Her anger erupts. “So . . . what happens when I see you out?” she snaps.
“You say hello.”
“Do you think you can replace me so easily?” she stammers.
I stare at her, sad that she’s hurting.
“I love you, Jameson. Come back to me,” she pleads as she takes my hand in hers.
“You need to go, Claud.”
“You’re kicking me out?” she shrieks.
“No. I’m asking you to leave.”
“That’s the same thing.”
I exhale heavily; this isn’t going to end well. I need to end it before an all-out war begins. I kiss her on the forehead and walk to the door and open it. “Goodbye, Claudia.”
She angrily swipes the tears from her eyes and storms past me. I close the door and stare at the carpet for a moment as I feel the tectonic plates move another notch closer to goal. I go back to my desk and dial Emily’s number.
“Hi,” she answers.
“Hi.”
“I came up to see if you wanted to go out to lunch today.”
I smile softly. I love this woman—not an inch of insecurity.
“I do. Meet you in the foyer at one.”
Emily
It’s just around three in the afternoon.
I turn to Aaron. “Wish that damn cheesecake Uber would show up about now.”
“Ha, right?” he mutters.
“I’ll go make the coffees.” I stand and make my way to the kitchen. I make Aaron’s and then Molly’s, and then as I’m making mine, Jake walks into the kitchen.
“Hi, Emily.”
“Oh, hi.” I stir the coffee.
“Holy shit, get ready for a media storm tomorrow.”
“Why?”
He looks around and leans in as if not wanting anyone to hear what he has to say. “You should see what Ferrara is putting to print tomorrow.”
“What?” I frown.
“You can’t tell anyone,” he whispers.
“I wouldn’t.”
“They have new dirt on Jameson Miles. The shit is about to hit the fan.”
My eyes widen. “What? How do you know?”
“Our insider in their office has just called it through.”
“What is it?”
He looks around. “Apparently—”
Someone else walks into the kitchen, and we both step back from each other guiltily. The guy begins to make idle chitchat with Jake, and if I wait around, it will be too obvious that I am waiting to talk to him alone. Shit, I’ll come back in a minute.
I make my way back to my desk with my heart in my throat. What dirt do they have on Jay?
Oh hell, I need to find out what it is.
I keep an eye on the kitchen, and as soon as I see Jake go back to his desk, I make my way over to him, and his eyes light up when he sees me. “Hi.”
“Meet me in the photocopy room, please?” I whisper.
“Sure.”
I walk in and wait, and moments later he follows me in.
“What the hell is going on?” I whisper.
“I can’t tell you here; it’s too risky,” he says as he looks around.
“Just tell me,” I almost beg.
“Meet me after work, and I’ll tell you everything over a quick drink.”
I stare at him. “What time?”
“Six thirty?”
I think for a moment. That would still give me time to go to Tristan if I need to. “Just tell me now.”
“No way. I’ll tell you it all tonight; it’s too in depth.”
Damn it, I don’t want to meet this idiot, but if I don’t, how would I know what Ferrara is up to? If I find out, then maybe we can get an injunction and stop the story from going to print.
“Okay, fine. Where?”
“Harry’s Bar, six thirty.”
“Okay, see you there.”
I go back to my desk and look around guiltily. My heart rate is going through the roof. What dirt do they have on Jameson?
Oh no, my poor man.
Molly and Aaron are both not at their desks, and I know I have to ring Jay and let him know I’m going to be late when they can’t hear me lie and use them as my alibi.
I nervously dial his number.
“Hi,” his sexy voice purrs down the phone.
“Hi.” I begin to break into a sweat as I prepare to lie. “I’m going to go out to dinner with Molly and Aaron tonight.” I screw up my face. “Aaron is a bit down, and we’re going to try and cheer him up.”
“Oh.” He seems surprised.
“Is that okay?” I reply nervously.