Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 94546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
“Yes, I can,” Jack refutes, his tone stern.
“How? You can’t control every news article in the country—”
“Yes, I can!” he repeats, louder this time. “Because this is the exact reason I got into the media conglomerate to start with, so I can choose what I share or do not share. It is not forced onto me or coerced with a handful of praises.”
So that’s where his anger stems? He’s mad that I wanted him to open up to me yesterday.
“No one is coercing you to share anything, Jack. They merely want you to be a part of their life.” By them, I mean me. “As your recruitment officer, I’m telling you this is a mistake. As your once girlfriend, I’m telling you you’re an idiot.”
He calls my name when I bolt out of his office, but he doesn’t follow me.
That hurts more than his radio silence over the next forty-eight hours.
CHAPTER 21
OCTAVIA
“Come on. Let’s go. I’m not taking no for an answer.”
“Go where, exactly?” I groan between Jess’s shoves when she marches me down the hallway of my apartment and into my room. “I’m penniless, dateless, and…” I hold back my last word. I will not be miserable for a man who can’t see what is right in front of him.
Further, Jack and I were meant to be a one-night stand.
We just got a little carried away with the number of nights involved.
My eyes snap to Jess’s so fast, I mentally book an appointment with my ophthalmologist when she murmurs, “To the gala.”
“We can’t go to the gala. We’re not invited.” That stung to say as much as it did to see a tuxedo dry cleaning bag in Elaine’s hand when she left work earlier than usual last night. She didn’t say it was Jack’s, but the peacock blue coloring of the tie gave it away. “I also don’t want to go. I’m too old to play games.”
“Too old? Puh-leaze. You’re a baby. You just feel a little worn down because you’ve been here before, fighting the same damn battle.” Jess ruffles through the minuscule selection of dresses in my closet. “And we are invited. All employees are. It is one of the perks of being umbrellaed under Global Ten Media.”
When she pulls out a dress far too improper for a charity event, I snatch it out of her hand and place it back on the rack. I should then march her out of my room, but my curiosity is once again too high to discount. “How did you find out about that perk?”
What she is saying is true. It was part of the conditions drafted in all the new employee contracts, but they haven’t been approved yet, so it is merely speculation.
“It was included in the employment package I was offered yesterday.” I stare at her with my mouth gaped and my eyes bulged, hoping like hell that what she is hinting at is true. She’s been eyeing a promotion for years. She just hasn’t been lucky enough to use her journalism degree just yet. “I finally got my foot in the door. It isn’t a huge position, only small editorials, but it’s a start.”
“Oh my God, Jess! I’m so happy for you.” I hug her tight, loving the way her excitement is felt raging in her chest. “When did you find out?”
She inches back before disclosing, “Yesterday. Jack offered it to me after his meeting with Slade. He’s being bumped to politics, and I’m moving to editorials.”
“Slade is staying with Seattle Socialites?”
Jess nods before devoting her focus back to my closet. “If rumors about his new offer are true, he won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.”
I’m pleased Jack took my advice, but it doesn’t ease the stabbing pain in my heart any. Excluding our exchange in his office, we haven’t spoken in three days. If we had a relationship, that’s almost as long as we were together.
I breathe out slowly before getting back to the task at hand. “Although I really want to celebrate your new gig, I don’t think we should do that at the gala. Both Caleb and Jack will be there, and I’m not in the right frame of mind to tackle either of them right now.”
Caleb has been MIA the past few days as well. I think his bed has been slept in, but that’s more because of the notes he leaves on the refrigerator than actual confirmation of an unmade bed.
“He instigated Thick Thighs Thursday, then didn’t even bother to show up.”
Jess huffs. “Tell me about it.” After taking a handful of breaths to lower the severity of her pulse, she shifts on her feet to face me. “He is one of the reasons I want to attend the gala.” I bow a brow but remain quiet. Jess doesn’t need prompting. She can talk underwater. “You know that special guest Jack had that he wanted Caleb to show around?” I barely lift my chin half an inch when she pushes out, “She’s a girl. An attractive, mid-twenties, New York native with glossy hair and a flawless face.” She breathes out slowly. “And if that isn’t bad enough, he is accompanying her to the gala tonight.” I try to assure her that is part of Caleb’s job description, but before I can, she adds, “As her date. He isn’t on the job tonight. He told me so himself.”