The tension in the room had shifted—not gone, but simmering just under the surface. Cassidy sat like she owned the damn chair, back straight, one leg crossed in that effortless way that made it seem like she was posing without trying.
Her blouse stretched just enough to make Parker aware of exactly how unfair genetics could be. Full. Heavy. Unreal. Like, how the hell was all of that on someone so petite? The neckline dipped just enough to tease, smooth skin catching the light, practically daring him to lose focus.
She knew. She fucking knew.
The skirt? Tight. Hugging her hips just right. And the stockings—sheer, shimmering against the curve of her thighs—led to black heels that made her legs look even longer. If she was trying to intimidate, it was working.
And yet Parker didn't break the gaze. He didn't feel any unnatural lust for Cassidy.
The same woman who used to ruffle his hair and call him "kiddo" was sitting there, fully aware she looked like a million bucks, her sharp gaze locked on him as if daring him to speak first.
Yeah, okay, but two can play this game.
Parker finally spoke, setting down the crisp black folder Ava had handed him earlier. Cassidy's résumé—if you could even call it just that.
"Your numbers check out," he said, voice calm, measured. Not too friendly, not too cold. After settling down, he had been looking into her file, her résumé to see her qualifications.
The recent awkwardness had faded together with their familiarity, now it was between a billionaire looking to hire someone to run his company that will facilitate the rise of his empire. The Infinity Holdings.
The file was impressive. Corporate takeovers. Crisis management. Liquidation turnarounds. She'd walked into some dying companies and owned the room, flipped their losses into millions.
Sure, she'd never run a private holding company before, but hell—she'd been dealing with worse than that.
He skimmed another line. Fluent in three languages. Negotiated eight-figure deals. Top-tier connections across both coasts.
"Yeah, okay. She's good. Real good." He muttered, Ava had told him what to look for when looking to hire someone to run his company.
Still, Cassidy wasn't about to just sit there in silence. Her lips curled into a subtle smirk, head tilting slightly.
"That a compliment, Mr. Parker? Or just you pretending to be hard to impress?"
He forced his expression to stay neutral. Calm. Professional.
"I don't pretend," he replied smoothly, folding his hands in front of him on the table. "I am hard to impress."
Cassidy's brow arched, her eyes narrowing just a touch—like she was reading him, deciding if he was full of shit or not.
Inside she was fighting off the wildest sense of déjà vu.
Cassidy sat there, calm, composed—but deep down, the surreal weight of the moment hit her like a truck.
The same kid she'd known since he was seven. The shy, wide-eyed boy trailing after his beloved second aunt, awkward and sweet, always looking up to her like she hung the damn moon.
Now he was the one reviewing her résumé.
Now he was the one deciding her future—whether he'd be the lifeline pulling her out of this financial pit or the hand tossing her straight into the trash.
And damn, the irony wasn't lost on her.
But Cassidy wasn't about to show any of that. Not the desperation. Not the stress, she'd built a career on winning. Dominating. She didn't beg—she delivered.
So she sat there, shoulders back, head high, chest out. And when Parker finally looked up from her file to meet her gaze, she didn't flinch.
Her eyes said it all.
"Yeah, it's in your hands now. But don't get it twisted—I'm still the best damn choice you'll ever make."
It was surreal. Worse, it stung.
Because she was desperate.
She hadn't just shown up here looking for a job—this was her Hail Mary. Her last shot after a disastrous few weeks that had left her reputation cracked. Some bad calls. Some rumors she couldn't shake. Hell, she'd been this close to getting her assets frozen.
Now her career was in his hands.
And yet, she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing her sweat.
"So," she said, voice silky smooth, leaning back in her chair. Her gaze lingered on the folder. "Did I pass your little test, or are you still waiting for me to beg?"
Parker's lips twitched—just a hint of a smirk.
"No begging necessary," he said, flipping the file closed. "You're more than qualified. I don't doubt you can handle the job. My only question is—"
His eyes locked on hers.
"Why do you want it? You're clearly capable of running circles around most people in this room. So why here? Why now?"
For the first time, Cassidy hesitated.
She could deflect. She should deflect. But something in Parker's gaze—calm, steady—cut through the usual bullshit.
She exhaled slowly, uncrossing her legs and leaning forward just enough to close the space between them.
"You want the truth, Parker?"
Cassidy's eyes darkened, the smirk gone.
The word hung there, raw and unpolished.
"And not just 'had a rough quarter' broke," she continued, voice lower. "I mean circling-the-drain broke. A few bad decisions, some assholes spreading rumors—" She stopped herself, jaw clenching.
"But I'm not here for sympathy. I'm here because I'm damn good at what I do, and I don't lose. Ever."
No bluff. No forced charm.
Finally, he nodded, leaning back, expression thoughtful.
"Good. Because I don't hire people who can win."
Cassidy's brow furrowed. "I hire people who won't fucking lose."
The corner of her mouth curled.
"Then it sounds like you need me."
Ere, from his spot on Parker's lap, made a soft, approving purr.
Parker didn't smile. Not fully. But there was a flicker of something in his eyes. "Yeah. I do."
And just like that, the deal was sealed.
@Josh776 thank you for the support!