A/N: For Melirufus – sorry this one was late!

Ashley

How To : Lose a girl in 10 days II

"Would you consider releasing the first song as a single, and then we work on producing the album in the meantime, or do you want to wait?"

I was thankful that Arthur and Aiden was present in the first production meeting with Josie. She'd been on a rampant flirting mission, and though I should feel flattered and just go for it, I couldn't. I was totally vagected by a certain blonde, and it was starting work on my nerves. All I wanted to do was get all the frustration of the past week out of my system. But no matter how hard and how many girls I tried, I couldn't even get them home…

"… really great to cover up for the weekend's disaster. I feel this would help with damage control." Josie's words hit a nerve. I was already constantly reminded by Arthur and especially the Carmens that the gala had been a huge joke, thanks to Spencer's drunken performance on stage. I knew I was also to blame – I could have pulled her off instead of trying to humiliate her. In the end the whole little act didn't only put our names to shame, it also raised brows towards The Label. And for that I wasn't going to be let down soon. But Josie didn't have to remind me so insolently.

"Good. Then I will get legal to start with your paperwork, and then we can start sending it off to local radio stations. If we're lucky we can have it on air by Saturday already."

"Ashley, this is good. But remember that it will put some pressure on you guys to get that album out. One good thing that came from the gala is that people now know Josie's been working on getting something out there. We can expect some tidbits in magazines and newspapers for the next two weeks," Arthur added.

I almost felt a bit better, until he continued. "Of course, I expect you to head over to IN-NY for that exclusive this week still. Their latest issue had just been released this morning, and I had promised Paula that we'd give her staff enough time to get their Rising Stars section off the ground properly."

Please don't tell me –

"And Ashley, you will go with Josie."

Fuck.

I was hoping Arthur wouldn't say that. I wanted to protest, but knew of better. I was definitely not in his good books at the moment.

The way Josie's face lit up at Arthur's request made me want to throw up.

The universe was definitely out to get me.

"What if I pay you?"

"You already pay me in the form of a salary."

"Okay, a raise then?"

"You already owe me one. Plus, I don't think Arthur will approve a second."

"You can drive my car for a week."

"Pretty soon I'll be able to afford a down payment for my own Porsche."

"What if I just give you mine?"

"Ash… you're going to have to face her eventually. Maybe you won't even see her. Just get this over and done with and then you can go on with your life."

I sank back in my office chair, feeling resentful towards Aiden. His refusal to go to IN-NY on behalf me was frustrating, to say the least. Why wouldn't he understand that I couldn't show my face there? Ever. Not only did I want to avoid Spencer Carlin, I was also not ready to look her boss in the eyes. The humiliation was still lingering over me like a salsa stain on a white shirt. Just like the ever-present migraine that wouldn't go away despite dosing myself up with the prescribed medication.

"It's not only her, Aid," I complained, wishing there was a way out of it.

Aiden just laughed and made himself comfortable on my couch, pulling out a magazine in front of him.

I managed a glimpse of the cover page and felt something snap. "Are you kidding me? You do not get to read that in here!" What a traitor! IN-MY magazine, in my office, of all places!

Aiden was infuriating. He had the nerve! "Oh, come on, Ash. You know I love this magazine. Plus, don't you want to read it? I see it got published in this edition; How to: lose a girl in 10 days… Catchy."

That was it. "Aiden Dennison! Get the fuck out!" I've reached my breaking point. Between Aiden being so brazen, Josie with her constant tactless flirting, and Arthur's unwillingness to forgive me anytime soon, I just couldn't take it anymore. It was hard enough to get through the day being consumed by memories I'd rather have erased. It was hard enough having her on my mind when all I wanted to do was forget.

Of course, Josie Hemmingway had to have an agenda. Why was it that everybody I met lately had ulterior motives? Was that how people were these days?

"I just hope they didn't assign her to my article. We can ask them to assign someone else, can't we? I mean, we are the clients. I would love to have a word with her though…"

And she would just not shut up about the person I was so desperately trying to forget. I shot a silent prayer hoping that IN-NY was under lock-down for some obscure reason and that we wouldn't be able to enter the building. But as we reached the front doors, everything was perfectly normal. Except for my heartbeat.

"…I'm sorry, I know you were into her. But seeing as you seemed to have distanced yourself from Miss Carlin, I hope you don't mind me exchanging some words with her. She humiliated all of us not to mention…"

I was close to frustrated tears. If Josie didn't stop rambling soon I might just do something stupid and lose my job.

"Welcome to IN-NY Magazine! How may I assist you?" a bubbly receptionist asked as we approached the reception station in the lobby of IN-NY.

I checked my phone and noticed that we were somewhat early. Great. "We have a ten o' clock appointment with Paula. Ashley Davies from The Label."

The receptionist nodded and typed something on her computer, her fingers moving at lightning speed. She smiled as she looked up again, more at Josie than anyone else. I couldn't decide if she was a giddy fan or was about to flirt with the village bicycle next to me – who'd thankfully decided to shut up for a second. "You may have a seat while I get your visitors' cards ready. Your meeting will take place on the second floor."

We took a seat on the plush couches, accepted coffee from the flirtatious receptionist, and got handed the latest issue of IN-NY together with our visitors' cards within minutes. It didn't make the time go by any faster – we were still half an hour early.

