by S. E. Lund
"You didn't have to get dressed. The place is yours for the night. You can stay as long as you need. I have to take her home."
"Okay."
He pulled me into his arms and kissed me, then brushed a lock of hair off my cheek.
"Thank you," I said. "For everything."
"No, thank you for coming out with me tonight. I apologize for her. She's overly invested and can't let go."
He kissed me again and then left.
Once I was alone, I sat on the side of the bed and debated what the hell to do. It wasn't like me to go home with a man I just met and have sex, but in addition to the fact he was utterly the hottest man I had ever met, there was something about Josh that made me feel I could trust him.
He was funny, ambitious and smart. And very rich. Maybe he was my own Mr. Big.
I hoped I'd see him again. It made all the crap I'd been through in the past few days worthwhile. But at the same time, I felt weird about staying in the apartment.
I texted Steph.
ELLA: Can you book me a hotel room at the cheapest hotel you can find? I need a place to stay for the night. I mean the cheapest hotel that doesn't rent by the hour. I'll transfer you the money as soon as I get access to my account.
STEPH: Of course and don't sweat the timing. I have enough room on my Visa. Are you ready to call your father?
ELLA: Not yet. I'm going to hold out for as long as I can. Stick with me, okay? I'll transfer you money as soon as I get my card working again.
STEPH: No problem. I know you have the money. I wish I was there with you. Maybe in the new year.
ELLA: I hope! XOXOX
In about fifteen minutes, I got a text back from Steph:
STEPH: Got you a deal on a hostel near Columbia University. You have a bunk bed for two nights, just in case. Let me know how it goes and if you need anything else. I even told them you had no ID because you were robbed so all you have to do is show them your cell with these messages.
ELLA: I will. Thanks, Bestie. You're a princess.
STEPH: You know it!
Then I took a taxi to the hostel, getting a key from the front desk clerk after she examined my cell and the email in question. Then, I plopped myself down on the bottom bunk in a room not much bigger than the Airbnb and went to sleep, feeling like things were finally improving.
I could make it without calling my father.
The next morning, I showered in the shared room and dressed, unhappy about wearing the same outfit to work that I had worn the previous day, but at least I had a good excuse. I took the subway to the office, wondering if I'd run into Josh during the day or if he'd text me. I hoped so, because he was so gorgeous and sweet, but I was not going to wait for an email. That was the new me – not the obedient daughter to a tyrant and loyal fiancée to a cheating cad. I was a young woman in Manhattan with an internship in a publishing house and hopes of making my mark one day as an author. No man was going to occupy the prime real estate in my mind or heart for a while. A long while.
I spent the morning going over through several dozen manuscripts, searching for ones that matched Sharon's criteria for the imprints the company published. The manuscript had to have a great opening and near perfect writing. Previous publications would be an asset. I sorted through the manuscripts, putting those who failed on both counts in one pile and the ones who satisfied both in another. The third pile was for those I wasn't sure about and would read over again. Why not take the best if you could have them? Then I sorted each pile by how much I wanted to read on and ended up with a stack of manuscripts ranked from the best to the worst.
My father sent me an email mid-morning, wondering why I wasn't answering my cell and I realized I'd have to tell him the truth.
I called, using Josh's burner cell, and he answered on the second ring.
"Ellie, dear, I was worried about you. Why haven't you answered my calls?"
"My cell was stolen, that's why, Daddy," I said, chewing a nail, waiting for him to berate me. "I'm using a spare cellphone a friend lent me."
"You've already been mugged and you've only been in Manhattan what – three days?"
"It's nothing," I said. "I'm going to get a new one in a couple of days. I'm fine."
"Your mother and I miss you, dear. She sends her love. Please keep in touch. It's hard for us to see our little girl move so far away."
"I know, but your little girl has to grow up and leave the nest."
"I'm proud of you, even if I wish you'd got a job in Concord."
"I had to leave," I said, sighing. We'd had this discussion before.
"I know, sweetheart, but we miss you. Keep in touch and if you need anything, just give me a call."
"I will. I love you," I said, feeling a squeeze in my heart to hear that he and my mother missed me.
"We both love you back."
I hung up, pleased that my father hadn't scolded me too much for losing my cell. What would he think if he knew that I had everything stolen? He'd freak.
I couldn’t let him find out and was even more determined than ever to stand on my own two feet.
After our regular morning staff meeting was over, I went back to Sharon's office and we discussed the manuscripts. I gave her my notes, then went back to my office, ready to look over the backlog of submissions.
I really hoped Josh was serious about his offer of help, because I would need it if I hoped to keep my job.
First thing was getting a temporary loan until the wire transfer came through and I could pay him back. I'd need to buy a laptop. I usually bought Apple products because I loved them, but given my situation, I'd be going with the cheapest laptop I could find.
I phoned Liza at the Airbnb and finally got through.
"Oh, thank God," I said when she finally answered her phone. "I was robbed and don't have my key. I called and called last night but you didn't answer."
"Sorry," she said, "but I dropped my cell in a puddle and couldn't use it."
"Can I meet you at the apartment after work and get a spare key?"
