enjoyebooks Chapter 3: The Interview
Chapter 3: The Interview
Diary Entry:
Date: September 5th
Time: 9:15 PM
Dear Diary,
The job hunt in Ashbourne was bleak. It was either make lattes at the Starbucks they probably owned, or work for the Brayton family empire.
Lucky me, I ended up in a job interview with Brandon Brayton himself. He was gorgeous, inappropriate, and the definition of a nightmare in a designer suit.
He offered me a “personal arrangement” to get the job, but I told him I was dating Alec. His reaction? Laughter.
This place is ridiculous. And now I work for them.
-Ivy
Ivy had woken up the next morning with one mission—get a job that wasn’t tied to Alec Brayton.
Turns out, Ashbourne was smaller than it looked.
After hours of searching, Ivy had realized something terrifying: the Brayton family owned almost everything. The high-end offices, the fancy boutiques, even the Starbucks she had considered applying to.
There had been one option left.
Brayton Corporation.
So now, here she was, walking into a job interview with zero expectations—and immediately regretting it the second she had stepped inside the office.
Because sitting behind the desk, lounging like this was all one big joke, was Brandon Brayton.
His grin had spread the second he had seen her.
“Well, look at this,” he had drawled, stretching lazily in his chair. “My brother’s girlfriend, stepping into my lair. Don’t worry, sweetheart, I’ll be gentle.”
Ivy had stiffened. “Are you seriously the one interviewing me?”
“Surprised?” he had asked, his blue eyes gleaming with amusement.
“Yes,” she had deadpanned. “Because I didn’t think they let frat boys run billion-dollar businesses.”
Brandon had laughed, tilting his head like he was re-evaluating her.
“Well, since you’re here, let’s get to the important stuff.” He had leaned forward, hands folded on the desk. “How badly do you want this job?”
Ivy had narrowed her eyes. “Badly enough to sit through this nonsense.”
His grin had widened.
“We could work out an arrangement,” he had said smoothly. “Something… mutually beneficial. You get the job, I get—”
“I’m dating Alec,” Ivy had snapped.
Brandon had frozen.
Then he had thrown his head back and laughed.
“Oh, sweetheart,” he had said, shaking his head. “You’re either the bravest or the dumbest woman I’ve ever met.”
Ivy had glared, waiting for him to pull the offer. But instead, Brandon had leaned back in his chair and shrugged.
“Well, that was fun,” he had said. “You’re hired.”
She had blinked. “What?”
He had tossed a contract toward her. “Welcome to the circus.”
Ivy had stared at him, then slowly reached for the pen.
“This is going to be fun,” Brandon had mused as she had signed.
She had walked out of the office, still reeling.
And immediately slammed into someone.
A stunning woman, all icy blue eyes and perfect red lipstick, had given her a warm smile.
“You must be Ivy,” she had said, her voice smooth as silk. “I’m Genevieve. Alec told me so much about you.”
Ivy’s stomach had dropped.