Chapter 4
This is the first time since the start of my internship a month ago, that I hate being at work. It’s going to be hard to admit I failed. Noel didn’t tell me jack crap about his charity. The only information I have about it, is that it’s some type of children’s charity.
I pinch the bridge of my nose. He knows what the job meant to me. He took this away from me on purpose, and it pisses me off.
Aubrey leads us into the conference room for our scheduled meeting with Diana and the rest of the executive staff at Center Stage. My stomach rolls as I take a seat and scoot closer to the table. I fold my hands on top of the notepad I brought with me and take a deep breath.
Ms. Swagger takes her seat, and looks at me before slipping on her glasses. “Ms. Vance, would you care to fill us in on how your meeting with Mr. Falcon went?”
The finger nails of my left hand dig into the skin on the back of the opposite hand. Telling this woman I screwed up will be like nailing my own coffin shut, but what other choice do I have?
I readjust myself in the chair. “Actually, Ms. Swagger, I—”
She holds up a finger toward me, asking for me to pause, before she pushes a button on the intercom in front of her. “Jillian, dear, there isn’t any water in the conference room. Could you see that some is brought in immediately?”
“Right away, Ms. Swagger,” the secretary replies. I can tell by the response Diana always gets what she wants.
Without skipping a beat, Diana turns her attention back to me. “Ms. Vance, can I just say I’ve never received a phone call quite like the one I got from Mr. Falcon yesterday.”
My heart leaps into my throat. Oh God. Here comes the boot. I need to do every thing I can to keep my internship. “I can explain about that.”
Diana leans back in her chair. “Please do. It seems some of my account executives could learn a thing or two about reeling in a client.”
My brow furrows, and I glance over at Aubrey who just shrugs in response. “I’m sorry, but I’m a little confused. What exactly did Noel—er, Mr. Falcon say?”
“We had a lengthy conversation about the long term goals of the marketing campaign for his children’s literacy program, and Mr. Falcon is adamant that you take the lead on this project. He seems to think you are the only person on my team that understands him and his goals. Of course, I explained that you were only an intern and that I felt it best for someone with more experience head this up, but Mr. Falcon blatantly refused. He said he wants you, and you only, or he pulls the account from us.”
My eyes widen. “Are you offering me a job?”
Diana smiles and removes her glasses. “Yes, with the stipulation that you are successful with the Black Falcon project. If it fails, then I’ll have no choice but to let you go.”
All the eyes of the other marketing team members focus on my reaction. Children’s literacy hits home for Noel. He grew up with dyslexia and reading was always a struggle for him and he knows that I know that about him. It explains why he thinks I’m the best person for his job.
I rub the back of my neck as I feel the weight of the pressure push down. Even though I’ve known him forever, I don’t understand why on earth Noel would make that kind of request? He hates me now. He made that perfectly clear back in Houston. Why would he want me around more—to torture me, probably.
Is a job really worth all of this?
I have to grab this opportunity with both hands and do my best to keep my relationship with Noel strictly professional.
I swallow hard. Those are some hefty stakes, but I’m willing to take it on. “Understood.”
She nods. “Good. Welcome to the Center Stage family. Aubrey, see that Human Resources changes Ms. Vance’s employment status to full-time.”
I watch my best friend make a note in her elegant script. “Yes, Ms. Swagger.”
“Oh, and Aubrey, find this young lady a desk so she can get to work.” Diana winks at me before moving on to the next order of business.
After the meeting ends and everyone clears out of the room, Aubrey yanks me into a tight hug. “Oh my God, Lanie. What the hell just happened? Instead of getting the boot, you get handed a job on a platter. I thought you said Noel didn’t tell you anything.”
My head spins. All this doesn’t seem real. “He didn’t. When we were in Texas, it was like he couldn’t get away from me fast enough.”
She twists her ruby, red lips into a slight grin. “Sounds like he’s doing whatever he can to keep you close.”
I roll my eyes. “He only wants to punish me for breaking up with him. You saw how he loved shoving the two naked skanks in my face.”
Aubrey sighs. “That was pretty gross, I’ll give you that, but it wasn’t like he meant to do that, Lanie. He didn’t know that we’d come busting through the door unannounced.”
“Yes, he did. He even invited us to join. Ugh,” I growl in frustration. “Whose side are you on, anyway?”
“Yours, always yours, you know that. All I’m saying is he did go out of his way to make sure you got this job. Would he really do that just to get back at you? Give him a chance. Maybe it was an off night. He might actually want to be friends again.”
I shrug. Damn her. Why does she have to be so rational?
Aubrey smiles, “When you meet up with him again, plaster on the biggest smile you can muster and win him over. He’s the key to keeping your job. Remember the old saying, ‘fake it ‘til you make it’?”
I nod. That’s exactly what I have to do “You’re right. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep this job.”
“Of course I am. Now, let’s go pick out your future shitty cubicle.” Aubrey giggles and pulls me into the hallway.
