Page 25 of Shadowing Charlotte
Chapter twenty-five
Charlotte
S aydiah shot me a pointed look as I hurried into my office, but she didn't say anything. Dropping my purse on my desk, I quickly sifted through my emails, pulling up the articles that Morgan, our Editor in Chief, wanted everyone to read over.
"How's it going?" Saydiah asked, appearing in the doorway just before lunch.
"Life or work?" I asked, pushing up my glasses on my nose and dropping the manuscript I'd been pouring through.
"Both, I suppose." She smiled, sinking into the spare chair.
"My psychotic ex-almost-boyfriend vandalized my rental and my house," I told her. It wasn't the reason I was late, but her eyes widened.
"Jesus…"
"Yeah. I'm trying to deal with it. As far as this…" I held up the manuscript. "I think the storyline is good, but there's a lot to be desired when it comes to his writing style."
"How so?"
I rolled my eyes and let out a huff, combing back through the pages, "Her breasts trembled with desire, coming to life and begging for his attention like a mewling cat…
" I quoted, shaking my head. "Do men not understand how basic body parts work?
No woman wants to read that shit." Saydiah laughed, pulling the page toward her and making a note in red pen.
"Sadly, it's not the worst I've read, but I'll give him some feedback," she informed me, returning the paper to the stack. "You're doing great, Charlotte, really. Let's just work on being here on time. You have a knack for this, and I'd hate to see it go to waste. "
I nodded, my cheeks growing hot as she addressed my tardiness, her words both praise and warning.
"Yes, boss," I agreed.
"Good. It's almost lunch time. Would you mind running down to the deli for me?"
Thirty minutes later, I returned with a bag of sandwiches and a growling stomach. Nothing at the deli had looked at all appetizing. Saydiah wasn't in her office, so I left the food on her desk and returned to my own.
"Charlotte? There's someone looking for you," Mirium informed me, gently knocking on the frame of the door. Unease swept through me like a windchill. Please, Adam, not now…
Rising hesitantly, I followed her to the lobby. My mouth fell open and warmth spread through me as I caught sight of the flowers. They were promptly pushed into my arms, along with a brown paper bag.
"Is this from the crazy one or the one from the club?
" Mirium asked, waggling her eyebrows suggestively at me.
I shook my head, unsure of what to say, and brought the vase back to my office.
The roses were intermingled with baby's breath, a stunning contrast to the deep red bouquet.
I plucked the little envelope from the middle and opened it.
From the first moment we met, you ensnared me.
Not with your tiny white bikini or your glistening skin,
But your golden-brown eyes.
Warm, rich pools of melted honey.
I want to drown in them and never resurface.
I liquified into mush, sinking into my chair with my heart pounding. No one had ever done anything so sweet for me. Opening the paper bag, I pulled the drink from the cardboard carrier. A peach smoothie. Of course. I was smiling like an idiot as I pulled my phone from my purse.
I can't believe you…
No vape? :p
I'll give you something to suck on when you get off.
I'm about two minutes from GETTING OFF right here at my desk.
Only if ur sending me a video.
You're killin me, baby.
I shoved the phone away, sipping on my smoothie and reading over the next few chapters of the manuscript. It was good. Really good. Still, the author's consistently horrid comparisons of women's bodies grated on my nerves, making me want to pluck my eyeballs from my skull.
I'm here .
Charlotte?
Babe, it's almost 7.
Where are you??? I've had to circle the block four times.
Fuck. I'd lost all track of time. The office was quiet as I packed up my things, leaning over to smell my roses one more time.
Sorry. OMW
I hurried outside, yanking open the door, Alexander looked pissed. "I know… I'm sorry."
"You don't have to be sorry. Just warn me next time," he insisted. "Here…" He handed me a new vape, minty mango, and pulled away from the curb.
"You're not mad, are you?" I asked as he focused only on the road.
"Mad? No. You had me worried, princess. There's a crazy person out there vandalizing your house."
"As opposed to a crazy person, stalking me?" I countered with a wry smirk. His mouth twitched as he glanced at me, placing his hand on my thigh and giving it a squeeze.
"When we get to your place, I want you to go change," he said, "I want to take you to dinner."
"Are you sure? Didn't you just lose your client?" I raised an eyebrow at him. There was no reason for him to spend money he didn't have trying to please me.
"Charlotte, you don't need to worry about my finances," he insisted. "Just go put on a pretty dress, alright?"
"Alright…" I agreed. The car was silent the rest of the way home, but not uncomfortably so. I felt content beside Lex, like I could be half of some perfectly imperfect whole.