“No.” Ellie’s stomach fell. She could have sworn it hit the floor.
“‘Derrick Jameson and Ellie Gold made an official appearance together at the swanky Hay-Adams Hotel tonight. No word on whether they got a room, but they did leave the business party one right after the other, making more than one partygoer wonder if Derrick sprang for the presidential suite...’”
Silence screamed through the room. Ellie could feel it hammering in her head as it rumbled through her.
“Okay.” Vanessa cleared her throat. “So, that happened.”
“It did not happen.” Ellie reached over and turned the laptop to face her. “We argued. We fought.”
She started tapping random keys. Anything to make that now familiar Insider website disappear.
“Wait, go back. There’s a photo.” Vanessa swatted Ellie’s hand away then leaned in and pointed at the screen. “Why does it look like you’re hanging on his arm?”
As if Ellie could deny it. The evidence, even though it didn’t show the whole story, was right there. Her pressing against him, looking up at him. Anyone seeing this would believe they were having an intimate chat.
“That’s not... I was just...” The words clogged her throat in the rush to get them out. “I’m going to kill him.”
Vanessa winced. “You can’t think that he—”
“Of course he planted this. I’m his PR plan.” And he wasn’t even trying to hide it. He’d been very clear. She just hadn’t realized he’d turned it on full-time.
Vanessa made a humming sound. “He really is cute.”
“Don’t.”
“But clearly a gigantic ass.” Vanessa’s voice sounded harsher that time.
“Better.” But still not good enough. Ellie wanted to forget all about his smug face.
“Hating him doesn’t fix the Noah situation,” Vanessa said, being far too reasonable for the moment.
“Or help with my income issue or get my life under control. Yeah, I know.”
Vanessa’s shoulders fell as she sighed. “I can give you money, or move in here with me and don’t pay rent for a few months. Give yourself a financial break.”
“I can’t.”
“You can.” Vanessa made a grumbling sound as she said something under her breath that wasn’t quite clear. “I’m thinking about stuffing twenties into your purse while you’re not looking.”
With that, Ellie felt some of the Derrick-related anger drain away. She reached over and gave her friend’s arm a quick squeeze. “You’re awesome and I love you, but this is bigger than a short-term money problem. It’s like everything is spinning and I can’t make it stop.” Even now her life choices ran through her head as she questioned each one. “I still can’t believe I got fired for something that wasn’t my fault.”
“So, take it back.” Vanessa grabbed the bottle and refilled her glass. “Control, I mean. Start with one thing. You take a small piece, conquer that and then move on.”
The advice rolled around in Ellie’s head until it took hold. She knew exactly which battle to wage first. “Right. Derrick Jameson.”
“Um, no. I was thinking more like you could get a temp job and rebuild.” Vanessa topped off Ellie’s glass. “A guy like Jameson is not easily managed. Forget him. Handle what you need first.”
The suggestion made sense but Ellie couldn’t survive that way. She’d spent so much of her life fixing things. First, for her father, who had one pipe dream after another, and her mother, who had fought to keep them together as a family. Then for her brother. She didn’t have the energy left to tackle straightening out her life, but she would. Later. Once she’d dealt with Derrick and Noah was back on track. “I have to handle these other pieces first.”
Vanessa shook her head. “Ellie, you can’t fix everything.”
“I can fix this. If Derrick Jameson wants a battle, he’s going to get one.”
The DC Insider: The hottest romance in town just got more interesting. Ever wonder what happens when the lady in question calls our office to insist there is no romance? Well, we call the gentlemen for his comment. And Derrick Jameson did not disappoint. The usually demanding businessman chuckled and said, “You should listen to Ellie. I enjoy acquiescing to her.” These two are never dull.
She’d been summoned.
The call came at a little after nine the next morning. Ellie debated ignoring it. She wasn’t exactly the type to jump when a man ordered, but then Derrick was no ordinary man. He seemed to enjoy ticking her off.
Yet there she was, two hours later, walking along a long hallway on the fifteenth floor of the Jameson Industries’ office building. Pristine white walls surrounded her as her heels clicked against the polished hardwood floors. People moved in and out and around cubicle walls. They carried stacks of papers and shuffled with a sense of urgency.
She missed the energy of a busy office. Insurance underwriting wasn’t the most exciting topic but she’d worked in human resources, slowly taking on more responsibility. She loved coming into a pile of files waiting on her desk each morning and solving problems.
Everything went fine until the big boss took an overactive interest in her. She’d done everything she’d been trained to do. Documented his behavior. She’d known how hard it was to report that sort of thing up the chain of command without becoming the subject of gossip. Before her boss made his move she’d set up a system to handle the concerns. Then she got fired before she could implement it.
The attorney she contacted about the firing but could barely afford said she had a good case. But her former boss had the resources to drag the thing out and exhaust her.
She tried not to think about that as two men headed straight for her. She slipped to the side, banging into the wall and knocking the corner of a painting. One that likely cost more than her car. After that, one more turn and she moved into a quieter part of the floor. No one scurried here.
Sleek furniture made of unblemished leather with shiny chrome accents filled the open reception area. That, and a desk covered with piles of files, was all that stood between her and a set of closed double doors. Those and the guy next to her. She couldn’t remember her escort’s name, wasn’t even sure he’d offered it.
Before she could ask, he reached out and knocked on the door to the right in front of them. One brisk thwack then he opened it. Even gestured for her to step inside in front of him.
No, thank you.
Her legs refused to move, anyway. The threshold seemed innocent enough, but the man on the other side was not. Every inch of this place screamed money. Something she’d never had enough of and worked liked crazy to stockpile in case her life hit a bump...just
