I turn the spoon upside down, put it into my mouth, and suck the Nutella from it as I stare at the television.
It’s four in the afternoon, I’m still in my pajamas, and I’ve had a shitty day. After I woke up in a dream lying next to the most gorgeous man on the planet, Jameson Miles the asshole CEO decided to make an appearance and ruined everything.
To be honest, I’m regretting not going to his place for breakfast, but then, on the other hand, I’m glad I didn’t because I wouldn’t have found out about Chloe, his masseuse.
They fuck.
I hate that it bothers me. I hate that I can feel myself getting attached to him when he clearly isn’t feeling the same.
I dig into my jar of Nutella again. The smooth chocolate melts on my tongue, offering a momentary distraction.
I stare at the television in a daze, a horror movie. My favorite rom-com category is scratched from the viewing repertoire. My mind goes back to the first time I met Jameson, when he told me that he didn’t believe rom-coms were true.
Maybe he was on to something? Maybe I’m just a romantic fool?
Does he have feelings for Chloe? Who cares? He’s an asshole.
I need to cut this out. Stop thinking about him. He’s a self-absorbed player who sleeps with whoever he wants, whenever he wants. I look around my shitty apartment, and sadness fills me. If he liked me, it wouldn’t matter where we were-he would want to spend time with me regardless. But he couldn’t get out of here quick enough.
My mind goes over our fight this morning.
“Nobody treats me as bad as you do, Emily.”
“Because you pay them. Good thing you’ve got lots of money, Jameson. You’re going to need it. Nobody would put up with your shit for free.”
“That’s a low blow.”
Did I go too far? Was it a low blow? Probably, but what does he expect? And I can’t believe that nobody treats him as badly as I do. If he treats other women the way he treats me, surely they wouldn’t put up with it? Nobody is that stupid . . . are they?
“I’m not looking for a relationship.”
I punch the pillow on my lap in disgust. Six words have never made me feel so cheap.
Monday morning, I ride in the elevator to the top floor. We scheduled this meeting last week so that I could meet the private investigator, but it’s the last thing I want to do now.
I want to forget Jameson Miles, forget I ever met beautiful Jim . . . or Jay, or whatever the heck I’m supposed to call him. I’ve come to the realization that they’re a package deal, and unfortunately, I can’t have Jim without Jameson, even though it’s only Jim I want. So I’m doing what’s best for me. I’m cutting ties; I’m not falling into the pattern of sleeping with Jameson without strings in the hope that I get a glimpse of Jim every now and then.
It would be easy . . . too easy.
But I already know my poor heart couldn’t take it. I’m not wired for casual sex.
It’s just not who I am.
I’m going to be professional and try to concentrate on my job. If I didn’t have to see him, it would be so much easier, but it is what it is. I need to learn to deal with it. He’s not going anywhere, and I really want this job.
Damn it, Emily, why do you always take the hard way? Why do you always fall for the wrong guy? The last man had no motivation, and this man has too much. Both men didn’t care enough to go the extra mile for me. Maybe my expectations are too high from my book boyfriends in my romance novels-maybe Jameson was right on that one. But damn it, I want the fucking fairy tale for once.
The elevator door opens, and I walk out and through reception. “Good morning, Emily,” Sammia says.
“Morning.” I smile.
“Just go through to his office.”
“Thanks.” I walk down the corridor and knock on his door.
“Come in,” his deep voice calls.
I close my eyes and brace myself. I drop my shoulders and open the door. I stop on the spot. Shit.
The room is full of men.
“Come in,” Jameson says, devoid of emotion. “Take a seat.”
“Thanks.” I drop nervously into the seat near the end of the large rectangular table.
Jameson sits at the head, and Tristan, Elliot, Christopher, and an older man are on Jameson’s left. Then there are another six men I have never seen before.
Jameson’s eyes hold mine. “This is Emily Foster,” he introduces me.
“Hello,” the men all say.
I smile awkwardly as I look around the table.
“Emily, this is my father, George.” He gestures to the older man.
“Hello,” I whisper nervously.
“Hello, dear.” He smiles warmly; he’s in his sixties and looks like an older version of Jameson and Elliot. Gorgeous and distinguished with those piercing blue eyes.
