Ella

When I decided to move to Manhattan, I had dreams of meeting a gorgeous man – ambitious, funny, and good in bed. Someone who would sweep me off my feet and make me forget the heartache I left behind in New Hampshire.

Josh fulfilled the order perfectly. He was ambitious, gorgeous and in fact, at that moment, he was definitely sweeping me off my feet. He picked me up, his arms under my butt, and in response, I wrapped my legs around his hips and felt his erection pressed against me. It wasn't like me to just hop into bed with a man I just met. In fact, it wasn't like me to do any of the things I had done since breaking up with Jerkface. Moving to Manhattan by myself. Getting a new job. Going home with a gorgeous man.

Jerkface had been my one and only serious relationship.

It wasn't like me at all, but that was my goal – to become someone I hadn't been before, no longer a doormat who let the powerful men around me try to control my fate.

Josh kissed me as he carried me through the apartment to the bedroom, where he laid me down on the side of the bed. I kept my legs wrapped around his waist as he leaned over me, kissing me intensely. His kiss was passionate from the start, his tongue exploring my mouth while his hands explored my body.

Finally, he pulled away and removed my sweater.

"I need you naked," he said in a husky voice. "Now."

I stood up and reached behind my back, trying to unzip my dress. He helped, then I let it slide off my body to puddle at my feet.

"That's better," he said as he pushed me back onto the bed, his mouth moving down my throat, lingering over the tattoo. "I've been waiting to do this since you showed me," he said and licked the tattoo, the sensation of his tongue, warm and wet on my skin, sending a shock of desire right to my clit.

He eagerly attacked my bra, and it opened much more easily, my breasts spilling out of the cups, my nipples budding in the cold air.

While he was busy licking a trail from my chin to my left breast, I heard a faint noise and glanced at the bedroom door where a blonde woman stood, her mouth open and an expression of pure hatred in her eyes.

"Oh, my God," I said and pushed on Josh's shoulder.

"What?" He looked in my eyes and I gestured with my chin to the door. He turned to check and his body tensed.

He helped me cover up and then stood up, facing the door.

"What the fuck are you doing here?"

"I didn't know you had anyone here..." the woman said.

Was it another employee who had decided to use the apartment?

"Christie, get the hell out of here."

He strode to the door, taking the woman by the arm and trying to push her out of the bedroom. Before she left, she stared at me where I lay on the bed, pulling the sheet more tightly against me.

Was it his ex?

I quickly dressed, pulling on my bra and hastily throwing on my dress, struggling to zip it back up before he returned. While I pulled on my sweater, I listened to the heated words being exchanged between them – words I couldn't make out clearly but which included weeping on the woman's part.

It had to be the ex-fiancée.

Whatever mood had existed after our encounter was now decidedly dead.

Josh came back into the bedroom and shook his head.

"I'm so sorry, Ella, but I have to take her home. She's drunk."

"Who is she, if you don't mind me asking?"

"My ex."

I sighed. "I thought so. She had a key to this place?"

"She used to work with me."

I nodded. "I'm sorry. This is awkward."

He came over and stood at the side of the bed, taking my chin in his hand.

"You didn't have to get dressed. The place is yours for the night. You can stay as long as you need. I have to take her home."

"Okay."

He pulled me into his arms and kissed me, then brushed a lock of hair off my cheek.

"Thank you," I said. "For everything."

"No, thank you for coming out with me tonight. I apologize for her. She's overly invested and can't let go."

He kissed me again and then left.

Once I was alone, I sat on the side of the bed and debated what the hell to do. It wasn't like me to go home with a man I just met and have sex, but in addition to the fact he was utterly the hottest man I had ever met, there was something about Josh that made me feel I could trust him.

He was funny, ambitious and smart. And very rich. Maybe he was my own Mr. Big.

I hoped I'd see him again. It made all the crap I'd been through in the past few days worthwhile. But at the same time, I felt weird about staying in the apartment.

I texted Steph.

ELLA: Can you book me a hotel room at the cheapest hotel you can find? I need a place to stay for the night. I mean the cheapest hotel that doesn't rent by the hour. I'll transfer you the money as soon as I get access to my account.

STEPH: Of course and don't sweat the timing. I have enough room on my Visa. Are you ready to call your father?

ELLA: Not yet. I'm going to hold out for as long as I can. Stick with me, okay? I'll transfer you money as soon as I get my card working again.

STEPH: No problem. I know you have the money. I wish I was there with you. Maybe in the new year.