An hour later, I sit at my new desk staring at Noel’s contact information on the computer screen. What am I going to say to him? I mean, do I thank him for basically getting me this job or do I play it cool and pretend his phone call didn’t pull any strings. Either way, I have to call him. Talking with Noel is the only way I can get things rolling. The only thing I know about the charity he’s trying to establish is, it’s for children’s literacy.
I rub my forehead vigorously. It’s just a stupid phone call. How hard can it be?
The nerves in my hand twitch when I pick up the phone. Each number punch makes my stomach knot a little tighter and when it rings my skin grows cold and clammy.
Noel answers on the fourth ring. “Yeah?”
I tuck my hair behind my ear. “Noel? Hi. It’s Lanie Vance and I’m—”
He chuckles. “Lane Vance, to what do I owe this pleasure?”
I squeeze the phone tighter in my hand. “Actually, I was calling on behalf of Center Stage Marketing. I’ve been assigned to your account and I wanted to touch base with you.”
“Touch base?” He laughs. “Listen to you sounding all professional. If you really want to touch my base, that can be arranged. All you have to do is ask.”
The nerve of this guy is unbelievable. “Ugh. You’re a real asshole, you know that?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I do know that. Thanks to you. You made that quite clear last time I saw you.”
Play nice, Lanie. Remember?
This is harder than I thought. The sweet, sensitive guy I knew once is long gone. This guy is self-centered and egotistical. It’s taking every inch of my self control not to tell him to shove this job right up his leather covered ass.
I take a deep breath and remember what Aubrey said about smiling. “You’re right, and I’m…I’m sorry about that. I was out of line, even just a moment ago. There’s no reason two old friends can’t get along and work together on a project.”
Noel’s silent for a moment and then he says, “Friend, huh? Ouch.”
I shake my head. There’s no way we are going down that old road. “You know what I mean.”
“You’re right, Lane. We should be friends, but there’s only one problem with that scenario.”
“And what would that be?” I bite my lip, hating the fact that I’m thinking of how sexy he probably looks right now. I picture him spread out on a bed, shirtless, still exhausted from the night before.
“I can’t be friends with someone who hates me.” The sexy vision of him bursts and I’m thrown back into reality.
“Noel…I never said I hated you.”
“You didn’t have to. I saw it all over your face,” he says with a sharp tone.
“That wasn’t hate, Noel.”
“Then what was it?”
“Disgust,” I say instantly. “Don’t you have any self-respect? You just sleep with any slut that throws herself your way? That’s not the Noel I know.”
“It’s not like that,” he growls, frustrated into the phone. “Forget it. I don’t have to explain anything to you.”
“You know what? You’re right. You don’t owe me any explanations. Who you sleep with is none of my business. However, my business with you is now professional and I really need some details about this charity. My job is riding on how well it turns out, so you’ve got to give me something.”
“So you got the job?” He sounds surprised and even a little excited.
I debate on which tactic to use, but I decide to play it straight with him. Noel’s not stupid. “Yes, actually, thanks to you. That phone call you made to Diana Swagger made it possible.”
“Good.” I can hear a smile in his voice. “It’s the least I could do after blowing you off the way I did.”
“Well, thank you for that. This job means a lot to me.”
“I know it does. That’s why I felt like a total tool and had to make it right.”
I chew on the inside of my jaw. It is kind of sweet that he cared enough about my feelings to make that phone call. Maybe he’s not the complete dirtball I thought. This might work. A small glimmer of hope shines in my heart for a split second that we may be able to overcome our past and keep things civil.
“So…Noel, about this charity”—I clear my throat—”what is your vision for the project?”
Noel yawns into the phone, and my feathers ruffle. I’m boring all of the sudden? Two minutes ago we were fighting. I shake my head. I’ll never get a good read on this guy with his crazy up and down signals.
“Lane, these business calls tend to put me asleep. I’d much rather see you in person to discuss all of this. Maybe you can wear something skimpy to keep me focused on you and what you’re saying.”
I roll my eyes. “Whatever, Noel.” Before I let the severely rude things on my mind fly from my mouth I take a deep breath and remind myself, yet again, that I need to get him to like me. I soften my voice and say, “That’s kind of impossible. It’s not like you’re here, right around the corner in New York.”
“Actually, I am in New York.”
My heart does a double thump against my ribs. “You—you are?”
“Yep. Did some press last night for our next album, and I decided to stay a couple nights and check out the local scene. So, what do you say to dinner with me tonight?”
This is a curve ball I’m not prepared to catch.
“I don’t think a date is a very good idea. You’re technically my client now and that wouldn’t be very professional.”
“Don’t think of it as a date. Think of it more as a business meeting.”
I look down at the notepad in front of me, and my hand freezes. Seven doodle hearts stare back at me. Is my subconscious trying to tell me something? I hope not.
“A business dinner would be fine.” What’s the harm in meeting him for job related purposes?
“Great. Give me your cell, and I’ll text you the time and place.”
We say our goodbyes after I give him my cell phone number. Dinner with Noel Falcon? It’s been a long time since I’ve said that, and I’m wondering if it’s a good idea to trudge down old paths. I only hope I can keep my head on straight and maintain a business relationship with him. God knows if he touches me the way he did in Houston, he’ll be pretty fucking hard to resist.
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