Chapter Sixteen: All I Need
Say something I'm giving up on you
I'll be the one if you want me to
Anywhere I would have followed you
Say something I'm giving up on you.
"Say Something" by A Great Big World
"I'm sorry what?" I asked Ray as I sat nervously in the chair in front of him. He smiled.
"Gabe agreed to take over the financial side of Roth," he repeated. "He'll report directly to you."
"Why me?" I asked dumbly.
"Honestly because he's familiar with you already and every other person in the office is a woman who might drool all over his Armani suits," Ray said. I made a face.
"He's not that good looking," I said.
"Well tell me how you really feel," Gabe said from the door. I jumped and both Ray and Gabe laughed.
"Bella's picky," Ray noted. "I don't think I have met one girl that didn't cream her panties looking at your big blue eyes bro." I shoved my fingers into my ears like a child. Gabe pulled them out and took a seat, sprawling carelessly next to me in the uncomfortable chair.
"I was promised a new office," I said. Ray grinned.
"It's the one next to mine," he said. "Gabe is down the hall because Claire wouldn't give up her office. Think she has a crush on me?"
"Vain much?" Gabe asked, sounding slightly bored. Ray tossed a manuscript at him which he dodged easily. It slid harmlessly down the door.
"Come on Bella," Ray said. "Let's get you settled into your office." He took me to the office next door. It was only slightly smaller than his space but had a better view than his. He explained that I just had to go through some catalog and pick out what I wanted for the office, including a new desk and chair, and it would be expensed. For now I would be focusing on setting up my work space, working with the authors who already knew me and sitting in on meetings. For someone my age it was almost inconceivable to reach this level in such a short time, even with a smaller publishing company like Roth.
"Where do I get the business cards from?" I asked in the middle of Ray's never-ending speech about recycled paper which I had already been privy to my first day on the job.
"I'll send the link for the website to your company email," Ray said. "Just be sure to give the invoice to the new assistant, when I hire one, for entry."
"Okay get out of my office so I can look at this huge book of whatever the hell this is," I teased when he paused at the door.
"Don't be afraid to order whatever you want," he said with an uncharacteristically serious manner. "You have earned this promotion. Enjoy the fruits of your hard work." I smiled at him and he returned to his office. I thumbed through the catalog, marking the desk and chair I wanted before hesitantly picking out a nameplate for my door, one for my desk and a few bookshelves. I filled out the order form neatly before logging onto the ancient computer Ray had parked on the desk. I tapped my fingers impatiently as it booted up.
"Dude that thing is older than god," Claire said flopping herself down on a hard plastic chair that sat in front of my desk. I mentally make a note to go back and order some more comfortable guest chairs.
"You're telling me," I said. "I'll bring my laptop in tomorrow and have Ray get something faster in here."
"So tell me about you and Gabe," she prompted. I shrugged.
"We went to that event for his work," I said. "There isn't much to tell."
"And the Native American Brad Pitt?" She asked. I rolled my eyes at her description of Paul.
"We're taking it very slowly," I said. "Which is very new for him."
"I thought you two were already dating," she said flipping through the giant catalog.
"We were just friends," I said. "We're trying to see if it can be anything else." I was careful not to go into detail. Claire was a notorious gossip.
"You should order these," she said slapping the catalog down on my desk and pointing to cozy looking waiting room chairs. "They'd look good in here and your authors would be comfortable." I sighed in relief. When I headed for my car at the end of the day I felt strangely exhausted for someone who had essentially only been working on picking out décor for an office.
"You're home early," Paul commented when I opened the door. I tossed my purse and keys onto the table and sank down on the couch next to him.
"Apparently my new promotion came with an empty office. My only task for the day was going through catalogs to fill it up," I said.
"Sounds boring," he said. I shrugged.
"It could have been worse," I offered. "At least I got to pick my own stuff. There was a desk in there but the computer is from like the 80's or something. Took an hour to order business cards because it kept freezing."
"You're getting a new one, right?" he asked. I nodded.
"Ray ordered one from tech but it will be a few days. I'll have to bring my laptop in," I said. "How was your day? Any new stuff going on?" He shook his head.
"Nothing new on Victoria," he said. "Slippery little bitch." I ignored the panic that always accompanied her name.
"She's trying to lull everyone into a false sense of security," I said. "She's playing with us. That's what they do." Paul yawned and hesitantly pulled me to curve into his side. I gave into the warmth and leaned in, breathing in his clean, earthy scent.
"We'll get her soon," he said. "Mark my words."
"You mind if we order Chinese or something for dinner?" I asked. "I am ridiculously lazy today." We ordered enough food to feed an army.
"Aren't we just the picture of domesticity," Paul mused. I smacked his shoulder.
"You wouldn't be staying here if Victoria wasn't around," I pointed out. "Then you would have to take me on a proper date."
"What is this dating you speak of?" He teased. "I know it not."
"It's what is supposed to happen a few times before you crawl into bed with someone," I teased right back. He feigned shock.
"How quaint," he said with a grin. "What are the rules about couches?" I blushed and he moved in for a long, slow kiss that left my heart stuttering to a stop.
"I'll allow it," I said breathlessly when he pulled back hesitantly. He traced my jaw with one hand before sliding it to the base of my neck.
"Just kissing?" He asked quietly. I nodded.
"Just kissing," I repeated. "For now." For the first time we take the time to slowly explore one another. When our tongues touch the movement is slow and sensuous. He tastes inexplicably of cinnamon and mint. His hand on my neck kneads strongly as our mouths explore. The buzzing of the doorbell finally pulls us apart.
"I got it," he said when I made a movement for the door. "You can't keep paying for all the food. I'd bankrupt you in a week." He paid the delivery man and set the veggie lo mein in front of me. He devoured his food in the time it took me to eat half of my helping. He poked his chopsticks into the noodles and helped me finish my order off.
"Pig," I teased as we threw the empty containers into the trash. He tossed me a fortune cookie and opened his.
"It says kiss someone right now," he said. I shook my head and cracked mine open.
"No it doesn't," I said. "Good things are in your future," I read. He tossed his aside.
"Well mine is unhelpful," he said. "It says you only find something when you stop looking."
"I like yours better," I admitted. He pulled me so that I was standing between his legs as he looked up from his seat on the couch.
"Which one?" He asked with that panty-dropping smile. In answer, I bent and pressed my lips to his.