ELLA: I hope! XOXOX

In about fifteen minutes, I got a text back from Steph:

STEPH: Got you a deal on a hostel near Columbia University. You have a bunk bed for two nights, just in case. Let me know how it goes and if you need anything else. I even told them you had no ID because you were robbed so all you have to do is show them your cell with these messages.

ELLA: I will. Thanks, Bestie. You're a princess.

STEPH: You know it!

Then I took a taxi to the hostel, getting a key from the front desk clerk after she examined my cell and the email in question. Then, I plopped myself down on the bottom bunk in a room not much bigger than the Airbnb and went to sleep, feeling like things were finally improving.

I could make it without calling my father.

The next morning, I showered in the shared room and dressed, unhappy about wearing the same outfit to work that I had worn the previous day, but at least I had a good excuse. I took the subway to the office, wondering if I'd run into Josh during the day or if he'd text me. I hoped so, because he was so gorgeous and sweet, but I was not going to wait for an email. That was the new me – not the obedient daughter to a tyrant and loyal fiancée to a cheating cad. I was a young woman in Manhattan with an internship in a publishing house and hopes of making my mark one day as an author. No man was going to occupy the prime real estate in my mind or heart for a while. A long while.

I spent the morning going over through several dozen manuscripts, searching for ones that matched Sharon's criteria for the imprints the company published. The manuscript had to have a great opening and near perfect writing. Previous publications would be an asset. I sorted through the manuscripts, putting those who failed on both counts in one pile and the ones who satisfied both in another. The third pile was for those I wasn't sure about and would read over again. Why not take the best if you could have them? Then I sorted each pile by how much I wanted to read on and ended up with a stack of manuscripts ranked from the best to the worst.

My father sent me an email mid-morning, wondering why I wasn't answering my cell and I realized I'd have to tell him the truth.

I called, using Josh's burner cell, and he answered on the second ring.

"Ellie, dear, I was worried about you. Why haven't you answered my calls?"

"My cell was stolen, that's why, Daddy," I said, chewing a nail, waiting for him to berate me. "I'm using a spare cellphone a friend lent me."

"You've already been mugged and you've only been in Manhattan what – three days?"

"It's nothing," I said. "I'm going to get a new one in a couple of days. I'm fine."

"Your mother and I miss you, dear. She sends her love. Please keep in touch. It's hard for us to see our little girl move so far away."

"I know, but your little girl has to grow up and leave the nest."

"I'm proud of you, even if I wish you'd got a job in Concord."

"I had to leave," I said, sighing. We'd had this discussion before.

"I know, sweetheart, but we miss you. Keep in touch and if you need anything, just give me a call."

"I will. I love you," I said, feeling a squeeze in my heart to hear that he and my mother missed me.

"We both love you back."

I hung up, pleased that my father hadn't scolded me too much for losing my cell. What would he think if he knew that I had everything stolen? He'd freak.

I couldn’t let him find out and was even more determined than ever to stand on my own two feet.

After our regular morning staff meeting was over, I went back to Sharon's office and we discussed the manuscripts. I gave her my notes, then went back to my office, ready to look over the backlog of submissions.

I really hoped Josh was serious about his offer of help, because I would need it if I hoped to keep my job.

First thing was getting a temporary loan until the wire transfer came through and I could pay him back. I'd need to buy a laptop. I usually bought Apple products because I loved them, but given my situation, I'd be going with the cheapest laptop I could find.

I phoned Liza at the Airbnb and finally got through.

"Oh, thank God," I said when she finally answered her phone. "I was robbed and don't have my key. I called and called last night but you didn't answer."

"Sorry," she said, "but I dropped my cell in a puddle and couldn't use it."

"Can I meet you at the apartment after work and get a spare key?"

"Sure," she said. "Meet me at six. Sorry to hear about you being robbed. That's terrible."

We said goodbye and I hung up, glad at least that I'd have the Airbnb back until Monday when I picked up my keys for my long-term apartment.

Then I got a text from Josh:

JOSH: Hey, why didn't you stay at the apartment? I came back, thinking you'd still be there but you were gone.

I bit my bottom lip and considered my response.

ELLA: I went to a hostel for the night. My best friend rented it for me so no worries. I felt really bad staying in your apartment. I'll be getting my replacement key from my landlord at the Airbnb so it's all good. But I could use that cashier's check for first and last month's rent if you're still willing. I'll transfer you the money as soon as the bank lets me back into my account. I need the check for Monday.