"Sure," she said. "Meet me at six. Sorry to hear about you being robbed. That's terrible."
We said goodbye and I hung up, glad at least that I'd have the Airbnb back until Monday when I picked up my keys for my long-term apartment.
Then I got a text from Josh:
JOSH: Hey, why didn't you stay at the apartment? I came back, thinking you'd still be there but you were gone.
I bit my bottom lip and considered my response.
ELLA: I went to a hostel for the night. My best friend rented it for me so no worries. I felt really bad staying in your apartment. I'll be getting my replacement key from my landlord at the Airbnb so it's all good. But I could use that cashier's check for first and last month's rent if you're still willing. I'll transfer you the money as soon as the bank lets me back into my account. I need the check for Monday.
JOSH: No problem. Are you free tonight? I thought we might have dinner and maybe try again, considering we were so rudely interrupted... And my apologies for that. My ex is a little unstable. Well, a lot unstable.
ELLA: Thanks for the offer, but I think maybe we were rushing things a bit. It's not like me to just fall into bed with a strange man. Especially one who is technically my boss.
JOSH: Are you calling me strange?
ELLA: Sorry! Didn't mean it that way. But thanks for the offer.
JOSH: A guy can try. If you change your mind, just text me. What about just a meal?
ELLA: You've done more than enough already but I don't want this to seem like a transaction, you know?
JOSH: I know exactly what you mean and don't do transactions. With me, everything is voluntary. It never crossed my mind that being with me was some kind of repayment. I'm helping you only because I can. Seriously. No strings of any kind or expectations.
ELLA: Thanks. I appreciate you saying that. If I change my mind, I'll text you but seriously, thanks again for all your help. You're my hero.
; JOSH: Your hero? I like that! If you change your mind about a meal, I know a nice little Italian restaurant down the street from the building with a great Italian meatball.
ELLA: A great Italian meatball? You're trying to tempt me, aren't you?
JOSH: Yes, that's my evil plan. I want to tempt you. Meatballs... MEATBALLS!
ELLA: LOL *is tempted* Okay. What girl can say no to a great meatball?
JOSH: Good. Come up to the apartment at six thirty and I'll take you for world-famous Italian meatballs. How does that sound?
ELLA: Sounds delicious. See you at six-thirty.
I stared at the screen, smiling, anticipating our meal together but I didn't want it to feel like I was having sex with him as repayment or anything. If he was going to help me, I wanted it to be only that. No matter how attracted I was to him, and him to me, if money changed hands, I'd feel too much like a prostitute. Doing sex – or feigning love – for money was the very last thing I wanted to do or have done to me, considering my engagement to Jerkface.
I remembered back to the previous night and our almost hot sex. I was a little breathless as I finished up for the morning and made plans to go buy some lunch.
"Before you go for lunch, I want to take you to meet the new boss," Sharon said. "I think he's back in his office. He's been on vacation since the death of his father and is just taking over of the business. He came back to work this Monday and will be here for the next week or so getting caught up with the business, so I haven't had a chance to introduce you. He's pretty hands-off with Dominion because he's too busy with taking over MBS but he does come for a couple of weeks every quarter."
"You mean Joshua Macintyre?" I said, wondering if I should admit that I already met him.
"Yes," Sharon said. "He's been named the new CEO."
"I already met him. He was in the elevator with me when it stalled."
"Oh, you’re kidding," Sharon said. "I didn't know you'd already met him. He's in the office today for an update, but I want to introduce you formally."
"Okay."
"How are manuscripts, by the way?" she asked as we walked down the hall.
"Some of them are actually pretty good. I have a pile of decent manuscripts that we can talk about tomorrow. But my eyes need a rest."
"Well, this is the perfect time, then."
I followed her down the hallway to the elevator, wondering how I should act around Josh.
We took it to the twenty-seventh floor and she spoke with a receptionist, who waved us through to a hallway and a corner office. Sharon knocked on the door, then opened it and poked her head in. I stood off to the side waiting to be admitted, a little nervous, not really feeling comfortable with having to interact with him, considering he was licking my breast the night before.
"I'm here," she said. "Are you ready for me?"
"Come," came a deep and familiar voice.
Sharon opened the door wide and went inside. She encouraged me to follow her with a wave of her hand.
"Ella said you already met but I wanted to introduce you to our newest recruit. She'll be working with me as my new acquisitions assistant."
I went inside and there, sitting behind the desk, was Josh, looking like a few billion dollars. He was wearing a very expensive black suit, crisp white shirt, and dark gray tie.
"Joshua Macintyre, meet Ella Carlson. Ella," Sharon said, and turned to me, "this is Joshua Macintyre, CEO and owner of Dominion Publishing and now, CEO of the entire Macintyre Broadcasting Corporation."
Sharon smiled brightly. When my eyes finally met Josh's, his expression was pleased, even playful.
"Ella," he said and stood up, coming around the desk to greet us. "So nice to be formally introduced."
We shook hands and I felt like a real idiot feigning we barely knew each other, considering only hours earlier, his body and his very hard erection was pressed against my body.
