~Joan~
The journey back to New York was one of the most awkward ones I’d ever experienced.
Rhoda sat close to me the whole time, glued to her phone. Across from us were Aaron and his girlfriend, and I could feel Aaron’s eyes shooting daggers at both my hair and Rhoda’s.
Knowing it annoyed him made me want to keep the new color even more. And yes, I would. The man had no say in my life.
For a moment, a small, ridiculous part of me wondered if I should change it back, just to stop his glaring for once. But the louder, stronger part of me? He could screw himself for all I cared.
Eventually, I distracted myself with my laptop, my fingers flying across the keyboard as words began spilling out.
We arrived in New York late that night. Everyone said their goodbyes and went their separate ways. Rhoda and I shared a quick, warm hug before parting. Neither Aaron nor his girlfriend, Angelina, said a word to me, and I didn’t bother saying anything to them either.
I had a pretty good idea that Angelina would be spending the night at Aaron’s, but honestly, I didn’t care. At least, she wasn’t my problem anymore.
When I got home, I jammed my key into the lock, pushed open the door, and felt a wave of nostalgia hit me. I’d missed my little flat.
I walked in, dropping my bag by the door and flipping the light switch. The room lit up instantly, revealing the brown sofas and white walls that were just as I’d left them.
The apartment was untouched, and I could tell Ms. Indie hadn’t been here. My next-door neighbor and good friend always left little signs of life behind when she checked in for me, but now it felt as though no one had stepped inside in weeks.
After picking up my bag, I headed for the bedroom, unpacking and tidying things as I went. Once everything was in its place, I hopped into the shower.
My phone beeped just as I stepped out. It was a message from Shayne.
I know you’re back in New York. Call me.
I froze for a moment, barely breathing. I hadn’t even processed the text when my phone started ringing.
“Shayne,” I greeted as I reached for my lotion, trying to sound casual. How the hell did she even know I was back in New York already?
“Ms. Madison,” she said, her tone clipped and professional, just like always. In the two or three years we’d worked together, she’d never stopped calling me by my last name. I’d tried to make her drop it, but she was stubborn.
“You’re back in New York, I take it?” she asked, her voice brisk.
“Just got your text. Kind of gave that away, don’t you think?” I replied, rolling my eyes.
She sighed audibly on the other end. “We’ve got three weeks. Please tell me you’ve made some progress.”
I hesitated, my hands still for a moment. This was it. My chance to come clean. Either I told her now or scheduled a meeting to discuss it in person. But no matter how I approached it, it wouldn’t end well.
“Yes, I’ve done quite a lot,” I said finally. Her relieved exhale echoed through the line, but I pressed my lips together, knowing that relief wouldn’t last long.
“It’s romance,” I blurted out before she could respond. “I couldn’t write a thriller or women’s fiction. I had no idea what to do with them. And then, when I finally started writing again, it just… came out as romance. I didn’t want to stop the creativity by forcing something else. I know the clients won’t like it, but we can change their minds, right? You can change their minds, can’t you?” The words spilled out in a rush, leaving me breathless.
“My God, Madison,” Shayne said, her tone bone-dry.
I winced but said nothing as she continued. “I’m glad you chose romance. That’s actually what the client requested a few months back. But since you hadn’t made any progress, I didn’t want to put additional pressure on you.”
Wow. That was unexpected.
“Would you be free tomorrow? We have a lot to discuss,” she added, her voice softer now.
“Yeah, I-”
“Bring your manuscript. Goodnight, Ms. Madison,” she interrupted, cutting the call before I could say another word.
It had gone better than I expected. I slipped on my nightdress and crawled into bed, letting out a long breath.
My phone pinged again. A text.
Unknown: Change that hair color.
I instantly knew who it was from. How had Aaron even gotten my number?
Of course. He was a cyber expert. He could find anything he wanted with barely any effort.
Hello to you too, Thompson, I replied.
His response came almost instantly.
Unknown: The hair. I mean it, kitten.
I rolled my eyes. He seemed to have forgotten he wasn’t in any position to tell me what to do.
Keep this up, and I might start thinking you’re obsessed with my hair.
His reply was short, just two words, but they made my stomach flip and my breath hitch.
Unknown: I am.
Oh boy.
Go to bed, big boy. Don’t miss me too much. And just so you know, I like my new hair color, and I’m keeping it.
I tossed my phone onto the bed and turned off the bedside lamp, deciding not to engage with him further. I had an early day tomorrow, and arguing with Aaron about my hair wasn’t worth my time.
The phone kept pinging for a while, but I ignored it. Eventually, it went silent.
I was drifting off when a sharp knock on my door jolted me awake.
I sat up, rubbing my eyes, my heart thudding. Had I imagined it?
Turning on the lamp again, I grabbed my phone just as the knock came again.
It was 10:34 p. m. Who could possibly be knocking at this hour?
My body went on high alert. Robbers? Murderers? Kidnappers? I was alone and defenseless, with nothing but the bat I kept in the kitchen for security.
I thought about calling Aaron for a fleeting moment but immediately pushed the idea away. No way.
Grabbing the bat, I crept toward the door, my grip tightening as the knocking grew louder.
I took a deep breath and yanked the door open, swinging the bat blindly. But nothing connected.
Before I could scream, a strong hand grabbed my wrist, yanking me back. Another gripped my other hand and pulled me against a hard chest.
The cold night air brushed against my face as I stared at the open door.
Was this the end?
“Impressive move, kitten,” a deep, familiar voice drawled.
I blinked, my panic melting into surprise, and then into irritation.
Aaron.