Page 83 of Drive

“Nervous?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t be,” he said with a wink. “I’ll buy them. You’re getting published. Have you fact-checked all of this?”

My chest pounded, my stomach queasy as I hid my elation. “Yes.”

“No matter, I will want them checked again and reserve the right to the final draft, understood?” He pulled a folder from his desk and laid out a schedule. “You’ll be working withJJ. You two will share space with city events and entertainment. I will not break up fights between the two of you. Figure it out. Best story is always going to get picked, and Stella—” he paused, looking at me pointedly “—he’s good.”

Intimidation and elation was a shitty combo.

“But you can learn from him. Don’t declare him the enemy yet. He’s fair, and he’s been covering by himself since the paper started.”

“What doesJJstand for?”

“Never asked,” he said, furrowing his brows. “You okay? You’re pale.”

“I’m fine,” I said, completely convincing us both that I was anything but.

He stared at me long and hard. “Stella, if you can’t handle this, tell me right now. Circulation is growing. I need to expand the section. Things have changed drastically since the last time you were in here. We’ve been able to add four pages.”

“I’m ready,” I said, finding my voice.

What the hell is wrong with you? This is your shot, take it.“I’m ready.”

“Okay, you’ll need to go over your schedule withJJwhen you leave here. He’ll show you the ins and outs. I want you at a desk here once a week, one Saturday a month. Sierra will set you up with your paperwork up front. If you’re writing for money, this isn’t the job to take.”

“Understood.”

He clasped his hands together. “Where are you, Stella?”

“I’m here, Nate.”

“No,” he said as he stood and walked around his desk then leaned against it. “No, you aren’t.”

I met his eyes head on, though my confidence had wavered drastically since I’d walked through the front door. At that moment, with the beautiful man standing in front of me, practically offering me the world, I was choking. I glanced down at my shoes.

This is your moment.

I met Nate’s stare again. “I’m here.”

He was slow to smile. “Yeah,” he gave me a sexy wink. “Welcome back.”

He brushed past me, and I inhaled a whiff of his cologne.

“JJ,” he called from his office door.

A minute later, a lithe guy who looked a few years older than me popped his head in the door. “Sup?”

“This is Stella Emerson. She’s your new co.”

“Really?” he said as he looked me over. “Can she even get into the shows?”

I crossed my arms. “Nice to meet you, too. I’m covered.”

“Good,” he said as he took a better look at me and walked through the door. He was tall, well groomed, and dressed like he came straight from the prep school suburbs.

“What doesJJstand for?” I asked as we sized each other up.