Chapter 7
Addison
I heard a knock at my door that broke me from whatever daze I’d been in for the past few hours since Daniel left my office with that awful woman. The whole meeting had put me into a bad mood, which was ridiculous because I practically landed him as our newest donor. Our biggest one yet.
Still, I couldn’t help but feel slighted by the morning.
Here I was thinking it was going to be something more, when in fact, it couldn’t have been more the opposite.
I felt foolish for being swept up in whatever fantasy I had thought up.
I blamed Monica for putting her silly romance plot inside my head.
Another knock sounded at my door.
“Come in,” I said, pretending to busy myself with something on my laptop.
Brian poked his head in before the rest of him followed. “How did it go?” he asked, taking a seat across from me.
I mustered up the proudest smile I could. “Daniel Jacobs is Leading to Learn’s newest donor.”
Brian slapped his hand on the desk loudly before leaning back in his chair and looking at me in awe.
“Holy shit, Addison,” he said.
“I know.” I shook my head because I still couldn’t believe it.
“You did it.”
I didn’t like the sort of disbelief in his tone of voice, but I ignored it because I was somewhat in disbelief myself.
“I guess so.” I shrugged.
“You should celebrate. Go home early.”
I didn’t feel like there was really anything to celebrate, but it would be better to be miserable in the comfort of my loft than here in my office.
“Really?” I asked.
“Really.”
Brian stood and headed out the door. “Good job today,” he said before slipping out.
I gathered my things and stood to leave, my leather skirt loudly peeling from the surface of my chair. I looked down and thought how ridiculous this outfit choice was. I let out a sigh and shut my laptop before heading out the door.
As I walked toward the subway station, my phone pinged in my purse. It was Monica:
How was it?
I wasn’t in the mood to talk about it, so I slipped my phone back in my purse before descending the stairs to the platform below.
The train to Brooklyn blurred past me. I missed it.
I frustratedly plopped down in a row of metal chairs, the chill of the metal biting into my bare skin. This skirt was way too short.
I wondered for a millisecond if that was why I landed this deal, but quickly shook it off.
Daniel Jacobs was a businessman. A majorly successful CEO.
He didn’t make deals based on how short a woman’s skirt was.
Plus, even if he did, I wasn’t his type.
That was made crystal clear when I saw Kiera.
Even her name screamed classes above mine.
The only thing that made me feel better was knowing I was a good person.
As much as I kept it together during our meeting, I could feel a fire of slight rage growing inside me brought on by Kiera’s privileged attitude.
I couldn’t believe the way she rolled her eyes or looked down on people who wanted to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than them.
I wondered how Daniel could stand to be around someone like that, but maybe that was just how rich people were.
Really, I was better off not knowing him, or being involved with him in whatever fantasy I had conjured in my head.
Still, I couldn’t help but think about the moments our hands had touched, creating their own kind of fire in the pit of my stomach.
There were times today I could have sworn his eyes lingered a little too long in places they probably shouldn’t have. I didn’t even feel upset by it. If it was desire from him, it only made me want him more. It was over now, though.
The next train to Brooklyn rumbled down the tracks, causing the platform to shake slightly.
I stood up and walked toward it, the breeze from the fast train blowing against my face.
I looked around at my fellow commuters. This was just another reminder of how different mine and Daniel Jacobs’s worlds were.
When I arrived home to my apartment, I turned my phone off. I decided to take a true afternoon off. From work, from the world, from Monica’s questioning. I’d disappoint her tomorrow with the news that I wouldn’t be the inspiration for her next romance novel.
I drew a hot bubble bath and peeled the leather skirt off of my body, tossing it on the floor next to the gray one from yesterday.
Two things I wouldn’t be wearing again for a long time.
I stepped into the tub and inhaled a deep breath as the hot water surrounded me like a cozy sweater.
I read the rest of my book, and while the ending gave me the happily ever after I desired, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for myself.
Finished, I tossed it aside, watching it skid across the tile floor until it came to a stop against the wall with a dull thunk . I sucked in a breath before I submerged my head underwater, thoroughly washing the day away.
The rest of the evening I spent on my couch watching horror movies and eating leftover Chinese food from the night before.
I bit down on a soggy egg roll as I watched the killer slowly stalk toward his next victim, a helpless prom queen getting ready for the big dance.
Probably not the best thing to watch when I lived alone, but I couldn’t take another romcom. Not today.
The next morning, on my way to work, I stopped by the newsstands for today’s paper. I saw the racks were plastered with Daniel’s face and a headline that made my stomach sink:
Is NYC’s Infamous Bachelor Finally Settling Down?
I snatched it off the shelf quickly and slid a few bucks across the small counter to the attendant. I jogged down the stairs of the subway station and quickly hopped onto the train to Manhattan. Luckily, I spotted a seat and quickly claimed it before opening up today’s paper.