"Nice to meet you formally, too. Do I call you Mr. Macintyre?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.
"Josh will work fine," he said and shook my hand, holding onto it for longer than he technically should have. His touch sent a thrill through my body.
It was then I knew I was going to be in trouble…
Chapter Fourteen
Joshua
I spent the morning trying to get caught up.
From eight until ten o'clock, I was in a meeting with my assistant manager, trying to get everything in place for my first real meeting with the paper's lead editors to discuss the paper's future. It was exciting, even if it was too much admin for my tastes. I wanted to focus on vision and new hires to get fresh blood and ideas on the paper's pages. I also wanted to improve the web presence of the paper and bring it fully into the Twenty-First Century. The previous owner had been a total luddite and had resisted going digital, but you couldn't fight progress. It meant a different business model than print alone, but it was doable.
I'd spend the rest of the day trying to catch up with the remainder of my family's business – and now my business. The business of broadcasting and publishing.
I met with the manager of the new web-based broadcaster, which represented our response to Netflix. It was exciting but at the same time, not what I really wanted to focus on. I was more into news than entertainment, and in print than broadcast news. The written word felt real to me in a way that television news never did. I loved investigative reporting, although I had never been a reporter. I loved being part of a newsroom, even if only from management's point of view. Chasing down an important story, with national or international significance, was what really excited me. I would keep the broadcast news arm of the business of course, but my focus would be on keeping the investigative and print side alive. Whether people read on paper or on their smartphones or tablets didn't matter. What mattered was that they were reading.
Hopefully, reading my newspaper.
After a quick lunch with my head editor at the paper, I went back to the building and prepared for a couple of meetings to catch up with the latest developments on the book publishing side of the business. I enjoyed that side. Developing an author, publishing the memoir or tell-all of some public figure or important political actor was exciting and had a real impact on the world. But news was and had always been my love.
So, it was that I waited to meet with Sharon, the lead acquisitions editor of the publishing house. She'd sent me an email earlier with a summary of what had been happening in the business since my father's death. There had been some turnover in staff and she was behind but we were in a state of flux at the moment and I had to cut her some slack. I tried to focus on the memo she had written about the upcoming spring release schedule, which was months away, but it was hard. There were a dozen big books slated to be released and one of them caught my eye. It was a romantic comedy / chick lit novel by one of our bestselling authors. Right away, I thought about Ella and her dream of living the single girl's life described by Candace Bushnell, replete with Mr. Big and a cadre of BFFs.
I hoped that we'd be able to carry on from where we'd left off the previous night, but I wouldn't push. Not too much, at least. The taste I'd had of her last night had served only to whet my appetite for more.
A knock came at my door as I was finishing up writing an email to my editor in chief and so I quickly sent it and then turned to the door, preparing for my next meeting with Sharon.
"Come in," I said and folded my hands in wait.
In Sharon walked, looking her usual self. Late forties, salt-and-pepper hair, fashionably dressed, and seeming a little frazzled. I knew she was feeling guilty for being behind in her work for the publishing imprint she was managing acquisitions editor.
She motioned to someone behind her and when the woman came forward, I realized it was Ella.
"Ella said you already met but I wanted to introduce you to our newest recruit. She'll be working with me as my new acquisitions assistant."
I stood abruptly, and buttoned my jacket, putting on as calm and cool expression
as I could muster.
After we were all introduced formally, I turned to Sharon.
"So, I suppose you're relieved to have a new assistant. It must have been hard to keep up with everything after you lost your last one."
Sharon spoke for a moment about what she'd done for the past month without an assistant, getting some help from another staff member but not really being able to tackle her work.
I listened with half a mind, focused in part on Ella, who stood there, her eyes wide, a smile on her pretty face.
There was no need for Sharon to know anything about what happened between Ella and me the night before. I'd pretend that we only met that one time in the elevator and that adrenaline surged through me when I saw her again. Ella had that effect on me.
"Well, it's nice to meet you," I said and caught Ella's eye. "I hope you enjoy your new position with Macintyre Publishing."
"Thank you, Josh. I hope so, too."
Sharon led Ella out and I closed the door, exhaling heavily. I went back behind my desk, my mind working furiously, trying to figure out how to explain to Ella why I had led her on all this time.
I grabbed my cell and pulled up her last text.
JOSH: I know what just happened was awkward but when you get a few minutes, please come back to my office so we can talk. I know you were concerned about the ethics of us going out, but honestly, I'm not really involved in Dominion except quarterly.
I waited but there was no response. Fifteen minutes later, I sent another text.
JOSH: If you want to pretend we didn't have a great evening together and that you weren't really into what was happening last night, it's up to you. But I really enjoyed our time together and hope we can do it again. Please come by and see me.
Still nothing.
I sighed and turned back to the file on my desk, kicking myself mentally for not reassuring her that I would not expect anything from her that she didn't want to give or penalize her if she decided she didn't want anything else to happen between us. Given both our experiences with our exes, it was understandable she was reluctant to get involved with me. I felt that we really hit it off right from the start and it would be too bad if we didn't at least give it a try.