While Josie browsed through the magazine and occasionally shot seductive looks back at the receptionist, I sat trying to control my breathing, my copy of the magazine burning holes into my hands. My eyes skimmed over the cover, featuring some actress who'd just had a baby, and then to all the cover lines, including the one that had me in such a frenzy; How To: Lose a Girl in 10 Days.

I was tempted, but I was just not ready to read how easy it was for someone to break me the way she did. I didn't know if I'd ever be. Maybe years later, when I was over the blonde and happily settled with someone else. But right now it was too soon. My heart couldn't handle any more breaking.

"Ladies! I'm so glad you could make it! Come through!" Paula's chirpy voice sent shivers down my spine.

Time to face the music.

We got settled into a small boardroom on an open plan floor where dozens of writers scurried around or sat at their cubicles, hard at work. I thought for a moment that I may have spotted Chelsea, Spencer's friend, but wasn't too sure.

"First of all, on behalf of IN-NY, I would like to apologize to you ladies about the debacle at the gala on Saturday. And Miss Davies…" Paula looked me in the eyes.

Here it comes.

"Also for the article that was sent to print without my knowledge. I assure you that we have taken the necessary disciplinary steps against Miss Carlin. If there's anything we can do to rectify this – "

My heart was in my throat. What was Paula talking about? Spencer was just doing her job – why did they feel the need to take disciplinary steps against her?

I interrupted her quickly, not ready to talk about Spencer Carlin. "It's okay, Paula, you can relax. It doesn't matter anyway." To steer the attention away from myself, I cringed at my next words. "I think what's important is that we restore Josie's trust in the magazine and label after Saturday's blunder."

This made Josie's ego explode, of course. "I must say, I was rather disappointed about how things turned out, but I'm willing to overlook the gala. I expect a proper introduction in your Rising Stars section. Maybe we could come to some sort of agreement about headlining your cover page…"

I rolled my eyes. Gone was the down-to-earth Josie I'd met weeks ago. Thank goodness we never hit it off. Though now Josie seemed into me more than anything. I didn't believe for a second that she felt anything for me. She wanted fame, and money.

To my dismay, Paula's face lit up. "Well, of course! We could… well, we could put you on the cover, Miss Hemmingway…"

Oh, God, please save us…

"No, I couldn't… really? I'd settle with just a cover line and maybe a chat to your little writer who'd brought such disgrace over this superior magazine of yours."

What?

I couldn't believe this! Who the hell did Josie think she was?

Paula was like putty in Josie's hands.

What. The. Fuck.

"Oh, Miss Hemmingway, no, I'd gladly feature you on the cover. Besides, Miss Carlin had been relieved of her duties here, so I'm afraid that chat cannot happen."

Wait, what?!

This was absurd! My heart was racing. I wouldn't allow these people to slander Spencer like this; she'd worked hard to get where she was. She had a masters in journalism, for goodness sake! "You fired Spencer?" I asked, before I could stop myself.

Two sets of eyes were on me, staring, as if I'd interrupted some important world-changing matters.

I could feel heat creeping up my face in the form of a slight blush. "I'm sorry, what I meant was, uhm, good… to hear… about Miss Carlin."

And while they turned back to their conversation about changing the world with slutty artist magazine covers, my mind drifted off to the blonde who'd swept me off my feet. How could they just fire her? Was she okay? I haven't heard anything from her since our squabble on Saturday night. I couldn't even reply to any of the text messages she'd sent on Sunday, because I deleted them all. In fear of making a fool out of myself, I also deleted her number from my phone…

I didn't know what came over me. Sat snugly on my sofa, TV on mute, stereo on in the background, I took sips of my warm coffee while browsing through back issues of IN-NY magazines – borrowed from none other than my good friend, Aiden. Well, not exactly browsing… more like reading How-To articles ever since Spencer Carlin started writing them. Most of them were hilarious, and I could picture the blonde in most of the situations that she wrote about.

I had to give it to her, she was a brilliant writer. I wanted to read all of them, except the last magazine, which was carelessly dumped in the trash.

"…and now, people of New York, good morning to you, I'm Jill Mason from NYFM. It's 8 AM, Saturday morning, sunny, no rain forecasts for the day, and we're starting off the day with some fresh music and a hot new artist, Josie Hemmingway! Don't forget to tune in later today for updates on the big home game; Yankees against LA Dodgers!"

I've forgotten about the game. It would have been nice to go and watch, but with Aiden gone on a weekend trip with Sean, and all other acquaintances busy with whatever they did over weekends, I was pretty much by myself. Of course, the one person who I would have loved to go watch the game with, was out of the question.

Josie's voice filled the room, and I felt a sense of pride as I listened to the music. I'd worked so hard on that song. I was pretty much inspired throughout the process, and listening to the words now, I realized why…

I've been roaming around
Always looking down at all I see
Painted faces, fill the places I can't reach

You know that I could use somebody
You know that I could use somebody

Someone like you, and all you know, and how you speak
Countless lovers under cover of the street

I couldn't deny anymore that Spencer definitely had some influence on me while producing the song. I remembered feeling light and happy, and in love…

Unwelcome tears made its presence as I blocked off the memories and focused on the articles instead. I didn't know why I was reading them, I didn't know what I was looking for. Maybe it was some insight, or just some indication, or sign, that what I felt wasn't unrequited. I guess I was just desperately trying to console myself that Spencer would be okay, wherever she was, and that she was strong enough to start over, without feeling the same numbing pain I did…