JOSH: No problem. Are you free tonight? I thought we might have dinner and maybe try again, considering we were so rudely interrupted... And my apologies for that. My ex is a little unstable. Well, a lot unstable.

ELLA: Thanks for the offer, but I think maybe we were rushing things a bit. It's not like me to just fall into bed with a strange man. Especially one who is technically my boss.

JOSH: Are you calling me strange?

ELLA: Sorry! Didn't mean it that way. But thanks for the offer.

JOSH: A guy can try. If you change your mind, just text me. What about just a meal?

ELLA: You've done more than enough already but I don't want this to seem like a transaction, you know?

JOSH: I know exactly what you mean and don't do transactions. With me, everything is voluntary. It never crossed my mind that being with me was some kind of repayment. I'm helping you only because I can. Seriously. No strings of any kind or expectations.

ELLA: Thanks. I appreciate you saying that. If I change my mind, I'll text you but seriously, thanks again for all your help. You're my hero.

JOSH: Your hero? I like that! If you change your mind about a meal, I know a nice little Italian restaurant down the street from the building with a great Italian meatball.

ELLA: A great Italian meatball? You're trying to tempt me, aren't you?

JOSH: Yes, that's my evil plan. I want to tempt you. Meatballs... MEATBALLS!

ELLA: LOL *is tempted* Okay. What girl can say no to a great meatball?

JOSH: Good. Come up to the apartment at six thirty and I'll take you for world-famous Italian meatballs. How does that sound?

ELLA: Sounds delicious. See you at six-thirty.

I stared at the screen, smiling, anticipating our meal together but I didn't want it to feel like I was having sex with him as repayment or anything. If he was going to help me, I wanted it to be only that. No matter how attracted I was to him, and him to me, if money changed hands, I'd feel too much like a prostitute. Doing sex – or feigning love – for money was the very last thing I wanted to do or have done to me, considering my engagement to Jerkface.

I remembered back to the previous night and our almost hot sex. I was a little breathless as I finished up for the morning and made plans to go buy some lunch.

"Before you go for lunch, I want to take you to meet the new boss," Sharon said. "I think he's back in his office. He's been on vacation since the death of his father and is just taking over of the business. He came back to work this Monday and will be here for the next week or so getting caught up with the business, so I haven't had a chance to introduce you. He's pretty hands-off with Dominion because he's too busy with taking over MBS but he does come for a couple of weeks every quarter."

"You mean Joshua Macintyre?" I said, wondering if I should admit that I already met him.

"Yes," Sharon said. "He's been named the new CEO."

"I already met him. He was in the elevator with me when it stalled."

"Oh, you’re kidding," Sharon said. "I didn't know you'd already met him. He's in the office today for an update, but I want to introduce you formally."

"Okay."

"How are manuscripts, by the way?" she asked as we walked down the hall.

"Some of them are actually pretty good. I have a pile of decent manuscripts that we can talk about tomorrow. But my eyes need a rest."

"Well, this is the perfect time, then."

I followed her down the hallway to the elevator, wondering how I should act around Josh.

We took it to the twenty-seventh floor and she spoke with a receptionist, who waved us through to a hallway and a corner office. Sharon knocked on the door, then opened it and poked her head in. I stood off to the side waiting to be admitted, a little nervous, not really feeling comfortable with having to interact with him, considering he was licking my breast the night before.

"I'm here," she said. "Are you ready for me?"

"Come," came a deep and familiar voice.

Sharon opened the door wide and went inside. She encouraged me to follow her with a wave of her hand.

"Ella said you already met but I wanted to introduce you to our newest recruit. She'll be working with me as my new acquisitions assistant."

I went inside and there, sitting behind the desk, was Josh, looking like a few billion dollars. He was wearing a very expensive black suit, crisp white shirt, and dark gray tie.

"Joshua Macintyre, meet Ella Carlson. Ella," Sharon said, and turned to me, "this is Joshua Macintyre, CEO and owner of Dominion Publishing and now, CEO of the entire Macintyre Broadcasting Corporation."

Sharon smiled brightly. When my eyes finally met Josh's, his expression was pleased, even playful.

"Ella," he said and stood up, coming around the desk to greet us. "So nice to be formally introduced."

We shook hands and I felt like a real idiot feigning we barely knew each other, considering only hours earlier, his body and his very hard erection was pressed against my body.

"Nice to meet you formally, too. Do I call you Mr. Macintyre?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

"Josh will work fine," he said and shook my hand, holding onto it for longer than he technically should have. His touch sent a thrill through my body.

It was then I knew I was going to be in trouble…