Ember
Carter was the one who took my hand and shook it. I was honestly kind of scared to look him in the eye, but I wanted to be direct. The goal was still to be impressive and leave a lasting impression. I could have sworn when he touched me, it was like a jolt of electricity going right through me. It was almost exhilarating. He smiled at me, and I felt as shy as ever, though shy was not my personality. Who was this guy?
” My name is Carter Moonstone. This is my partner, Seth Lightwood”, he explained. We didn’t even realize we were still shaking each other’s hands. It was like neither of us wanted to pull away.
“Ahem. We don’t have all day, Miss Stanford”, Seth said. His tone was grumpy, deep, and somehow still sexy. Carter let go of my hand and found his seat next to Seth. I sat down in my chair and pushed my portfolio at them. Seth just eyed me before finally taking the file and scanning it. I looked at Carter. I felt like I would get further with him, but a part of me wanted to get Seth’s approval as well for some reason.
” So, miss Stanford, tell us about yourself”, Carter said, going through the portfolio I created.
” Well, I graduated from Georgia University of Arts, top of my class”, I lied. It felt wrong to tell this lie, but there was no way I could come clean about my past. It was my secret to share. My burden to bear.
” I see you worked as a chef for a family. Tell me about that experience”, Carter said. Seth wasn’t looking at me, but I could tell he was hanging on to every word I was saying.
” I worked for a family back when I used to live in Georgia to help pay off my dues for school.” I spoke.
” Were you not smart enough to just take out student loans?”, Seth said, and I made eye contact with him. Carter looked at Seth in annoyance. Seth looked smug, probably thinking I was going to get an attitude, but I eyed him right back and smiled.
” Oh, I am very smart. I just did not want to go through all of that drama with loans. I am the type of person that would rather pay for things with hard work, and not take the easy way out.”, I told him. He looked shocked at my response. I continued and spoke to Carter, knowing Seth was still eyeing me.
” I spent a year working for the family I was with before I decided to move here”, I told Carter.
” What is the name of the family you were with?”, Seth asked me. I looked at him. I should have been expecting that question. I decided to try to keep as close to the truth as I could without giving too much away. I remembered what Lamonte said.
” The family I worked for is pretty private, but I worked closely with your friend, Seal,” I told him. His eyes widened for a moment before looking at Carter. I could swear they were communicating telepathically, but I couldn’t prove it. I kept my silence though and kept a smile on my face. It was silent for a few moments.
“Where is Lamonte now?”, Carter asked me. I’m sure my eyes were sad, but I tried to cover it up.
” He passed away.”, I said, without giving too much away. It was silent again for a moment, but both of their eyes were on me. I’m sure my cheeks were growing red and I could see Carter smile at it. Seth was still mugging me. Even with his mean mug, I still wanted to pierce his mean exterior and see what was underneath as I started him back in his eye.
” That is all we need from you,’ Miss Stanford. We will be in touch”, Carter said, standing up and reaching for my hand. I stood up and took his hand as well, shaking it. Again, I felt the bolt of energy shoot up my arm. I pulled away. Each time he touched me, it was like my whole mind just clouded up and all I saw was him. I reached out my hand to Seth. He didn’t take it. I would have sworn I heard Carter growl at him, but Seth smirked and just nodded his head at me before leaving the room. I found myself starting at his back when he walked out the room, tilting my head. I heard an “ahem” from Carter, and I realized I had just been caught checking out my potential boss.
Blushing, I watched as Carter opened the door for me, and I walked out. He was right behind me. Even as a potential boss, I felt his eyes on me, as I usually could whenever I felt my previous cafe boss ogle me, but this was hotter. This made me want to stop walking, push his body against the wall and grab him by the shirt to kiss him. I was feeling hot, and I needed to get out of there.
I kept walking until I found my car. I didn’t even get the chance to let the driver show me. I walked in my heels, even with my feet starting to hurt a bit. When I got to my car, I was alone, but I felt that same spark of electricity for just a moment, and I just knew he was behind me. It was like I could feel the electricity in the air. I turned around, and there he was. Carter Moonstone, looking every bit of the snack he is. Goodness.
” Can I help you?”, I asked him. I didn’t mean for it to sound bad, but I think that is how it came out. He raised an eyebrow and I apologized, slightly squirming.
” I’m sorry”, I told him. ” Just feeling a bit nervous for some reason”. Just like that , I felt like an idiot. Why would I even tell him that?
” I needed to ask you about Seal. He was a close friend of ours. Do you know how he died?”, he asked me. His eyes searched mine, waiting for my answer. I couldn’t bear to face him as I turned my attention to my car, but I didn’t wanna lie to him either.
” Last I heard, he died protecting someone he cared about.”, I told him before getting into the car. I couldn’t even bear to look at him. One more look at him and I felt like I would melt. He handed me a piece of paper through the window. I took it without reading it.
” You have a great day, Miss Stafford”, he said before walking back to the restaurant. I looked down at the paper he had given me. It was his business card. I looked at the back of it.
Call me if you need anything while you are here, it says. Did he give these to the other interviewers as well? Or had I made some sort of lasting impression? Either way, I was super happy about it, but I didn’t want to read too much into it. I drove back home and rolled into bed, putting on Hell’s Kitchen with Gordon Ramsey. I hopped back out of bed, realizing I was hungry, and flamed up the stove. I prepared myself a meal of salmon, rice, and French green beans. I poured some wine and went back to my show. After eating, my thoughts went back to my possible boss. Carter, whose electric touches made me want to feel it forever, invaded my thoughts first. I wondered what kind of lover he was. Rough, or gentle. Did he fuck passionately? My thoughts then turned to Seth. Seth hated me.
That was evident to me the moment he walked into the room, but I read his demeanor. His honey brown eyes held so much lust and sex appeal. He definitely was a take charge kind of guy, and a part of me just wanted to get behind his tough exterior. I wondered what type of dom he could be? I was no stranger to bdsm. Ryder was into it himself. My hormones were all over the place, but the instant thought of Ryder definitely put me off. I wanted Ryder dead for what he did to my mother, but I knew there was no way I could accomplish this. I was really hoping I could get the job. It looked like it paid well, and I know I made some sort of a good impression on Carter, and a bad one with Seth. This was a fifty-fifty debate. I guess I will wait to see soon.