She realized she was staring and immediately felt the heat on her cheeks again. “Zanders, I apologize but I don’t even know your first name.”
“Is it not in my file?” He chuckled as he teased her and stepped forward with his hand extended. “Bartholomew, Bartholomew Zanders. It’s good to see you again, Mrs. Reid.”
“Jamie, please... Zanders.” She laughed as she realized he went by Zanders because his full name was a mouthful. “Unless you prefer Bart—”
“Zanders is fine. Nobody uses my first name unless it’s my grandmother or the cops.”
She raised her eyebrows. “How often have the police needed to use your name?”
“Once or twice in college.” He grinned ruefully and unbuttoned his jacket. “How are you doing? Alex has you going nonstop, doesn’t he?”
She motioned to one of the leather chairs and moved to settle into the other one. “He does, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Well, you look great.” It was his turn to blush as he sat down. “I mean, for being busy and pregnant and...”
She laughed again. “No worries, Zanders. I’ll take that as a complement.”
“Phew! That’s what I meant it as.” He leaned back into the chair. “I don’t know why I’m nervous.”
“It’s fine. You’ve already spoken with Mark?”
>
“I have. This is a great family business.”
“Funny you should say that. Alex started the business, I guess I married into it, and Mark,” she thought for a moment, “sort of divorced into it. He and his ex-wife divorced and he came out this way. It’s very much Reid Enterprise.”
“I can appreciate that. Alex Reid is a smart man. He knows who will help make his company successful. Or should I say, more successful.”
“Hence why Alex is interested in having you move up and take on more responsibility.” She appreciated his nod of acknowledgement. Zanders wasn’t cocky, or self-absorbed, she could tell right off the bat. “I only have a few questions.”
“Fire away.” He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees.
“Are you married?”
He blinked, but his face gave away nothing. “I’m not.”
“Do you have a serious girlfriend or a partner?”
This time an eyebrow rose and he glanced quickly down at her belly. “N-Not at the moment.” He coughed nervously. “Your questions are a little different than Marks.”
She waved her hand. “What about family?”
“My family lives in Seattle.”
“How close are you to them?”
“Not very. I mean, I see them at Christmas and they fly out here once a year but my father remarried to a woman half his age and started a new family. My mother is busy enjoying cruises and bridge.” His gaze dropped down to his hands. “Sorry, that’s probably not what you meant.”
She smiled and waved her hand. “I’m only asking because this job takes a lot of your time. If you’re driven and determined to succeed, and you want to learn everything you can from Alex Reid, then it’s going to require not having much of a life outside the office at first. I only ask about your family and social life because it might feel basically non-existent.”
“I understand the job requirements, Mrs. Reid.” Again, he didn’t sound cocky or angry she was asking. He actually sounded like he appreciated that she was asking him these questions. “I’m excited to be a bigger part of this company.”
“Jamie, please.” She shifted to get more comfortable. “I just want you to understand what you’re stepping into from a different perspective than Alex and Mark.”
Now that they had covered that part of the interview, Jamie asked Zanders where he saw the company going, how he could help and other questions she knew Alex would also go over with him. Zanders handled himself completely professionally and Jamie could tell he was going to do a great job.
Half an hour later, Jamie was going over some technical questions, asking if he felt his temp could handle moving up with him or if he felt he might need someone more qualified, when Alex knocked quietly from the door that separated her office from his. He stepped in and nodded at the two of them. “Everything okay?”