“Events with Ella?” I shook my head. “No, that’s not happening anymore. Ella’s not going to be a good fit, I’m afraid. It’s back to the drawing board—”
“Apparently not,” she disagreed apologetically. “Nick called to leave the message himself. I think it’s actually the first time I’ve ever talked to him...”
Without another word, I rushed into my office—slamming the door behind me, whilst muttering something about lobsters and mismatching shoes.
There was a momentary hush from the rest of the staffers, but by now, they were used to such bizarre antics. The world of public relations was a strange one, and they had seen stranger things in the office than me.
Besides—I didn’t have time to worry about whether or not my employees thought I might be crazy. My boss was on his way over.
And for whatever reason, he was bringing that Oklahoma disaster with him.
Okay, think Abby! Think!
But there simply wasn’t time. Not four seconds later, my intercom buzzed and Allison’s voice crackled through the speaker.
“Excuse me, Abigail? Mr. Hunter is here to see you. Along with his...friend.”
My eyes snapped shut in a weary grimace, as I sank an inch lower in my chair. Yes, that was Ella alright. She seemed to have that sort of effect on people.
Well aware of the possibility that I was about to get fired, I pushed the button back.
“Send them in.”
A moment later, the door burst open and Nick strode confidently inside. The night of heavy drinking seemed to have had next to no effect on him—whereas I still looked like a creature that had crawled out of the Black Lagoon.
Behind him, through the slowly closing door, I saw the faces of every single person in my office—just straining to get a glimpse. While they spent their lives glued to computer screens plastered with images of Nick’s face, this was the first time most of them had ever seen him in person. And with Nicholas Hunter, even I had to admit: the man lived up to the legend.
Also behind him, dear little Ella was trailing along. Like an after-thought. As if he’d forgotten not only that he’d brought her here, but that she was the entire reason he’d come.
“Good morning, Abigail!”
Was he speaking loud on purpose, or was it just my imagination? Either way, I flinched as I pushed slowly to my feet—head throbbing with a hangover that refused to leave.
Was it?
“Good—” I cleared my throat and tried again, “—good morning.”
His eyes danced with a strange triumph as they looked me up and down. It was then I remembered I was wearing the sundress. And it was still on backwards.
“Holy shit!” Ella stepped forward, jaw dropping to the floor. “Abigail, what the hell happened to you? You look fucking awful!
”
Real subtle, that one. Sweet too.
Nick bowed his head to stifle a grin, and I grimaced her a smile.
“Uh...thanks, Ella. I just had a long night, was all.” With as much dignity as I could, I gestured for the three of us to sit. “Trust me—it won’t be happening again.”
Not ever.
Nick’s eyes flashed up, but he held his tongue. Not that he had much of a choice. It quickly seemed as though Miss Ella had a few hundred ideas of ways she and Nick could be presented as the world’s most perfect couple.
“Well good—because we’re going to need you.” She grabbed his hand, and held on like her life depended on it. “There’s so much to do, I don’t even know where to start!”
As she began rambling on about nothing in particular, Nick and I engaged in a silent war.
Both glaring at each other from across the table. Both determined not to blink first. Both firmly convinced that, at the end of the night, they had been in the right.