I expected her to ask me something as inane as why I was doing this, but she didn’t. “I’ll give it two weeks but if it doesn’t work I’ll go elsewhere. As to me not finding a job in the city, there are other places outside of the city I can try.”

She got to her feet and pushed the bag on her shoulder. “Who do I have to see about the job?”

“You’re seeing him now.” I don’t usually handle the hiring, but with her I had a feeling I was going to be breaking a lot of my own rules.

“Wait here.” I went out and found the floor manager to get what I needed, and just as I thought, everyone was giving me strange looks. I ignored them all and walked back into my office without a word to anyone.

I passed her the paperwork to fill out and left the room again to give her some time alone. Something else I’ve never done, leave anyone let alone a total stranger unattended in my private office, but I did it now without a second thought.

My staff was never allowed in there except for the general manager, rarely. And on occasion the shift managers who never got any farther than the doorway. We usually met in the manager’s office on the other side if there was a need.

I headed to the bar to order her something to eat since she looked beat. She had that hungry look that I knew only too well. I struggled over what to get her since I know fuck all about female eating habits, they change so often. In the end I chose something I would eat with a few modifications.

I went back to her after making sure someone would bring it to her once it was ready, still ignoring the questioning looks and knowing glances from my staff. It was mighty crowded around the damn bar and the hallway leading to my office. Nosy fucks!

She was placing the papers and pen on the desk when I walked back in and for some reason I felt panic at the thought of her leaving. I even contemplated blocking her path to the door to keep her here, but was saved from that asinine move when she didn’t leave the chair right away.

“Aren’t you at least going to look at it?”

“Huh?” She pointed to the papers she’d just filled out and I came out of my stupor.

“Oh, yeah, sure.” The fuck I know. As far as I’m concerned she was already hired.

Get your shit together Max before your ass ends up in trouble. No doubt she’d find my behavior strange. Even I thought I was acting like some kind of deranged lunatic. First grabbing her hand and dragging her off, and now holding her hostage in my inner sanctum.

I took an inordinate amount of time looking over the sheet of paper and was glad when I found something to hold her back for.

“Why did you put a PO Box as your address?” She swallowed hard and fiddled with the bag in her lap and looked everywhere but at me. Very suspicious indeed.

Of course my mind automatically started going in all directions. Only someone who was hiding or running from something would do such a thing right.

“I just recently moved here and I don’t have a permanent residence as yet.”

“Where are you staying?”

“Why is that important right now? I’ll let you know as soon as I find a place.”

“Are you saying you’re living on the streets?” That ugly jacket she wore did look like she was two steps away from being homeless. But she was too clean and even with the hungry look I’d noticed earlier it didn’t ring true.

“No! I’m staying with friends until I find a place of my own if that’s any of your concern.” She was back to being pissy, but I was beginning to think that was her defense mechanism.

Somehow I knew she was lying to me, but I didn’t want to push her, not yet. They’d be time enough to find out all I wanted to know. But without an address how would I find her if she decided to skip? And why did the thought of losing her make my gut hurt?

“Okay we’ll leave it for now. The hours are from four until midnight, you can start training tomorrow. Once your three days of training are up we’ll work out a schedule.”

“Do I get paid for training?” At least she wasn’t shy. Most people wouldn’t ask that question outright, at least not to me anyway. What a bold little thing she is.

“Yes, you also get meals before shift starts and all the soda and juice throughout. If I catch you drinking alcohol on the job you’re fired.” She made a face, but didn’t say anything else.

Just then there was a knock on the door and one of the bar backs came in with a tray. I saw the quick look she gave the food before looking shyly away again. It was the first look of uncertainty I’d seen on her face and I didn’t like it. I didn’t like that she was hungry.

“Thanks Paul, put it there.” I pointed to the place in front of her on the desk and waited for him to leave before looking at her. Pride, it came off of her like a scent. She was hungry that much was obvious, but she made no move to pick up the fork that was there.

“What’s this?” She looked at the steak and fries with the side salad that I’d ordered with a bottle of my favorite water, before staring back at me. She knew that I knew she was hungry, but to save her

pride I had to play this shit off right or I’d hurt her. I know a lot about female pride.

I’d watched my mother over the years and knew how hard it was for a strong woman to have to admit that she needed help from anyone.