“This is Martin and Gerrard, Max and Barry,” Jameson says as he points around the table. “And on the end are Calvin and Jake.”
“Hello.” I force a smile. I’ll never remember all these names.
“This is the corporate investigation team,” Jameson continues. “Jake will be the eyes on the floor, and the other five men will be assessing the data that’s collected.”
I watch him as he talks, devoid of emotion, and my heart cracks a little. He’s completely unrattled by me . . . by us.
There is no us.
“Okay.” I smile as I look around at the team. “Nice to meet you all.”
“We are going to hit the ground running this morning,” he continues. “Emily, you are going to show Jake around, and then you will be reporting directly to Tristan in regards to the stories you are putting forward.”
My heart drops, and I nod. My eyes go to Tristan, and he smiles warmly.
He knows why I’ve been designated to him. I feel like throwing myself on the floor and having a crying tantrum. “Thank you. That’s great,” I lie.
For the next fifteen minutes, I sit in my chair and stare at the CEO as he runs through the day’s events with a controlled detachment. He’s assertive, hard, and fiercely intelligent, and the room hangs on to his every word.
And he fucks his masseuse on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
I don’t know how I got myself into this messed-up situation, but it has to end.
Well . . . it’s already ended, so I don’t need to bother anyway.
“Thank you; that wraps it up. I would like a report on my desk at four thirty every afternoon,” he tells the men from the investigation company.
“Yes, sir,” they reply as everyone stands. I wait at the back, unsure whether to leave or not.
“Emily, just a minute, please,” Jameson asks.
My heart flips. “Yes.”
“Can you take Jake down to your floor under the guise that he’s new and that you two are going through a training program together?”
My eyes search his.
He stares at me blankly, cold as ice.
“Sure.” I turn to Jake and smile. “Are you ready now?”
“Show me the way,” Jake says playfully. “After you.”
I turn and walk out of the office with my heart dripping into my high-heeled pumps. Well, that’s the end of that.
He’s done. I wish I were. I’ll get there-I always do.
I sit in the café at the bench seat by the window and stare at the limo waiting outside Miles Media from across the street. It’s been a long week, and today was especially flat.
It’s Thursday, massage day.
I get a vision of Jameson oiled up on the table and another woman roaming her hands over his body; my stomach clenches as I picture it so clearly. My mind’s playing evil games with me and showing me the worst reality-porn scenario in history.
Jim . . . being touched by another woman.
Is she dressed while she massages him? Do they talk? Do they laugh like we do?
I need to stop this; it’s so destructive. I want a man who doesn’t even exist.
The driver opens the front door of the building, and I watch in slow motion as Jameson Miles walks out, navy suit, perfect posture, dark hair . . . emanating power.
Everyone stops what they are doing and watches him get into the back of the limo. His driver shuts the door, and it slowly pulls out and disappears down the street.
I stare back at my ham-and-cheese toasted sandwich in front of me, my dinner. Deflation fills me. I just lost my appetite.
It’s three o’clock on Friday, and I stare at the bogus story in front of me. Ha . . . what a joke. I moved all the way to New York to make up fake news for a twat and his twat media company . . . and his twat brothers.
I hit the keys on my computer with force. Twat, twat . . . fucking twat.
So much for my years of university study. My parents must be so proud. When they offered me the chance to do this, I thought it was going to be exciting and a chance to prove my worth. Maybe not?
“Down the end,” I hear someone say. I glance up to see a man with a big brown paper bag.
“Uber Eats for Emily Foster.”
“What?” I look around, embarrassed. “I didn’t order anything.”
He reads the docket. “It says here that . . .” He pauses as he reads and frowns as if confused. “It says here that this Uber Eats delivery is quality controlled and safe for human consumption.”
I stare at him and take the bag from his hands.
He squints as he continues to read the docket. “This doesn’t make sense . . .”
“What doesn’t?”
“Sugar to sweeten you up.”
I open the bag to find a huge passion fruit cheesecake in its entirety, and I look up at the camera and smirk. Is he kidding?
“Who sent this?” I ask.
“It says here, the sender is a Mr. Nice Guy.”
I stare at him deadpan. “Mr. Nice Guy?”
“Yeah, weird, huh?”
“Thank you.” I try my hardest not to smile. I know he’s watching.