Chapter 17
Hallie
SUBJECT: ARTICLE DUE BY MONDAY NIGHT
I’m feeling generous. Since it’s Memorial Day weekend and we are off on Monday, I expect to have your article in my inbox by Monday night. It will be on the digital site on Wednesday. I hope to see something spectacular for the long weekend. Come see me before you leave.
Anthea’s email hit my work inbox just as I was packing up my bag around lunch time. James had suggested we get on the road a bit earlier in the day to beat the traffic heading out to the Hamptons. One way in and out could back us up in traffic for hours.
I sighed as I closed my laptop and shoved it into my work bag.
When Anthea had first proposed this idea, I’d been less than thrilled to write it.
At first, it hadn’t seemed like much—just a fluff piece, a lightweight assignment that I figured would only cost me a couple of sleepless nights. How very wrong I’d been.
Anthea was walking on her treadmill in a pair of heels when I knocked on her office door. “Hallie, come in.”
The door clicked shut behind me, and I stood there for a moment, debating whether to sit or stand. It felt incredibly awkward to sit as she continued walking on her treadmill, so standing it was.
“You did a great job highlighting how personal your last date was so the reader could understand your love of food.” Anthea’s ability to multitask was admirable as she flipped through her tablet resting on her treadmill.
“I can’t even imagine how much money Mr. Old Fashioned shelled out to secure a private cooking class with Melody Garrett.
You know, I may need you to slip me his number when this is all said and done. ”
The unexpectedness of Anthea’s comment caused me to nearly choke, my eyes widening with surprise.
“It’s incredibly difficult to find someone who can treat a woman right in this city.
” Anthea trailed off for a moment, lost in her own head before clearly remembering I was still standing in her office wondering why the hell I had been called in here.
“Right. Well, I wanted to speak with you about the critic position.”
Anticipation tightened my chest, making my breaths shallow. Was this it? Was this the moment I’d been waiting for ever since I’d applied to Sophisticate ?
“I think it’s only fair that I let you know we have another candidate for the position that the board wants me to interview.”
Wait, what?
Had I heard her correctly?
Anthea’s words echoed in my mind, a confusing bunch of half-understood phrases.
Every hope I had drained away like air from a punctured lung, the weight of the realization crushing me.
I’d been stupid to think that it would be this easy.
That Anthea would hand over such a prestigious position to me if I’d only written a few articles.
“It’s not a done deal. I told the board I already had another candidate that I was seriously considering, but I can’t really turn them away when they want something.
I wanted to let you know that I really liked what you did with this last piece and how you discussed the food elements in it.
It was insightful, thoughtful, and your voice really shone.
I think you’ll have a promising career in the industry. ”
I might have floated on air after her compliment if she hadn’t just crushed my dreams.
“You’ve got skill, Hallie. And you are very much still a contender for this role.
But you’re also doing so well. As editor-in-chief, I have to consider whether giving you a column in the magazine and on digital would be a better position for you.
Maybe something on dating. I’m still experimenting with it. ”
Each word was a blow, a sharp sting that chipped away at my resolve.
I suddenly found myself facing a double-edged sword by following Anthea’s instructions.
Ironically, my current achievements put my future at risk.
I shouldn’t have felt surprised that I was being passed over in my career.
It happened in every aspect of my life, so why not this one?
Like when my parents praised my sister when she got engaged and then turned to ask me if I had found anyone yet.
Or when we went out and men looked at Roxie before they looked at me because she was exotic, unusual. And I was just … me.
“I’m excited to read your article next Monday night. I’m sure it won’t disappoint. Just keep raising the bar with the glitz and glamour. It’s really kept the readers engaged.”
A wave of numbness washed over me as Anthea dismissed me from her office, and I nodded, the stale air heavy in my lungs.
Janelle popped into my cubicle as I finished packing my bag, wanting to get far away from the office now as quickly as I could.
“So, what do you have planned for the weekend?” Janelle asked, seemingly oblivious to the tension that still clung to me after the conversation with Anthea.
“Please tell me Mr. Old Fashioned is treating you to something amazing . A quick trip out of the country? Somewhere warm? A shopping spree? I can only imagine what it would feel like to shop with a no-limit black AmEx card.”
I paused, trying to force a smile, but it came out more as a strained half-grin. “Actually, we’re heading to the Hamptons for the weekend,” I said, the words sounding strange coming out of my mouth.
Janelle’s eyes widened in surprise. “The Hamptons? That sounds incredible. Have fun. I can’t wait to read all about it.”
I nodded, trying to ignore the way my stomach turned at the idea of having to share whatever happened this weekend. I didn’t want to think too much about it—just needed to get out of here.
Roxie:
Are you on your way home? James is picking us up in thirty minutes!
Hallie:
Coming.
The weekend ahead suddenly felt pointless as I ducked into the subway station that would take me back to the West Village. Why would I go to the Hamptons for an article that could secure me a column talking about something that I had no interest in writing about?
Because you actually want to spend a weekend away with James.
Despite my better judgment, even though he tried his best to derail my article, I couldn’t help but feel amused by the sheer absurdity of his schemes, waiting to see what he’d try next.
Those beautiful blue eyes, filled with warmth, made me feel truly seen for the first time in my life.
Maybe that was why I kept my conversations with Anthea to myself.
When I walked into the apartment, Roxie was already sitting on the couch, phone in hand, scrolling through something that looked like a food blog.
