Filed to story: Can’t Get Enough Of You
We stood in the foyer of our building, talking. Since the party, he hadn’t been able to shut up about the new franchises. I was glad he was so eager to get started. It was always a good thing to have people on board who were passionate about what they were doing. And Austin was about as passionate as they came.
I was just as serious about the job, but lately, I’d been feeling distracted. I loved running Appetite, and I was lucky that my mom’s dream also turned out to be so profitable. Even if it hadn’t been, I wouldn’t have stopped doing it.
The money was a silver lining.
But even with everything working out the way it was supposed to, I felt like something was missing.
“I think you know exactly where we should start,” I said. “If you get the campaigns up and running, we’ll focus on Miami, and do Chicago next.”
Austin nodded, excited. “I’m on it. We’re going to seal this deal before month-end if what I’m planning works out.”
I laughed and clapped my friend on the back. I was lucky to be able to work with my best friend. It didn’t often work to do business as friends-I’d seen a lot of friendships fall apart because of work. But Austin was as driven and serious as I was, and that helped a lot.
I was about to say something else to Austin when something caught my eye. A flash of red-it was just for a moment, but my heart stopped.
I craned my neck to see what it was, but I couldn’t find it.
When I stepped away from Austin, I heard him ask me something, but I couldn’t focus on his words. I couldn’t think straight.
I had to be sure…
There.
She walked across the lobby, heading toward the reception desk. Her hair was just as fiery as when I’d seen her the first time.
It was her.
Carey.
Izzy.
And she was here. In my building.
I couldn’t stop staring at her. She wore black pants and a white button-up shirt, her hair twisted into a bun, but there was no way that was going to tame the red wildfire that was her hair.
She’d grown up. Her body was curvier than before, and she’d changed. If it was possible, she’d become more beautiful. Irresistible.
Her face was thinner though, and she looked a bit tired. But her big brown eyes were as bright and beautiful as I remembered them.
What was she doing here?
For a moment, I was at a loss. She couldn’t be here for me. She had no idea I was here in LA. Much less in this building.
Suddenly, I remembered the job postings. She had to be here for an interview.
“Austin,” I said, tugging at his sleeve until he paid attention. “What jobs do we have open right now?”
“Graphic designer,” he said immediately. “For those campaigns we were just talking about.”
“Right,” I said.
Graphic designer. And she was an artist. She’d had paint all over her hands that night. Back then, she’d been studying something she was passionate about, even though it went against the grain. Even though making a living would be hard. Switching to graphic design seemed sensible.
“Do we know anything about the interviews?” I asked Austin.
“Yeah,” Austin said. “I’m talking to HR about it.”
“I want a list,” I said.
“What?”
I looked at Austin, finally tearing my eyes away from Carey.
“I want a list of all the applicants. I want to be involved in the process.”
“Why?” Austin asked. “You do the food and the finances. I handle this.”
“I know,” I said. “But I want to know what’s going on with the campaigns, too.”
Austin nodded. “Okay, I’ll send you the list. But you’re going to be bored out of your mind before long.”
I nodded. “That’s fine.”
I knew I wasn’t going to be bored out of my mind if Izzy had anything to do with it. I wanted to see her again. I needed to see her again. And this was the way I was going to be able to do it. If I got that list, I would finally be able to find her.
If she was here, she needed a job. And that was fine, because it turned out I had a job she could do. If that was what she was here for, I would give her what she needed.
I would make sure she was the one they hired for the position.
“Earth to Nolan,” Austin said, and I realized he’d still been talking to me. “I’m saying that the list shouldn’t be too long by the end of the day, they should have shortlisted a few already.”
I shook my head. “I want the whole list.”
Austin groaned. “You can be such a pain in the ass, man. And without warning.”
I grinned at Austin. “Just get me that list.”