I frantically turned the pages until I landed on the article I was looking for.
There were Daniel and Kiera walking into Bloomingdale’s together.
This must be from yesterday because he was wearing that same well-fitted suit and his hair was perfectly in place.
I stared at him for a moment before my eyes landed on her in that obnoxiously slinky dress that hugged her petite body perfectly.
A ridiculous thing to wear to a work meeting, but she practically came alive on the pages of a newspaper.
I wondered if it was an intentional wardrobe choice.
I noticed in the picture that she was all smiles.
Not in a cheesy, toothy-grinned kind of way, but in a sly, close-lipped way that said she was holding onto a secret.
Daniel, on the other hand, looked perturbed.
His lips pressed together tightly. He looked like he wanted to be anywhere else, but that could just be because of the paparazzi.
I couldn’t imagine being followed day and night by the flash and sounds of cameras.
My eyes reluctantly left his face and landed on the title of the article:
Daniel Jacobs and Kiera Shipley Are Back On!
The couple made their first public debut yesterday when they were spotted leaving Jacobs’ penthouse apartment in the mid-morning hours.
Shipley wore a champagne-colored, floor-length gown, and Jacob wore a custom suit.
The couple were sharply dressed as they stopped for coffee at a nearby café.
They sat by the window and looked deep in conversation, and were very touchy-feely.
I swallowed hard as I read that last part, and saw the photo that accompanied it. Kiera’s hands were on Daniel’s arm as he took a sip of coffee. She looked completely enamored by him. And why wouldn’t she be? He made drinking coffee look like it was a freaking ad for Gucci.
I continued reading:
As we know, the couple has been on and off since they met in college. She was there through his come-up, and seems deserving of taking the role of leading lady in his life.
While we weren’t able to get a statement from Jacobs, we were able to get in touch with Kiera’s publicist to ask a few questions.
You and Daniel seem to have a history that you can’t seem to let go of. Could you tell us more about that?
I met Daniel in college . I was a sophomore. He was a senior. I’m completely enamored by him and his drive. I mean, look where it has gotten him. We’ve lost each other a few times since then, but we always seem to find our way back to each other.
And where do the two of you stand now?
We’re getting to know each other in this current stage of life. Timing is everything. This may just be our time.
With your somewhat unlucky past with love, could marriage be in the cards?
I think Daniel was always my person. As far as getting married again goes, I never say never.
I closed the paper a little too abruptly, startling the older man sitting next to me.
“Sorry,” I mumbled.
I couldn’t believe how worked up I was about this. About someone I hardly even knew.
The train slowed to a stop. I realized it was already my stop. I had gotten so wrapped up in the article, I hadn’t been paying attention. Tucking the paper under my arm, I slung my purse over my shoulder, exiting the train.
As I emerged onto the sidewalk, my phone rang. It was Monica. I groaned. I had ignored her text from yesterday, and then a call from this morning after I turned my phone back on.
“Hello?” I answered as brightly as I could.
“Uh, hello. Where have you been?” she asked with a tinge of annoyance.
“Sorry, I decided to unplug yesterday. Brian let me go home early.”
“Oh no! Are you feeling okay?”
“Oh, I’m fine. I’m not sick. I actually think I got Mr. Jacobs to make a deal with us, so Brian let me leave early as a reward or something.”
“Mr. Jacobs…” said Monica slowly, as if she was processing it. “Well, holy shit, Heart. That’s amazing. I told you that leather skirt would work.”
“Oh, come on. Couldn’t you chalk it up to my outstanding people skills?”
I heard her laugh on the other line before falling silent again.
“But what’s with this morning’s papers? I thought he had a thing for you?”
“Uh, no. He doesn’t. You assumed he did because that’s how a romance writer’s brain works.”
“Pfft. Whatever.”
“He actually brought Kiera with him to the meeting, so I would say it’s pretty serious.”
“Wait, she was there?” asked Monica loudly.
“Yep.”
“What the hell?”
“I know. She was not the nicest person in the world either.”
“Spill.”
I told Monica about the snarky way Kiera greeted me, if you could even call it that. And about her attitude toward charity work and children.
“She sounds nice,” said Monica sarcastically.
“I don’t know what he sees in her,” I agreed.
“Boobs. He sees boobs.”
I laughed out loud. Monica always made me feel better. I should have just talked to her yesterday before I fell into a stupid depression with egg rolls and slasher films.
“Well, I’m sorry, Heart. Clearly the guy lives up to his reputation,” said Monica.
“It’s okay. I’m actually getting to the office now. Back to reality. Sorry I couldn’t be the material you needed for your bestseller.”
“You’re my best friend. That’s all I need.”
I smiled as I said goodbye and walked through the door to my work. At least I had this as a distraction.