“How was your day?” she asked casually, still distracted by whatever she was looking at.
I hesitated, glancing at the clock. “Uneventful,” I said, a little too quickly before disappearing into my room to pack a few last items. The truth was, I didn’t want to talk about the pressure from Anthea, or how I was struggling to figure out exactly why I was excited about James being in my life.
As I bent down to grab my suitcase from the floor, I heard a knock echo through the apartment. My heart skipped a beat, and I froze. That was it. The weekend had begun.
Roxie called from the living room. “I’ll get it.”
I stood still, trying to prepare myself for whatever came next. A slight shift in the air—his presence—was enough to make me question my packed bag and my rapidly growing anticipation.
Then, as if the universe had been waiting for this moment to catch me off guard, I rounded the corner out into the living room. And there he was.
James stood in the doorway, dressed in linen pants and a partially unbuttoned short-sleeved shirt, revealing the same gold chain I’d seen the night of the dinner party we met at.
“Hey,” he said, with an easy smile, one that seemed unburdened by anything that the world could throw at him. It was the most relaxed I’d ever seen him.
“Hey.”
James reached for my bag and slipped it from my shoulder. His fingers brushing the exposed skin there. Warmth pooled in my veins, turning thick like honey. At this rate, I’d turn into a gooey mess before we even made it to the Hamptons.
“I picked up some bagels from that little stand down the street for when we hit the road,” James said, and Roxie’s eyes flickered to mine, her eyebrows raised in surprise.
“The one that Hallie reviewed a few months back?”
“One and the same.” James grabbed Roxie’s bag with his free hand before turning to look at the two of us. “Are you both ready? Sebastian is meeting us there. He said something about some sort of work emergency with one of his designers.”
Beside me, Roxie tensed, her face draining of all color.
“The city is already emptying out. So I’d prepare for a little extra time in the car.” James disappeared back out of our front door, leaving me standing just as frozen as Roxie was next to me.
“Are you ready?” I asked her, despite being unsure of the answer to the question myself.
As Roxie straightened, her uncertain look was replaced by a smile. “It’s a weekend in the Hamptons. Why wouldn’t I be ready?”
“Are you going to be okay spending the weekend with Sebastian?” I reached out to pull Roxie to a halt as she started for the front door. “I know the two of you only spoke briefly at the bar the one time …”
Tension tightened Roxie’s shoulders. She took a deep breath before turning to smile at me. “Of course, this weekend should be fun!”
“We’re nearly there. The house is just around the corner.
” James steered his car past “houses” that were better classified as estates.
Rolling green yards stretched out before me, each meticulously maintained with vibrant, professionally landscaped trees, flower beds, and bushes.
Ten of my childhood home made up one of these mansions.
Even the garages were massive, capable of sheltering at least five cars, if not more.
As I rolled down the car window, a rush of fresh air enveloped me.
Unlike the city, there was not even a hint of smog, car fumes, or the stench of garbage.
Instead, the salty scent of the ocean filled my nostrils, carried by the gentle breeze.
In the distance, I could hear the rhythmic crashing of waves against private beaches.
“It’s beautiful,” I breathed, turning to smile at James.
“Beautiful, indeed.” James’s intense gaze held mine captive, and only pulling into the driveway of an enormous house dragged me from the depths of his ocean-blue eyes.
“Oh my goodness. Is this it?”
Roxie leaned forward onto the center console, her eyes wide. “Holy shit .”
“Holy shit,” I agreed.
Tall, lush hedges, with their vivid green leaves, stood sentinel on either side of a beautifully crafted wrought-iron gate, partially concealing the magnificent house.
We drove through the gates, past the charming cedar shakes, framed by pristine white windows and adorned with elegant black shutters.
“It’s been in the family for generations. My great-great-grandfather bought this place nearly a hundred years ago.”
“And no one’s using it this weekend?” I asked as James pulled the car down the brick driveway that curved toward an attached garage.
“It’s been undergoing upgrades for nearly a year. I think we’ll be the first people to use it since then. I’m not even sure if everything’s done yet.” James put the car in park.
“Did you come here a lot before the renovations?” I couldn’t imagine spending my summers running around a place like this.
You’d need an entire staff to keep everything in order.
The closest my family ever came to a butler or a maid was my grandmother coming over and not thinking the house was clean enough, so she did it herself.
“I spent nearly every summer here.” James opened his door before rounding the back to grab everyone’s bags.
“Every summer?” I asked as I took my bag from him.
“My mom wanted me to get out of the city. She thought it was good for me to have experiences outside the concrete jungle.”
Roxie snorted as she took her bag. “She didn’t want you to spend all your time rubbing elbows with the rich in the city, so she brought you here to rub elbows with the rich out of the city?”
James chuckled at the ridiculousness as we headed toward the front door. “Come on, let’s get inside. You can pick your rooms.”
“As long as mine has a view and a bathtub, I don’t care.” Roxie pushed her sunglasses on top of her head and marched inside. “And as far away from Sebastian Whittaker as possible,” she whispered under her breath so only I could hear. “Can you point me in the direction of the closest bathroom?”
“Just down there, second door on the right.” James motioned toward the hallway on our left. Once we were alone, he turned back to me and gestured toward the stairs, “After you.” James bowed, that same relaxed smile from earlier still shining on his unbelievably perfect face.