Kiersten
took over for him about a month ago. But don’t worry, no one will expect you to know
much about her. She’s an outside
hire.”
“What’s she like?”
“Intense.” I couldn’t tell from her tone if
that was good or bad.
We’d reached the end of the hallway now and it
branched off, opening into a big open space filled with cubicles. There must have been men who worked
here, but every cubicle in my line of sight seemed to have a woman sitting at
it.
The soft muted sounds of phones ringing and
keyboards clacking filled the room, and I knew it was probably impossible, but
I was sure I could smell the scent of books in the air, that scent of paper and
possibility.
I inhaled.
I loved it already, loved the vibe, loved the idea of having even a tiny part in bringing
literature into the world.
I warned myself not to get too excited.
Because, of course, there was Callum, thrumming
just below the surface of every thought, a constant presence in my mind. Had he set this interview up for
me? And if so, why? He’d made it perfectly clear that he
wanted nothing to do with me, that he didn’t want to see me again.
I could still feel the sting of his hand
against my ass, the feel of his cock spreading me open. I shivered with want and then longing,
as I felt my stomach clench at the thought of never seeing him again.
“That’s Kiersten’s office,” Michelle was
saying. On the left side of the
room were a row of offices, three of them, all of them
encased in glass. I looked to where
Michelle was pointing, and I could see a woman behind the glass, sitting at an
oversized walnut desk, her ear pressed to the phone.
We got to the door of Kiersten’s office just as
she was finishing up her phone call.
“Michelle,” Kiersten said, standing up and giving
her a smile. Her teeth were
perfectly shaped and just white enough not to look fake ,
and I wondered if she had veneers or just a great orthodontist. She was wearing a gorgeous fitted grey
suit over a burnt orange button up blouse. The matching grey skirt was tight, encasing her long legs, but the
blouse was slightly oversized, and she’d looped the sleeves of the blouse
around the sleeves of the jacket and rolled them up. Chunky gold jewelry completed the look,
and her hair hung in soft auburn wave around her shoulders. If I got this job, I was going to need a
serious wardrobe upgrade. “Who do we have here?” Kiersten asked, turning her attention to
me.
“This is Adriana O’Connor,” Michelle said. “She’s here for the publicity assistant
position.”
“Nice to meet you,” Kiersten said, her voice
warm. She held her hand out for me
to shake, and I took it. Her hands
were small, her wrists delicate. She was wearing a rose gold Michael Kors watch and a matching rose gold bracelet. “Go ahead and have a seat.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“Good luck, Adriana,” Michelle said. “I hope to see you around.” She gave me a wave and then she left,
shutting the door behind her.
“Just let me pull up your resume,” Kiersten
said, clicking around on her computer. “I’m sorry if things are a little crazy around here, I’m still getting
used to this job myself.”
“Oh, it’s no problem.” I fidgeted a bit, my nerves starting to get
the best of me, and I willed myself to stay still.
“Ah,” Kiersten said as she studied something on
her screen. She sort of nodded to
herself, then turned her computer screen away from her and leaned back in her
chair. “So, here’s the deal. I’m going to be straight with you. Callum Wilder recommended you for this
position. He’s one of our most
important authors, so I have to hire you.”
“Oh.” My face burned with embarrassment. What had Callum told them about me? Had he said we’d slept together? No, I decided, not after making me sign that ridiculous contract. The only thing I could be sure
took over for him about a month ago. But don’t worry, no one will expect you to know
much about her. She’s an outside
hire.”
“What’s she like?”
“Intense.” I couldn’t tell from her tone if
that was good or bad.
We’d reached the end of the hallway now and it
branched off, opening into a big open space filled with cubicles. There must have been men who worked
here, but every cubicle in my line of sight seemed to have a woman sitting at
it.
The soft muted sounds of phones ringing and
keyboards clacking filled the room, and I knew it was probably impossible, but
I was sure I could smell the scent of books in the air, that scent of paper and
possibility.
I inhaled.
I loved it already, loved the vibe, loved the idea of having even a tiny part in bringing
literature into the world.
I warned myself not to get too excited.
Because, of course, there was Callum, thrumming
just below the surface of every thought, a constant presence in my mind. Had he set this interview up for
me? And if so, why? He’d made it perfectly clear that he
wanted nothing to do with me, that he didn’t want to see me again.
I could still feel the sting of his hand
against my ass, the feel of his cock spreading me open. I shivered with want and then longing,
as I felt my stomach clench at the thought of never seeing him again.
“That’s Kiersten’s office,” Michelle was
saying. On the left side of the
room were a row of offices, three of them, all of them
encased in glass. I looked to where
Michelle was pointing, and I could see a woman behind the glass, sitting at an
oversized walnut desk, her ear pressed to the phone.
We got to the door of Kiersten’s office just as
she was finishing up her phone call.
“Michelle,” Kiersten said, standing up and giving
her a smile. Her teeth were
perfectly shaped and just white enough not to look fake ,
and I wondered if she had veneers or just a great orthodontist. She was wearing a gorgeous fitted grey
suit over a burnt orange button up blouse. The matching grey skirt was tight, encasing her long legs, but the
blouse was slightly oversized, and she’d looped the sleeves of the blouse
around the sleeves of the jacket and rolled them up. Chunky gold jewelry completed the look,
and her hair hung in soft auburn wave around her shoulders. If I got this job, I was going to need a
serious wardrobe upgrade. “Who do we have here?” Kiersten asked, turning her attention to
me.
“This is Adriana O’Connor,” Michelle said. “She’s here for the publicity assistant
position.”
“Nice to meet you,” Kiersten said, her voice
warm. She held her hand out for me
to shake, and I took it. Her hands
were small, her wrists delicate. She was wearing a rose gold Michael Kors watch and a matching rose gold bracelet. “Go ahead and have a seat.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“Good luck, Adriana,” Michelle said. “I hope to see you around.” She gave me a wave and then she left,
shutting the door behind her.
“Just let me pull up your resume,” Kiersten
said, clicking around on her computer. “I’m sorry if things are a little crazy around here, I’m still getting
used to this job myself.”
“Oh, it’s no problem.” I fidgeted a bit, my nerves starting to get
the best of me, and I willed myself to stay still.
“Ah,” Kiersten said as she studied something on
her screen. She sort of nodded to
herself, then turned her computer screen away from her and leaned back in her
chair. “So, here’s the deal. I’m going to be straight with you. Callum Wilder recommended you for this
position. He’s one of our most
important authors, so I have to hire you.”
“Oh.” My face burned with embarrassment. What had Callum told them about me? Had he said we’d slept together? No, I decided, not after making me sign that ridiculous contract. The only thing I could be sure
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