A/N: Thank you all again for the great reviews. I promised you a long one and this is reasonably long. The next chapter will be even longer. There are going to be maybe 5 more chapters to this story. A lot of you guys said I update really fast... it's just that I read a lot of fanfiction myself, and I hate when authors take more than a week to update. I like the progression of this story, so I hope you guys don't mind the quick updates.
P.S. I thought I would just add that the story about Clare's first concert was obviously, my first concert. And it was as awesome as I described. Simple Plan, Mariana's Trench, These Kids's Wear Crowns and All Time Low. What more could a girl ask for?
Chapter 7
Clare was exceptionally late the next day. Purposely getting the wrong coffee order, she walked into the main conference room where Eli sat with Mariana's Trench. It pained Clare to do what she was about to do, but she was desperate. Mariana's Trench was one of her favourite bands and Beat was trying to get them for the October cover. Eli smiled when Clare entered.
" So nice of you to join us." he said pulling out a chair for her.
" My mistake." said Clare smiling sweetly and handing him the coffee.
" So as I was saying," Eli continued " we would love to have you guys on our October spread, specifically talking about your new album." Eli said grimacing at the taste of his coffee.
" Is this your first album?" asked Clare looking inquisitively at Josh, the main singer.
" Our third." answered Josh calmly.
" Really? I've never heard of you guys." Clare said rudely. Eli shot her a look.
" I'm so sorry, please excuse my assistant." he said, anger lacing his voice.
" It's cool." said Josh, uncomfortably. " We really want to talk about the concept for the album. Toy land is our first real theme."
" You are signed with Nickelback's record?" interrupted Clare leaning forward.
" Well, Chad Kroeger, the lead singer, started his own label and we are signed to that." explained Josh shifting in his chair.
" Do you think that's what hurts your popularity?" questioned Clare.
" Okay, that's enough!" said Eli. " You guys take 10 minutes to discuss the theme of the spread. I like the Toy Land idea. I will be back, without her." Eli pushed Clare out with him.
" Nice meeting you boys!" Clare shouted from the door. Eli grabbed her arm and pushed her into his office. Clare smiled and sat down in her chair.
" I know what you are doing!" Eli said pointing his finger. " I know what you are doing and it's not going to work!"
" I don't know what you're talking about." grinned Clare, turning in his chair.
" You are trying to make me fire you, and it is not going to work. I've survived a lot worse than you."
" You fired all your other assistants!" Clare said growing impatient.
" Because they couldn't handle working here after being with me!"
" Well, I'm not sleeping with you!" growled Clare
" Then I guess you still have a job." barked Eli.
" Ugh!" grunted Clare, getting up from the chair.
" My feelings exactly." smirked Eli.
" Eli, I cannot keep working here. I am going out of my mind!" Clare said.
" You were already crazy."
" Eli! Do you know how many times my mother calls me? Five times a week! Because of this job! I haven't been on a date in months. I am way too familiar with your condo. I am so distracted.
I think about you in the shower!" Eli's eyebrows shot up.
" Really?"
" Not like that. Like, I'm planning everything in your life that I can't even remember to wash my hair! So, I am going on a week of unwashed hair, my mother is going to have a panic attack and today I just insulted one of my favourite bands and I hate that!" Clare sighed. Eli seemed to be processing all this.
" I won't call you past 7."
" You will!" exclaimed Clare " You know you will!"
" Yeah, I will." admitted Eli.
" I just think it would be better if we didn't work together." Eli sighed and put his hands in his pockets.
" Alright, I'll give you two weeks to hire and train a replacement and then you can go work in Finance or Politics." Clare smiled.
" Thank you so much." she said pulling him in for a hug. Eli sighed and wrapped his arms around her waist. Clare rested her head on his shoulder. She heard something drop.
" Just my pen." muttered Eli.
" I'll get it." Clare said bending down but in the process getting her hair caught on Eli's studded belt. " Ow!"
" Stop moving!" said Eli, attempting to unhinge her hair. In that moment, Adam came bursting through the doors.
" Eli, I need..." he stopped when he saw a kneeling Clare and a shocked Eli.
" This is not what it looks like." said Eli pulling Clare's hair violently from his belt. Adam nodded.
" Eli, we need you at a ground breaking tomorrow. Can you make it?"
" You can go but you have a budget meeting at 3:00." said Clare pulling strands of her hair away.
" Should be fine." replied Eli.
" Great, where is it?" asked Eli helping Clare up.
" Carlaw and Lakeshore." answered Adam still giving them a confused look.
" By the Toronto Hydro Sailing Club?" asked Clare quickly.
" Yep." replied Adam. " You know it?" Clare nodded.
" Anyway, I'll start making some calls." she said as she walked out of the room. Adam turned to Eli.
" What was that about?"
" Clare quit." Eli said sitting down.
" What?" yelled Adam. " What did you do?" Eli looked up.
" I didn't do anything!"
" So then why is she quitting?"
" It wasn't working out." Eli shrugged.
" Eli, she's your assistant not your girlfriend. I know you're not great at understanding that line but she was really useful!"
" You think I don't know that?" Eli said. " Adam I need her."
" Awww." mimicked Adam.
" Not like that. I mean I need her around. She sees through my bullshit, she's organized, she makes me try harder. I need her. She has raised the standard. Whoever comes next will pale in comparison." Adam sighed.
" It's not surprising she wants to be more than just an assistant."
" Do you think if I offered her a raise?"
" I don't think she really cares about money." Adam replied, amused by the uncharacteristic despair of his friend.
" You're right." Eli sighed.
" All good things must come to an end." Adam offered.
Eli smirked but didn't feel any better. He was being forced to accept her decision. He didn't want her to leave, but he had run out of reasons to make her stay. What could he possibly say? I need you to stay at a job you hate because you're good at it. I need you to stay because I selfishly want you to run my life so I don't have to. He thought of saying, I need you to stay because I need you. But that sounded far too much like I need you to stay because I love you. And he didn't want her to get the right idea.
