“We have other matters to deal with. We are making a change to the imprints under Andersen Schulz and Meyers.” I take my seat again but refuse to let Daniel see any ounce of annoyance on my face. Instead, I accept the shoulder bump from Halle and focus on Chris. “The general fiction and romance will be split, so romance will now have its own imprint. This means we are moving around staff, and after a few discussions, we have decided to appoint an editor in chief for it.” I can’t help the gasp that leaves my throat, my grip firm on the arms of my chair.
That position is mine. Romance ismybaby at this publishing house. I am the sole reason it is successful. I will not miss this opportunity.
“Over the next month we will start making selections and we will be making the announcements at the Relaunch Gala, so be ready. Every title, every selection, every line you work on is being watched.”
“Sir, can you elaborate on what the new imprint will be?” I almost breathe the question.
“Nothing further to elaborate. The new editor in chief is going to run it. Subject to management approval of course.”Of course.“But they will be in charge of selecting their support staff, the name, the first few titles already on our list, as well as announcing the next few intakes. Whoever is selected will oversee their own division and will report only to me and the board.”
I think I have stopped breathing entirely. This is everything I have wanted, everything I have been working for. It’s here on a silver platter and ripe for the taking. My only real competitors are Halle and Liza. I know Halle won’t be interested in runningfor it and would be happy to work under me. Liza on the other hand keeps to herself but works probably just as hard as me. I don’t know her ambitions, don’t know if she’d want this. But I have proven myself enough. I deserve this. Daniel had perked up like he had a chance. I wish I could laugh in his face as loud as I am laughing at him in my head. Sure, his work is okay, but he has a habit of trying to close the door on romance. And I’ll be damned if I let this publishing house censor this genre.
The meeting was dismissed quickly, with a new energy buzzing through everyone as we finished out the workday. I have been particularly antsy. I know Chris won’t get me the formal offer until after the weekend, but I can’t wait to give the news to Jessie and Casey. They are going to bethrilled.
I stopped by the liquor store on the way to the little apartment above the bookshop café and rapidly made my way up to the apartment, banging a few times on the door.
“Open the door, you can play hide thelonganizalater!”
A few gruntled sounds and swearing confirm that my assumptions were correct. The caveman was getting down and dirty, but I wasn’t going to wait to drop this bomb.
“The heck is alonganiza?” Casey’s head pops out from around the door that she has only opened a little, her shirt—Jessie’sshirt—done up with mismatched buttons, her cheeks lightly pink, and I smile wider.
“Think of it like a chorizo sausage.” I smack my hand against their door and let myself in, pleasantly surprised to find a frowning, shirtless, and frazzled Jessie with his arms crossedand looking like he might murder me. “And sorry to ruin your evening, but I come baring excellent news.” I smile at Jessie and hear Casey snicker behind me.
“Chorizo got nothing on Jessie.”
Of course I don’t dignify that with a response. Instead, I do what I planned to do when I walked through the door. I shake up the bottle of champagne in my hand and rip the cork, letting the foam and liquid burst and spray all over Jessie…and his apartment.
“What the fuck?” He grumbles, looking down at himself.
“Huh. That always looks better in the movies.” I ponder the rather underwhelming spray of alcohol and then promptly place the bottle on the counter. “Well, anyway…guess who is going to be a published author!” I throw my arms out wide and Jessie’s head snaps to me as Casey gasps from behind me. I dart my head around and find her eyes watering, her smile wide.
Looking back to Jessie, he looks past me over to Casey, and a small smile creeps up on his face.
Well, that’s weird, I don’t hear any chants and shouts about how amazing I am. Not even anyone kneeling and kissing my toes because I’m practically Jesus-walking-on-water magical.
“Official deal will come in tomorrow, or this week. I’ll be your editor and we are going to make this baby shine!” I smile even wider, matching his, feeling a strange sense of warmth covering my chest. I do have a lot of affection for my friends, but it’s oddly comforting seeing words I spoke change someone’s day. I don’t typically allow myself to get too invested in other people’s lives—unless it’s Addy or Casey—but doing this for Jessie, being alongside him, feels special.
Of course, neither he nor I will be caught dead admitting this.
“Well?” I prompt, because there isn’t a whole lot of,Thank you, Rosie,or,You’re the light of our lives, Rosie.
“Jess.”The whisper comes from behind me and then there is the patting of light feet as Casey runs and jumps on JJ. He catches her as she wraps her body around him, and my face pulls into a sneer.
“Excuse me? Where is my run-and-jump hug? Iliterallyjust made this happen.” Casey manages to disentangle herself from Jessie with a giggle and she makes her way over, pulling me into her embrace. I return it, thankful she didn’t attempt to run and jump.
“Sorry, Rosie. Thank you for doing this for him,” she finishes on a whisper, I assume just for me to hear. When she lets go, I look over and find JJ with a soft smile in my direction.
“Thanks, Rosie, I appreciate it. Really.” He nods, a little bit of pinkness to his cheeks, but with the way his hungry eyes keep devouring Casey, I know my time here is cut.
“Okay, well…I won’t cock-block any longer…as you were.” I wave a hand between them and turn for the door. I hear some giggles and gasping the second the door closes behind me. Literally a second. Devious sex animals.I am so proud of her.
A little happy to have been the one to deliver the good news, a lot deflated that we didn’t all celebrate, and now antsy with some pent-up energy, I pull my phone out to call my other home girl, hoping she is up for a night out so we canreallycelebrate.
Except it goes straight to voicemail. I try again, but then a text comes in.
Addy:
Sorry girl! Working late at Lucas’s, I’ll call you after my shift x
