. Her assistant was a nice girl from a good family. She had no idea what a man like James Pearson would do to a minion. And half mil a year or not, Chrissy would most definitely be a minion.
Her office phone rang from Jessica’s extension.
“Mr. Grayson is on line one for you,” Jessica said stiffly.
“Thank you, Jessica.”
What now? After that disaster of an interview, she was sure that Charles wouldn’t be calling her again. How could Pearson not tell him how carelessly she had treated his client?
“Chrissy,” Charles said enthusiastically. “How’re you doing?”
“I’m fine,” she said cautiously.
“Wonderful, wonderful. I’ve got to tell you that you impressed Mr. Pearson very much. Very much indeed. He asked when you'd be able to start.”
“You can’t be serious,” she said. “He also told you that I said I wasn’t interested, right?”
“Of course he did. Very clever bargaining ploy. He’s authorized me to offer you a salary of $650,0000. Who am I kidding? He’s going $750,000, tops. I’ll just tell him you drove a hard bargain.”
“Charles, get those ridiculous dollar signs out of your eyes. I really don’t want to work with the man.”
“Don’t be silly. Of course you do. Holding out isn’t going to get you more cash. But I might be able to get you a private jet.”
“Charles!” Chrissy protested.
“Yes. A private jet is an extremely good idea.”
“For whom? You? Charles, what will it take for me to get through to you? I don’t want this job.”
“Think about it over the weekend. After your present bosses give you their ridiculously weak offer, call me.”
Charles clicked off, and Chrissy dropped the handset into its cradle none too gently. Of course, the headhunter saw dollar signs. The commission on a $750,000 job would be hefty amount of money. And it wasn’t surprising that he, like James Pearson, wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
Her line rang again. “Your mother’s on line one for you.”