Page 12 of Dream Chaser

The pictures were atmospheric and professional. Some of the best I’d ever seen.

As I turned another page, Nova cleared her throat. “Not all the photographs are relevant to the job. I just didn’t have enough of the sports ones. I’m good at social media too. I was at the top of my class in my digital marketing program.”

I kept turning pages and studying the pictures. Landscapes, animals… Not what I was looking for, but out of all the candidates I’d interviewed so far, she was the most talented.

And although I hated being lied to, I respected her for having the guts to apologize.

“Well,” Nova said. “I won’t take up any more of your time. Thank you for the opportunity. Please keep the pictures.”

She bolted out of the room, leaving me holding the black folder and a mess of conflicting thoughts.

***

“How were the interviews?” Asher asked an hour later, as we strolled to the parking lot after our run.

“Underwhelming. I was called ‘man’ and ‘bro’ by a guy your age, and the rest of the candidates just wasted my time.”

He chuckled, pushing his messy dark hair back. “It’s okay, bro. I can just post whatever the sponsors want myself, man.”

I shoved him.

He burst out laughing. “Kidding. I’d rather not waste my time on social media. How many people did you interview?”

“Eight.”

He arched his brow. “And nobody fits the bill?”

The parking lot where I’d left my Lexus came into view. I was going to take Asher home, meet a prospective sponsor at the club later, and spend the rest of the night sorting through the new applications to schedule more interviews.

“The last candidate is great at photography, and she also studied digital marketing.”

Unless she was a much better liar than I gave her credit for.

“Sounds like a great fit.”

“No experience.” I aimed the key fob at my car. “I have no time to train someone who hasn’t worked a day in her life, and I can’t risk screwing up your marketing strategy.”

Everything mattered at the level Asher raced. RevGlobe Grand Prix racers worked with the best. I wouldn’t accept anything less than that for him.

Besides, my US business wasn’t big enough yet to invest in something without a guaranteed payoff.

Asher followed me to the Lexus. “How old is she?”

“Twenty-five.”

“Job market is tough,” he said. “And she’s still young.”

Sighing, I slid behind the wheel. “I know.”

“What’s this?”

I glanced at the black folder in his hands. I’d left Nova’s portfolio in the passenger seat and completely forgot about it.

“Her portfolio.”

Asher sat, then flipped it open just as I started the car. “Wow. The motocross pictures are cool. Just as good as the official Vortex ones.”

Vortex was Asher’s team. They had their own photographers, but his sponsors demanded a staggering number of posts featuring their products, not to mention candid shots of his daily life. Fans loved those. No matter how I looked at it, I needed someone fast.