Capítulo 64: You Deserve It

Capítulo 64: You Deserve It
Chapter 64: You Deserve It

EVANGELINE

Distant footsteps echo through the silence that fills what will soon be my old workspace.

I glance up at the clock on the wall. It's still early. It must just be someone from the cleaning staff. I think to myself and go back to gathering my things.

Coming in early was the only way I could find enough time to sort out what to take with me and what I should leave behind for whoever ends up taking my place.

Closing the last folder, I look around at the still-empty workstations.

I've had some good times here. But I'm more than ready to move on.

I'm not going to let anything or anyone ruin this.

Picking up my phone, I open the last email I received from Human Resources yesterday.

Not a single clue.

Wait until tomorrow, they said.

That's what I'm doing. That and trying not to die of anxiety thinking about the possibilities.

The truth is, I don't know most of the editors very well. Some only by sight or through rumors.

"Evangeline?" A calm, deep voice suddenly comes from behind me, startling me a little.

I turn around to find none other than the "hot editor" standing in front of me.

A nickname affectionately given to him by the women who work here.

Wearing a dark turtleneck and glasses, he looks like he stepped straight out of some work of fiction. A romance about a professor or a nerd who spends more time at the gym than with his nose buried in books.

With looks like his, he’s not exactly someone who goes unnoticed. I think I've heard Tess make a suggestive comment or two about him before.

But what was his name again?

I struggle to remember, but the silence and my nerves threaten to send my brain into panic mode.

"Yes?" I say, giving up.

"Adam Hartley." He holds out his hand. "Looks like we'll be working together starting today."

I nod, shaking his offered hand as I try to process the information.

So he's the one.

Okay. I think I can handle this.

I try to convince myself, but as I stare into the hazel-green eyes behind his glasses, all I can think is: did it have to be him?

"It'll be a pleasure working with you, sir," I say, uncertain about my choice of words.

"Adam is fine." He gives me a faint smile. "I think I should start by showing you your new workspace. Shall we?"

"Of course. I've been waiting for this," I say, moving to pick up my things.

"Let me help." He grabs a few folders before I can refuse.

"Thank you."

Leading the way, he guides me toward the elevator lobby and then down the famous hallway that separates mere mortals like me from the editors' area.

I can't help the flutter of excitement in my stomach.

After passing a break room and two nearly empty workrooms, except for one or two people, Adam finally stops in the third, in front of a desk.

"Here." He sets the folders down on it. "Make yourself comfortable."

Looking around, I notice two more desks positioned in opposite corners.

"That's my office." He gestures toward the door on the nearest wall. "I'll let you get settled. When you're ready to start, just knock."

I nod and watch him walk away, disappearing into his office.

Taking a deep breath, I turn my attention back to my things.

Well, at least he doesn't seem obnoxious. But I guess it's still too early to put much stock in first impressions. And if he does turn out to be a tyrant, at least he won't be hard on the eyes.

I laugh to myself, and my smile grows at the thought of a certain someone freaking out when she finds out.

✽

"Have a seat," Adam says from behind his desk as I close the door behind me.

As I approach, I notice just how meticulously organized his office seems to be.

"I assume you've already met Alice and Dylan." His attention returns to me once I sit down.

"Yes. They seem... lively," I comment, still a little surprised by how nice everyone seems so far.

I thought I'd feel less comfortable with strangers around me.

"I can imagine..." The corner of his mouth lifts in an almost-smile. "So, what was it like studying literature at Brown?"

I blink, surprised. He seems to know more about me than I thought.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you... I saw your résumé, so I'm just curious. You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

"No, it's fine... I... think I loved it, for the most part."

If I pretend my ex-boyfriend didn't cheat on me, most of my memories from that time are still good.

"I have to say, your résumé is pretty impressive for someone so young. You have a great track record of publications in college, and I heard you recently published a feature in our magazine."

Yeah, the feature... how I wish it didn't exist.

"Thank you. I just... try to do my job."

"And do you write anything besides articles and features?" he asks, seeming genuinely interested.

"Yes, but only to pass the time."

"Let me guess... romance?"

I nod, surprised.

"I guess I'm more predictable than I thought."

"No, it's just easy for one novelist to recognize another."

He writes novels?

"Have you ever published anything? Maybe something I might've read?" I ask, curious.

"I don't believe so."

I nod, suspicious.

"Then I hope I get to read something of yours soon."

"Likewise." He holds my gaze. "But back to work... I have an editorial meeting tomorrow. After that, I'll be able to give you a better idea of what we'll be working on. For now, I'll send you an email with a few things that are already in progress."

"Okay."

"It's just a few emails and manuscripts. But there's one in particular I'd like your opinion on."

"My opinion?"

"Yes, I want to know what you think. You can bring me your notes if that's easier."

✽

When I come back from the bathroom, Dylan and Alice are already gone. After trying to convince me to go out for a drink to celebrate my first day, they had to settle for my promise that we'd go the next day, since I already made plans with Tess for tonight.

On my way to my desk, my gaze shifts toward the door to Adam's office.

Has he left already too?

Stopping in front of my desk, I finally notice the long, elegant black box sitting on top of it.

For some reason, it looks strangely familiar.

But I decide to open it before I let myself get annoyed over any assumptions.

There's a bottle of wine and a small card inside.

With a flicker of irritation, I pick it up.

Congratulations, Ember.
You deserve it.
— A.