The Alpha’s Tempting Mate

Kylie

Holy awkward, Batman. So much for acing the interview. I didn’t think it could go more wrong, but being caught in a tug of war between Stu and Jackson is another precious moment in this craptastic day. I can’t believe I just had a meltdown in front of Jackson King. And gushed like a schoolgirl about what type of nerd he was and whether he was gay, and oh God did I really insinuate that he whips his sexual partners? What the fuck is wrong with me? Not even Interviewing for Dummies can save me now.

Of course, he let me think he wasn’t the CEO. Kind of a dick move, really. I should be glaring at him, but no, I’m still flustered from him touching me. Too bad getting felt up by Jackson King isn’t one of the perks of the job.

Damn, I really, really want this. Groping aside, SeCure is the pinnacle of cybersecurity. As a teen it, was the ultimate hack. After almost ten years of hiding, it feels like coming home. Like I’ve trained my whole life to stand here, and now that I’ve gone legit, I can step into my rightful place.

The fact that I’d be working under Jackson King has nothing to do with it. Well, maybe a teensy, tiny bit. My body would certainly like to be under him-right now. Lordy, I have to get through the interview without imagining his hands on me…

The death stare between Stu and Jackson has gone on long enough.

“Where’s the conference room?” I chirp. I take several deep gulps of breath and follow Stu into a large conference room. I can do this. I’ve handled much more difficult things-major heists at the age of twelve, losing my mom and dad, being trapped in an air duct for ten hours… This is nothing. It’s only an interview.

I sit down, and the three men position themselves across from me. The chairs are big and plushy but barely accommodate Jackson’s muscular frame. He swivels a little, eyes on me. The man can intimidate even sitting down.

I allow myself a tiny frown in his direction. He lied to me. And now he’s making me interview with him, as if this day could get any more awkward.

He meets my glower with raised eyebrows.

Why, oh, why did I say all those things in the elevator? It was like I’d swallowed truth serum.

Maybe that is one of Jackson’s superpowers: making people tell him every thought that pops into their heads. I’ve never been so real with anyone in my life. I’ve told a million lies, but a little bit of comfort after a panic attack, and all my training fell away. My dad would lecture me-if he was still alive.

Stu shuffles some papers and shoves one toward Mr. King. “Here’s her resume,” he says. “You can see her qualifications are quite impressive.”

Stu definitely overstated my resume. Sure, I’d graduated summa cum laude with an IS degree from Georgetown-after convincing them to let me take all my classes online-but my work experience was writing code for the gaming company where I currently work. At least, the only work experience that was legal. There’s plenty of stuff I can’t mention. The result: I don’t look that impressive on paper.

“Her professors all gave her rave recommendations,” he goes on, seeming a little flustered.

Not half as flustered as I am, though. It doesn’t help that Jackson King gazes at me like he knows my life secrets. Now that’s a terrifying thought.

“Do you want to start?” Luis asks King.

King leans back in the chair and crosses his long, elegant legs. Damn. I’ve always drooled over his pictures online, but he’s even more handsome in person. Photos didn’t do him justice-not even the spread in Time Magazine when he was named “Man of the Year” for solving the world’s credit card fraud problems. Nothing about him says “geek” at all, actually. With thick dark hair, kept on the long, shaggy side, a square jaw, and jade-green eyes, he looks rugged. He also holds an air of danger, his power barely contained by his expensive suit.

He looks back at me, his face an inscrutable mask. “What do you know about infosec, Kylie?”

I lace my fingers together on the table. No sense being nervous. I blew any chance I had of winning this job when I called him a deviant sociopath in the elevator. He probably just wants payback, and making me sit through the most awkward interview in the history of the world is his preferred form of torture.

Fuck this. I’m not getting the job. Why stay and suffer?

I push my chair back and rise. “You know, I don’t think this is a good idea.”

Stu shoots to his feet, looking angry. “Why not? Wait just a minute.”

“I’m sorry to have wasted your time.”

Stu steps between me and the door, like he’s not going to let me go. His job must be on the line if he can’t fill this position. Not my problem, buddy. What’s he gonna do, body check me if I make a break for it?

“I think, actually, I screwed up this interview back in the elevator. So I’ll just see myself out. Thank you-”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Sit down, Ms. McDaniel,” King commands, his deep resonant voice like steel.

I stop in my tracks. Damn, he’s even hotter when he’s stern. Like in the elevator, my body responds, nipples getting hard, pussy dampening.

His nostrils flare as if he can smell it. But that’s ridiculous. He’s still sitting, but there’s no question who holds the power in the room.

I reach for my chair, a bit wobbly. And not just because of my heels. “Yes, sir.” I sink back down.

“Thank you. I asked you a question, and I expect an answer.”

Damn the man. He’s determined to make me suffer. I rub my thumbnail with the pad of my index finger` then drop my hands to my lap to stop fidgeting.

“Mr. King, I apologize for the things I said about you in the elevator-I was very rude and… disrespectful.”

King’s expression doesn’t change. He watches me with that cool assessment. “Answer the question.”

Okaaay. Guess he’s just going to ignore my apology. I’d fight back with sarcasm, but I promised myself I’d keep a lid on it. “My knowledge of infosec is mainly practical. You won’t see it on my resume, but I do know all areas of security-how to assess weak points, how to mask code. No code is impenetrable, except maybe yours.”

“How long would it take you to hack the average guy’s Gmail?”

I allow a tiny smirk to curve my lips. “That would be illegal, Mr. King.”

“So do you, or don’t you know how to hack?”

He knows. That’s my first thought. I shift in my chair. He’s figured out I’m Catgirl. No, that’s silly. All infosec professionals probably know how to hack. Maybe it’s a prerequisite. Like the way the home security companies hire busted burglars to improve their systems.

Not that a security system-physical or virtual-has ever been able to keep me out. Although my skills might be a bit rusty. My cat burglary days died with my dad.

“If I knew how to hack, Mr. King, I certainly wouldn’t admit it here, and that’s why you won’t see it on paper. But if, in theory, I wanted to hack the average guy’s Gmail, it might take me ten to twenty minutes.”

Stu gives him a tight smile. “We do have a series of tests we’ll give Ms. McDaniel, after the interview.” He returns his attention to me. “Now, why don’t you tell us about your programming experience?”

King looks as bored as I feel as I rattle off my programming accomplishments. Luis grills with all the standard kinds of interview questions: Do I work well under pressure? On a team? Am I willing to work nights and overtime when necessary? How do I feel about relocating to Tucson from Phoenix?

I answer automatically, studying Jackson King without making it obvious. He hasn’t asked another question. What’s he thinking? Is he still mad about what I said in the elevator?

“Do you have any questions for us?” Luis asks.

“How many candidates are interviewing for the position?”

Stu shuffles his papers as the other two men look to him for the answer. “Three.”

“When do you expect I’ll hear something?” Probably a bit presumptuous, but presumption is all I have left.

“In a few days. We’re interviewing everyone today.”

“Better get that elevator fixed, then,” I quip, my voice lighter than I feel.

Stu stands. “Now, if you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to an office for the test.”

Thank God. Tests I can handle. I don’t dare look at King as I stand, my cheeks still burning. Ducking my head, I follow Stu. When I get to the door, I risk a glance.

King’s looking at me, his lips quirking at the edges.

Sadist. He enjoyed making me squirm.