"Ms. Wynn, you're up first." Jamie gave the woman a warm smile and moved back as she walked in.
"Alex Reid. Nice to meet you." Alex extended his hand as Jamie watched him from behind the petite woman.
"The pleasure is all mine," the woman chuckled as if a little nervous. "I'm quite surprised that this is our first meeting. You've been the city's most eligible bachelor for some time. You're just a hard man to get a hold of."
"Well, I'm far more interested in running my company than talking about myself." Alex pulled out a chair after shaking the woman's hand. "Please have a seat and make yourself comfortable."
"Sounds great." The woman sat down and glanced over her shoulder. "I'll take a coffee please."
Jamie nodded and stopped in her tracks to sit down with Alex and Ms. Wynn. "Of course."
Alex's brows pulled tight as he shook his head. "Get Kristen to get it, and join us."
"It's fine. I don't mind." Jamie winked at him as Ms. Wynn pulled out a pad of paper and tapped the table.
"Time is money. Let's get started."
Jamie slipped out of the room and walked to the coffee bar, not quite thrilled with the way the woman addressed her. She didn't need any help to feel like the smallest person in the room. She was already there.
"Hey. You're still alive and in one piece." Paul glanced over at her as he hit his palm against the vending machine.
"Did you expect something different?" She moved over to it and bumped it with her hip. His chips fell to the bottom.
"Yes. It's all in the hip, huh?" He smirked and got them out, opening the bag and offering her one.
"Depends on the size of your hips." She waved him off and worked on getting a fresh cup of coffee, seeing that the last person who'd grabbed a cup didn't make another pot. Alex wasn't going to be thrilled with her absence, and yet to tell the woman from People magazine that she wasn't the go-fetch-it-girl was a little much.
"Who's in there with the boss man right now?" Paul popped a chip into his mouth and leaned against the counter.
"The lady from People." Jamie let out a soft huff and shoved a cup under the dripping spout as the machine hissed.
"Are you nervous?"
"About what? I'm not being interviewed." She glanced over at him as he held up his hand and wiggled his ring finger.
"Yeah, you are. You're soon to be Mrs. Alex Reid. He's been listed as the city's—"
"Most eligible bachelor. I'm aware. I might gag if I hear it one more time. It's getting old." She pulled the coffee cup out a little more forcefully as she meant to. It sloshed, spilling hot liquid on her fingers. "Damn it!"
"Oh shit. Let me help." He moved up to grab a napkin and started to blot at her fingers.
"I'm good. Really. Just get another cup ready. Alex is going to shit bricks if I don't get back in there soon." She walked over to the sink and ran cold water over her scalded fingers.
"Are they golden bricks?" Paul lifted his eyebrow and chuckled. "Just kidding. You know the guy is my idol. He's at the top of his career, has a great future, huge bank account, is brilliant, and has a beautiful woman."
Jamie started to snap at the poor guy for making Alex seem like the high and mighty guy he was until she realized his last comment was directed at her.
"Thanks. I feel like a frog today, but whatever." She shook her hand and let out a sigh. "I'm supportive of him. He's everything I want, but I hate being reminded that I'm the charity case girlfriend."
"Love doesn't look at money or worth. It's blind to that crap." Paul rolled his eyes. "Don't tell me for a minute that you're questioning how he feels about you. Look at that rock on your finger. That's not just showing off, Jamie."
Kristen walked in and tapped the counter. "Hey. He just poked his head out asking for you. Hurry up."
"Oh yeah. Sorry." She grabbed the coffee and walked toward Alex's office, trying to put her insecurities to bed. There was no place for them in her day or her life anymore. She and Alex would be getting married as soon as they set a date. They were living together, had a puppy together, and were continuing to build Reid Enterprises together. There was nothing to be concerned with.
Jamie opened the door to his office and walked in, getting a look from him as Ms. Wynn glanced over her shoulder.
"Oh good. There you are. We were just starting to talk a little about Alex's relationship with you. Come over and tell me a little bit about your past. I think we're going to run a story on Alex's rise to the top and how even though he has become this icon, he's still interested in the common and ordinary." She took the coffee and motioned for Jamie to sit down. "It's almost like a Cinderella story. The prince marrying a commoner. We just love it. Readers will love it."