Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
ELENA
By the time I got home from Let’s Ketchup, I was exhausted but too wired to sleep. I could have called in, taken a day to rest because of the extra income that I’d stumbled into, but I couldn’t do that to Mario. He’d been good to me.
After a quick shower, I crawled into bed and Orion’s gorgeous face popped into my vision. Heat swirled in my lady parts, forcing me to stay wide awake.
I had an entire week before the new gig started. What would it be like to work with an intense man like him? Was he a micromanager? Or did he trust his team to do their job?
What exactly did he need me to research, anyway?
I couldn’t deny my attraction to Orion. He probably didn’t know I existed until I smashed into his car. His type of woman hung out with celebrities and rich folks. That world was beyond me. I’d searched his name after seeing him at the museum. There wasn’t a lot of info on him. I’d browsed the few pics of him at social events with pretty women. A brunette and a blonde. An uncomfortable feeling stirred in my stomach, and I did something against my better judgment—I compared myself to them.
Since I couldn’t sleep, I checked my Musepaper website. I’d gotten more subscribers, which meant I needed to create more content. I had plans for this newspaper, but not enough time to do everything. My energy was dwindling, but I didn’t know what to do.
Sometimes you just had to trust the universe. That it would guide you to where you need to be.
I had two articles to finish for Musepaper and continue the research I’d started for Uncover the Truth, even though I didn’t have that platform to share my results anymore. I could release my findings on Musepaper, so those families who had trusted me would get some answers.
Had Orion seen my show? Heat warmed my body as I recalled the intensity of his eyes on me. He had the potent stare that held command and secrets. Who was the real Orion Reimann beneath the fine clothing, gorgeous face, and perfect body?
The man seemed like a pressure cooker today. But I guess I was one too. We were both holding something within us. What was he trying to contain? Or was he intentionally giving off an intense energy that made those around him jitter?
Stop thinking about him.
I scrolled through the emails in the general inbox for Musepaper, browsing all the inspiring stories people had sent me. Once in a while, I’d request my readers to send me stories about their town. But that kind of request opened doors to a slew of things.
I’d gotten emails from men asking me out on dates. Some asked for relationship advice. So many people were just lonely and needed an outlet. Online dating could be a dangerous place. I’d reported on several people getting scammed, raped, or killed from meeting someone on a dating app. Though I also heard about happily ever afters, the terrifying ones had stayed with me.
No online dating for me.
I hadn’t dated anyone since Liam Fleming, my ex-boyfriend, who didn’t have trouble moving on to New York City to be with the heiress of a luxury handbag company. He now worked as the news anchor for the popular show World News Recap. I didn’t have her influence, and I couldn’t help his career.
Was that important to all men? Would Orion choose a woman with influence to help his career over someone he loved? Liam didn’t love me. He didn’t understand the meaning of unconditional love.
My chest ached, and I placed a hand over my heart. Though I was attracted to Orion, I couldn’t let my heart be broken again. I’d put in a lot of effort to make things work with Liam, but in the end, he chose someone else. He’d left me during a time when I was grieving for my father.
That said a lot about a man, right?
Stop thinking about him.
I hated when I couldn’t sleep late at night. All the muck from my life floated to the surface, taunting me.
To lift my mood, I browsed previous articles on Musepaper. I smiled as I reviewed the recent write-up on Stuffed Cuteness, an adorable collection of stuffed animals from Vivian’s younger sister Kaylee and their friend, Aimee. That story had gone viral and gotten me a lot of subscribers. Young girls had written to me asking for more information on Kaylee and Aimee.
My phone rang, startling me. I grinned at my best friend. “Hey, Elliot.”
“What kind of greeting is that?” he asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Where’s the enthusiasm for your best friend you haven’t seen in a month?”
“It’s eleven at night. I’m about to go to bed.”
“Shit! Sorry, darling. I’m still in California. Be back in on Wednesday. What have you been up to?”
“Working. You know my situation,” I said, appreciating him more than he knew.
We’d been best friends since the sixth grade. Elliot was a handsome gay man, and I’d used him to keep creepy men away from me when we hung out. He owned Salon Oasis and knew how to dress to impress.
“You need a break. You’re not a machine.”
I knew that, but there was so much to do and not enough time. Bills needed to be paid.
“I will. Don’t worry. I’ll take a few days for a staycation. Not in the mood to travel.” I didn’t want to spend unnecessary money for a hotel and other travel expenses.
