Chapter 251

Ron hung up the phone with a sigh, but turned to me with a smile. "Take a seat, Ms. Kay," he said, gesturing to a chair.

I sat down, and he sighed again. "It's getting harder to find top talent these days."

I'd already gathered that from his call. "Are we really that short-staffed in technical roles?"

"We are," he said, shaking his head. "One of our senior engineers quit yesterday. We were already stretched thin, and this makes it worse."

For once, he looked stressed—a side I hadn't seen before. Usually, he was all smiles.

"The job market's highly polarized," I offered. "There are plenty of people with fancy degrees, but few with the hands-on experience we need. It's like there's no shortage of gig workers, but finding someone who'll get their hands dirty is a challenge."

Ron nodded, giving me a thumbs-up. "Exactly. You understand. You're seriously a pro at both business and HR—a true all-rounder."

I smiled awkwardly at his effusive praise, then handed him the contract Sean had suggested. "I've reviewed this company. They're new, but their leadership seems solid, and they're eager to work with us."

Ron took the contract. "Alright, I'll review it, then we'll decide."

"Sounds good!" I said, then remembered my lunch plans with Lindsey. "Mr. Shane, I have a lunch appointment and might be a little late this afternoon."

"No need to tell me every time. Just manage your schedule," Ron said casually.

"Thanks!"

I was about to leave when Ron called, "Ms. Kay, hang on a sec."

I turned back. "What is it?"

He chuckled. "You seemed pretty knowledgeable about the job market. Do you know any tech professionals? A referral would be great."

Hayden immediately came to mind, but his job was secure. I couldn't just ask him to leave. "I'll keep it in mind," I said vaguely.

"Ms. Kay," he called again as I reached the door.

I turned, raising an eyebrow. "Yes?"

Ron grinned, looking almost bashful. "You're not going on a date, are you?"

I was surprised.

He shrugged, still grinning. "Just curious. You're gorgeous and single, so I thought… heh heh…" His nosiness was almost amusing.

Chapter 251 (continued)

I couldn't be mad at him. "Nope, not a date."

"Oh, that's a relief!" His unexpectedly cheerful response made me wonder if he had feelings for me.

But aside from being a little too attentive, he'd never crossed any lines. Still, it's best to clarify things before they become awkward.

"Actually, I'm not single," I said casually. "I have a boyfriend."

Ron's eyes widened. "You do? Who is he?"

I blinked. What kind of question was that? And since when were we close enough for him to ask? Why was he suddenly acting like an overprotective big brother?

I was still formulating a response when someone called from outside, "Which one of you is Keira Kay?"

Saved by the interruption, I stepped outside. "That would be—"

The words died in my throat as I saw the man standing there, holding something in his arms. I froze, completely caught off guard.

Chapter 252