Chapter 5
Addison
I woke up and saw it was still dark out, and wondered what time it was.
I was in that weird state where I was curious to know what time it actually was, but scared it would say it was about to be morning.
I wondered if I even slept at all with all the tossing and turning last night.
Maybe it was because of the combination of Chinese food and wine.
It usually made for some strange dreams. However, this time I was pretty sure Daniel was in them.
Sighing, I rolled onto my back and stared at my ceiling. Maybe I couldn’t sleep because I was going to see Daniel again in a few hours. The thought of our meeting sent my heart into high gear. I inhaled a deep breath.
“Chill out, Heart,” I whispered to myself.
Heart was what my family and closest friends called me. An easy nickname, given my last name was Heartly.
I pushed the covers off me and swung my legs so my feet met the cool hardwood floor. The sun’s rays begin to peek out over the buildings in dull orange and pink colors behind the clouds.
I padded to the kitchen and put on a pot of coffee, the smell of freshly ground beans rising up to greet and wake me up.
I picked them up yesterday from my favorite coffee shop.
The coffee began to brew and I looked through the calendar on my phone.
There wasn’t much going on today besides the meeting with Daniel, which was somehow synced in my phone with his.
It felt oddly intimate to have our calendars so friendly.
I poured myself a cup of coffee and curled up on the couch.
I switched on the lamp next to me, its warm glow covered me and the corner of the couch.
I reached for my book on the coffee table.
It was a romance novel I’d practically devoured.
I had to get love where I could, and for a while now, it had been in the pages of books.
For the next hour, I got lost in my book, turning the pages quickly to see what happened next.
I was just about to get to the end when there was a knock at my door.
I jumped slightly. Who would be here this early in the morning?
I folded the ear of my page before closing my book, and tossed it on the couch.
“Who is it?” I called out.
“It’s me!” my friend Monica called through the door.
Shit. I forgot we said we would go on an early morning run. It was my idea. My stupid idea.
“Coming,” I said as I walked to the door.
I opened it and found her in leggings and a workout top. Her strawberry blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She gave me a once-over in my striped pajamas and furrowed her brow.
“You forgot, didn’t you?”
“I did,” I said, pushing the door open and letting her into my apartment.
She helped herself to a cup of coffee, making herself right at home. As usual.
“I think I was a little tipsy when I came up with the idea,” I admitted.
I had been all gung-ho about starting a workout routine and eating healthy on our last girls’ night out. Over wine and bruschetta, it oddly seemed like a good idea to get into fitness.
“Do you want a croissant?” I offered, reaching for the box of pastries I had picked up yesterday with the coffee beans.
“Hmm…running or a croissant…” she said, scrunching up her face as if deep in thought.
She held out her hand. I laughed as I put an almond croissant on a plate and handed it to her. She took a bite and closed her eyes in appreciation for the flaky sweetness that I was about to bite into myself.
We took our pastries to the couch and sat down.
“We could take up running another day,” I offered.
She shot me a look like she didn’t believe me. Then her eyes fell to the book next to her on the couch.
“Reading my competition, huh?” she asked, picking it up and inspecting the cover.
Monica was a romance writer. A good one. She was popular in the indie scene, but hadn’t made it big just yet. She was always looking for her next story, but it was too bad I couldn’t lend her any inspiration.
“What do you think of it so far?” she asked, turning the book over in her hands.
“I’m practically finished. It’s really good. You know I love the enemies to lovers trope.”
She nodded.
“But it wasn’t as good as yours,” I added quickly.
“Oh, stop,” she said, waving me off. “It was good. I read it last month. I’ve been trying to find inspiration anywhere and everywhere. I’m in a writer’s rut.”
“Well, I wish I could help you out with that…” I sighed.
“I wish I could help myself out.” She laughed.
She took a sip of coffee and turned to me as if remembering something. “Hey, how did your meeting go yesterday?”
“Good,” I said, hoping the high pitch of my voice didn’t give me away.
She raised an eyebrow at me. She knew me too well.
“What’s up with you?” she asked.
“Nothing.” My voice was even more shrill.
“Spill.”
I sucked in a breath before letting it go through my lips. “I had a meeting with this big wig. His name was Daniel Jacobs, and—”
“Wait. The Daniel Jacobs?”
Why did everyone keep saying that?
“Yeah…”
“The like hottest man in New York.”
“See, how does everyone know this, but me?” I fell back into the couch and crossed my arms as if I hadn’t been invited to some imaginary party.
“He is like on every gossip site.”
“You know I don’t care about that kind of stuff.”
“Well, neither do I, but it makes for some good book inspo sometimes. Hey, maybe I could write about him. What’s he like?”
“He’s…a businessman,” I answered nonchalantly as I avoided her gaze.
“Oh my God. You have a thing for him,” said Monica excitedly.