This one looked like she was cut from the same bolt of cloth as mom was. Stiff necked, hardheaded, stubborn; but deep down the salt of the earth.

“I ordered you a meal. All the new tryouts get fed and since I robbed you of that I thought it only fair that I feed you.” That was only partly true.

The tryouts were fed sure, but nowhere near as good as that. “I wasn’t sure what you liked to drink so I ordered water. If there’s something else you’d prefer…”

“No this is fine.” She picked up the fork and put it back down again.

“Something wrong? The steak is medium-well, I wasn’t sure…”

“It’s not that, it just feels a bit odd eating with you watching me.” She gave me a look like she really expected me to get up and leave. What nerve in

this one.

“I won’t watch you, I have work to do.” I turned back to the long forgotten computer and pretended an interest in the words on the screen. In reality I was too aware of her presence to concentrate on anything else.

She watched me for a few seconds more before picking up the knife and fork, still with a wary look my way. She was hungry, but pretending not to be as she picked at her food. That shit hurt me like a stab wound to the chest.

I know the signs well and for some reason watching her reminded me of days when mom and I were barely scraping by and the pickings were slim.

Seeing her like that bothered me more than it should’ve. I’m the type who gives to charity and would drop a few dollars in a hat when passing someone in need, but I’m no bleeding heart.

She’s not the first person I’ve come across who didn’t know where their next meal was coming from. In fact I’ve hired plenty with that predicament, both men and women. But with this one, I hated that she knew that pain.

I felt guilt and didn’t understand the feeling. Guilt and some other emotion that I had no name for. As I watched her out the side of my eye, I wondered not for the first time in the last half an hour, just what the fuck was up with me.

It was as if I was in tune with this girl in some weird way. Just her presence alone was enough to bring forth memories I’d long buried. I hate revisiting the days of my mother’s hardship. Of the life we’d lived before football gave me a way out for her and I.

But here I was steeped in old thoughts all because of her. Somehow the memories didn’t cut as deep as they usually do, because of her. For some odd reason they made me want to take care of her all the more.

I was distracted from my thoughts by a knock at the door and wasn’t too surprised to see Arlene, the manager from earlier, poke her head around the opening once I gave the command to enter.

Her gaze went directly to Annabelle and I saw the look of disbelief on her face before she could hide it. “Oh, isn’t she trying out? We’re almost done with auditions.”

“No, close the door.” She threw me a look but knew better than to question me if she wanted to keep her cushy job. Her eyes went to Annabelle again before closing the door. That’s not going to be good.

Thankfully she wasn’t the manager for the restaurant side of the business so she wouldn’t have much dealings with Anna if any in the future. Still there might be some interaction here and there over time. I’ll have to stay on that shit!

I’m not blind to the attitudes of women, especially one who thinks she has a shot. And it wouldn’t be the first time jealousy had got the best of her.

So far she’s kept herself contained and probably isn’t aware that I’m on to her past behavior. I never paid much attention to that shit since I had no real interest in the girls she’d warned off. But I had a feeling this time might be different.

I got an uneasy feeling before I was able to squash it. I hadn’t witnessed her past behavior and none of the girls had made an issue of it. So there was no need for me to panic.

It was only because of Tony who keeps his ear to the ground that I even knew anything had taken place. That she’d confronted a few of the dancers who’d shown an interest in me.

I’m sure there was nothing to worry about, at least I hoped there wasn’t. After all she hadn’t been wrong in warning them off. And since she was in charge of the dancers I’d seen it as nothing more than her managerial duty.

But it was obvious that this was different. It was true that I’d never shown any interest in anyone who worked for me, and this evening could be seen as something out of the ordinary, but what had I done really?

Shit, when I look back on my actions I’d done plenty. I’d been territorial, heavy handed and downright domineering. Looking back I’d acted like I own her and I’d done it for everyone and their mother to see. Fuck!

But is she really that stupid that she’d come after her because of my actions? I hope not. Her jealousy aside, she’s really good with the girls and have been a big help when it comes to keeping things the way I like them.

I’d hired her away from a very prestigious firm to come work for me because I liked her work ethic, but if she went after this one I have a feeling she wouldn’t last much longer as my employee.