“Did you fix the leak in the roof yet?”
“On my to-do list. Guess what? I slammed into a Bugatti Voiture today.”
“What? Holy shit. What happened?” he gasped, knowing how much that car cost.
I gave him a brief version of the events.
“He offered you a job just like that? What’s the catch?”
“He needs my help with an investigation.”
“What kind? Nothing shady, I hope.”
I smiled at his protectiveness. Elliot was like thebrother I never had. “I’m not sure. I start on Monday at a building downtown. He’s a rich guy.”
“An extremely rich guy. Only Richie Rich could afford that car. Can’t believe he let you off that easily.”
“Maybe he really needs my help. He’s not from here, and he said he needs someone who knows the area.”
“The wealthy can commit crimes and pay others to erase the proof. Just be careful, okay? Promise?”
I’d encountered a few of those stories before. “I promise.”
“The reason I’m calling—without even thinking about the time—is because one of my clients is hosting a charity event to support a fashion designer. It’s a silent auction, and the proceeds will go to a couple of local charities. One model had a family emergency and can’t make it to Monday night’s event. You interested?”
My new job started on Monday. It might be too stressful?
“I’m not a model, Elliot.”
“But you’ve modeled for me before. Besides, you’ll make three grand for wearing clothes and walking around for three hours of work. It starts at seven PM.”
Anxiety tightened my shoulders. I should be resting . . . but the extra income would definitely help me out.
“Showing off your hairstyling skills isn’t modeling, Elliot. I don’t know how to walk or pose like those models.”
“This isn’t a Paris fashion show. It’s a charity event where regular people wear clothes to mingle. I’m going too. My team will do the hair and makeup. Come on, darling, let me help you.”
That money could be added to the fund for a new roof, or new car tires. Or take care of my check-engine light, which just came on tonight.
“So I don’t need to do the catwalk? Just be myself?”
“Yup. Karina is modeling too. You know how clumsy she is.”
Karina worked for Elliot and had done a phenomenal job with my highlights last year when he was out of town.
“Okay. I’ll do it.”
“You haven’t been in for highlights. Come on Wednesday, and I’ll squeeze you in.”
I felt bad going to him because he always did everything for me for free.
“It’s okay. I can skip this year.”
“You are NOT skipping. Don’t think I don’t know why you’re hesitating.” He sighed. “You’re like a sister to me. We’re family, darling. I don’t charge you because it makes me happy to make you look beautiful and to see that smile on your gorgeous face. So stop acting weird.”
“I’m not acting weird. You’re running a business. And I don’t want to take advantage?—”
“Stop it. How many times have you modeled for me at my shows for free? You helped me build a successful career. Not to mention all those essays I had to do in college. You were there for me.” He inhaled and exhaled. “If you don’t come in tomorrow, I’m going to be mad. You don’t want to see furious Elliot.”
I smiled at my dear friend. Why couldn’t any of my previous boyfriends love me like him? Unconditionally. No one had put me first except my dad. But that kind of affection was different from lovers.
“Okay. But I don’t want to get Jake jealous.”
Jake was Elliot’s longtime boyfriend. He often traveled with Elliot, attending the latest shows on beauty, hair, and fashion.
Elliot laughed. “Jake loves you, darling. He knows where he stands with me. Because you’re my sister, you’re his sister too. That’s a given.”
Someone shouted something to him in the background. “Gotta go. See you tomorrow!”
After I hung up the phone, I returned to my computer and saw Orion’s email.
My heart raced seeing his name. What the hell was wrong with me?
Apparently, he’d stayed up late too.
I reviewed the email from Orion. He sent me the link to the shared drive, a login with a temporary password, a guideline of the files and their contents, and a brief explanation of what he needed me to do.
He wanted me to help investigate the murder of The Condor. I’d never heard of this person. Orion ended the email by saying he’d explain more on my first day.
I admired his organization skill because I couldn’t master it. It seemed too strict for me. I preferred leaving space in between just to breathe. One time I tried to organize my schedule months in advance and got bored. Managing an online newspaper required a schedule, and I had and followed that. But it had flexibility for me to shift things around.
Was Orion a man always on a disciplined schedule? I didn’t know why, but I wanted to rearrange his schedule just to see how he’d react.
What would it be like to get him flustered?