“I do not.” I could feel the smile creeping over my lips, giving my lie away.
I couldn’t have a thing for him. I barely knew him. Although, he did keep me up all night. Well, the thought of him did.
Monica clapped her hands excitedly like a baby seal, and I couldn’t help but laugh at how ridiculous she was.
“This is so exciting,” she squealed.
“Nothing happened, Monica,” I defend.
“Yet.”
I rolled my eyes before giving her a little morsel that I knew would indulge her.
“I do have another meeting with him this morning. He wanted to tour Leading to Learn, and he kind of insisted that I be his guide.”
“Oh my God,” she squealed. “He is into you.”
“No, he is not.” I laughed.
She stood up quickly and grabbed my hand, pulling me from the couch.
“To the closet! We have to get you ready!”
I struggled to keep up with my manic best friend as she pulled me into my tiny closet that I was surprised we both fit in.
She began pulling hangers and clothes frantically from the rack, tossing most of them on the ground.
She finally landed on a camel-colored leather skirt and a sleeveless blouse, paired with ballet flats.
“This is it,” she said, shoving the clothes at me.
I stumbled backward out of the closet.
“Put it on,” she demanded.
I knew there was no use in arguing. When Monica had her mind on something, there was really no getting out of it.
I shimmied out of my pajamas and pulled the blouse over my head, and slid the skirt on.
This was more a girls’ night out outfit than a work outfit, but after I glanced in the mirror, I had to admit I looked pretty good.
I spun to appease her.
“That’s it. That’s it right there,” she said with an approving nod.
I took another look in the mirror and was brought back to reality.
After looking through the paparazzi photos of Daniel and his many conquests, my confidence took a dive.
Even in this outfit, he would never be interested in me.
The doubt must have been transparent on my face because Monica took a step toward me.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“This was just stupid. I hardly know the guy, and even if I did like him or think he was handsome, he would never go for me.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m not stick-thin and don’t walk on a runway.”
“Who wants a girl who only eats romaine lettuce, anyway?” Monica rolled her eyes.
I laughed softly. “We’re not in the same tax bracket. Hell, we’re not even on the same planet.”
Monica put her hands on my shoulders and turned me toward her for one of her famous pep talks.
“You are beautiful. You are smart. You are worthy,” she said, her eyes narrowing.
I smiled and shook my head.
“Say it,” she demanded.
“Seriously?”
“Say it.”
“I am beautiful. I am smart. I am worthy,” I mumbled, feeling like a total idiot.
“That’s more like it,” she said, releasing me.
“I should probably finish getting ready. I don’t want to be late, and I have to prepare my office.”
“Yeah, you do. You’re going to get busy on your desk,” quipped Monica, doing a little booty shake.
I reached down and picked up a pair of jeans, throwing them at her. She laughed as she walked toward the door.
“I want a full report later,” she sing-songed, opening the door and stepping out into the hallway.
“There won’t be anything to report,” I called after her in the same voice.
I finished my cup of coffee and walked to the bathroom.
I brushed my teeth. Twice. And moisturized my face before adding some light makeup.
Concealer, mascara, and a swipe of gloss.
I didn’t want it to look like I was trying too hard.
I ran a brush through my hair and pulled it into a low bun.
I gave myself a little nod, as if it were a stamp of approval, and headed for the door.
I made the 8 a.m. train and began my ride into the city, my nerves growing as each stop passed.
I repeated Monica’s little pep talk over and over in my head.
I could do this. It was just a meeting. I’d done it before.
I’d do it again. I just needed to land him as a donor, and then I didn’t have to see him again.
When I arrived at the office twenty minutes later, Bryan found me quickly to ensure I was prepared.
I could tell he was a little irked that he was not running the tour, but it wasn’t in my hands.
After our quick brief, he left my office.
I started doing a fast tidy- up, making sure everything looked organized and professional.
Before I knew it, it was 9:45. He would be here in fifteen minutes.
I sat at my desk and tried to calm my beating heart that felt like it was about to escape my throat.
Taking a sip of water, I drummed my fingers nervously on the surface of my desk.
I glanced around and laughed to myself. Look how different our offices were.
We had absolutely nothing in common. In a way, it helped ease my nerves.
If I had no chance, then what was there to be so scared of?
Soon, there was a knock at my door.
“Yes?” I asked, my voice jumping an octave.
The girl from the front desk poked her head in.
“Your ten o’clock is here.”
I nodded, and she pushed the door open to reveal Daniel standing there. There was no mistaking who he was today. He was in a freshly pressed navy suit and a white button-down. His hair was pushed effortlessly to the side and there was an unreadable expression across his full lips.
My breath hitched and my knees felt weak, but I pushed myself to stand as he entered my office. I took a step toward him and held out my hand, but then faltered when I saw he was not alone.