I got that buzzed feeling again and took note. There are a handful of times in my life when I’ve felt like this. When I got the scholarship, when I was drafted, and when I won the nightclubs.

For this reason I was pretty sure she was life’s latest curve ball. I’m not quite sure how yet, but it never fails. The only thing is, in the past, this feeling always came before something good.

By the looks of this one shit was about to get difficult. For one that mouth of hers was a big fucking no-no and her attitude left much to be desired. I don’t think a female has ever sworn at me before, at least not directly to my face.

I stole a glance at her as she dragged a French fry

through the pint of ketchup she’d poured onto the plate before putting it between her lips. The action seemed so sensual, it was hard to look away.

Since when are you mesmerized by a woman eating? What weird shit are you on now? I looked away quickly when she lifted her head and looked in my direction.

She’s so prickly she just might go off the handle again if she caught me, since I’d promised not to watch. She went back to eating and I noticed something else about her.

She was so still, so quiet, it was almost like she wasn’t there. I didn’t even hear her chewing. The longer I sat there pretending not to look at her the more I realized that I felt…settled with her here.

More relaxed than usual for this place in any case. As if she had some kind of calming affect on me, which made no sense whatsoever with that mouth of hers.

I smiled to myself at the fact that she was pretending I wasn’t here. Out of the corner of my eye I saw her looking around the room at the wall where photos of my past glory now hung.

It had been years since I even noticed them, but somehow having her see them made me want to puff out my chest with pride.

She didn’t ask any questions, didn’t get excited the way most people do. In fact I wasn’t even sure she knew who I was since she never answered the question the first time I asked. Rude ass!

There was no real expression on her face once she was through perusing the many images. She just went back to eating like she could give a shit.

I liked that for some reason. I’d grown tired of being hounded because of who I am. It was rare for me to meet anyone who wasn’t fascinated by the ex-ballplayer.

This one was more interested in filling her stomach, smart girl. I went back to work and tried to pretend I wasn’t bothered by her presence.

But it was hard to escape the fact that something strange was going on with me where she was concerned. And even now, after the last hour or so spent alone with her, I still have no idea what that something is.

Already I’d broken so many of my own rules and I’d only known her for a scant hour maybe. There was no way for me to put things in perspective since I hadn’t the slightest clue what the hell was going on or where to start.

She wasn’t much help since she refused to even talk to me while she ate. How was I supposed to figure this shit out if we didn’t even have a conversation?

She must be the first female I’d ever met who didn’t feel the need to fill dead air with pointless chatter. It was a refreshing change but annoying as hell coming from her.

Just my luck, I wanted this one to talk and she won’t. The ones I want to shut the hell up have speech marathons in my damn ears.

Her silence was a story in itself though, and I wondered if she knew how much she was telling me about herself with her behavior. Like my mother, I could already tell that she was fiercely independent, and strong willed.

She didn’t seem to have an ounce of pretense in her little body, which was evident by the fact that she hadn’t refused the meal even though it was obvious she wanted nothing whatsoever to do with me.

She’s also the first female of my acquaintance that I’d compared in anyway to my sainted mother. A woman I hold in the highest regard and the only one who could do no wrong in my sight.

It’s a strange thing that. I feel almost as if I know her already when in reality I never really took the time to get to know any of the women I took to my bed. There was never any need to since I knew they wouldn’t be staying for too long.

I looked up in shock when I realized where my mind was going. Bullshit! I’m not the love at first sight type and if this mix of confusing thoughts was love they can have it.

I scoffed at myself and looked away and my eyes happened to land on the security screen which had a view of the whole place from top to bottom. I was more than a little perturbed to see Arlene standing at the bar staring down the hallway towards my closed office door.

She didn’t stay there long and I breathed easy again when I saw her accept a bottle of juice from the bartender before walking away.

I was worrying for nothing. But it was the fact that I gave it any thought at all that bothered me most. I tapped my fingers on the desk deep in thought as to what I should do if it really did become a thing.

‘That’s annoying as hell!” She looked at my tapping fingers pointedly. I just gave her a look but she just looked right back at me while shoving a fry in her mouth. What a fucking riot.

I chose to ignore her rudeness and went back to working on the same damn thing I’d been trying to work on since I brought her in here.