California Dreaming (A Robert California x reader fanfic)

A Surprisingly Seductive Stranger

"We have been through so many interviews today. It seems like this is never gonna end!" I sighed in frustration.

"(Y/N), we will find someone eventually. There has to be at least one good candidate out there," Toby replied.

"Yeah (Y/N). We only have a couple more interviews. It'll be fine," Jim leaned back in his chair whilst studying his interview notes.

I glanced to my left to see Gabe looking through his notes too. So I followed the three with that task. Eventually, I got bored and put my head down on the table. A few moments later I heard a knock at the door.

An unfamiliar voice spoke, "Hello my name is Robert California. I'm here for the interview of the regional manager position.".

I looked up and saw a well-dressed man standing in the doorway. He had an aura of confidence, charisma, and mystery surrounding him. Jim told him to have a seat in the chair opposite us. Everyone introduced themselves and then it was my turn.

"Hello, I am (Y/N). I will be apart of the team conducting your interview today," I smiled and extended my hand to him. To which he shook without any hesitation.

"(Y/N). Such a beautiful name," he shook my hand a few more seconds and then let go.
I kept eye contact with him albeit his confident gaze made me look down to my paper.

"So Mr. California," I said looking back up at him, "what do you do for work at the moment?".

He still stared at me and smiled, "Please, call me Robert. At the moment I work for a company that sells refinery equipment.".

I couldn't keep my eyes off of this mysterious man. He was so charming even in the few moments that I had known him. Robert turned his gaze from me to Toby.

"How will your experience selling refinery equipment translate to our smaller scale here?" Toby asked inquisitively.

"You don't work in sales do you?"

"Uh, Human Resources."

"You see I sit across from a man, I see his face, I see his eyes. Does it matter if he wants one hundred dollars of paper or one hundred million dollars of deep-sea drilling equipment? Don't be a fool. He wants respect, he wants love, he wants to be younger, he wants to be attractive. There is no such thing as a product. Don't ever think there is." He shook his head as he spoke, "There is only sex. Everything is sex."

My face went red as he panned his eyes across all of us.

Does he think sex talk is going to get him a job? He is our most qualified candidate though...

He continued talking, "You understand that what I am telling you is a universal truth, Toby?"

"Yes," Toby quickly answered.

Robert continued to stare at Toby.

"Okay- I, uh, I am- I am almost a little concerned that you might be over-qualified for the-," Gabe was interrupted by Robert's quick chuckle, "-for the position. Do you, um, do you think that you are?".

Robert became serious, "Do I look like someone who- would waste my own time?".

Oh no. Gabe got him mad, great. Now we will never find a new manager.

"No," Gabe said shaking his head with regret.

Robert then looked at Jim.

"Can you-", Jim cleared his throat, "You are a man of great confidence. Could you speak a little more to that and what the role of confidence," he took a breath in because of his nerves, "would be in the dialogue with a subordinate?".

By the end of his sentence, Jim looked so distressed. I wanted to help but, I was too. All four of us were uncomfortable. This guy wasn't even the boss yet and he had already put us all in our places.

Within a second Robert already had his answer.

"Will you be heard? Will you have a voice? Will I steamroll over you? Do you feel heard right now, Jim?", Robert still stared at Jim, "Do you have a voice right now?".

Jim looked hesitant to answer but Robert spoke, "You can answer me.".

With those words, Jim said, "Yes.".

I just stared at Robert while he was talking. I wasn't listening. I was trying to get away from the awkwardness. Then I saw him look at me. The room was silent and he just stared at me. I knew he was trying to make me even more uncomfortable. I stared back but eventually lost all confidence and looked down at the desk. I couldn't help but think about how attractive that was. With a few words and glares, he showed everyone in this room that he was the boss.

A couple of seconds passed until I looked up. He was still looking at me. I could feel my face getting hot but when he winked at me my face grew hotter. He confidently stood up, thanked us for the interview, and left the office.
The four of us still sat there trying to process what had just happened.

Jim was the first to speak, "He creeps me out, but I think he might be a genius.".

What was that? He's so confident. So... Never mind...