Taking a deep breath, I walk to the train station down the block from my apartment. The twenty-minute ride into the city is uneventful, and I get to Robert’s office less than an hour after hanging up. But as I walk towards his office, people give me looks. Sideways ones, accompanied by more than a few eyerolls. Oh god. They know. I try to ignore them, but my heart races. What if this ruins my fledgling career? And Robert’s career to boot?
Trevor lets me into Robert’s office, and I step in tentatively. The boss is on the phone, but he motions for me to sit, so I pull out the materials I brought to keep me company until he’s ready. Reading over the pages of my manuscript helps calm me down about the weird looks Robert’s employees were giving me. And once he hangs up, he gives me his full attention.
“Sorry about that,” he says. “My editors can be pretty needy.”
I shoot him a wobbly smile.
“No worries. Thanks for meeting with me.”
“Of course. So, what were you struggling with?”
The man is a picture of confidence, so I hand him the pages. He reads over the highlighted paragraphs and makes a couple of notes for me.
“I can see your problem,” he says slowly. “You really don’t want to write in the friend, do you?”
I shake my head slowly.
“I swear, I tried so many times. I know Sarah’s something of a lone wolf, and a companion could help soften her edges. But that’s the thing: I don’t want to soften her edges. Her hard-headedness and independence are what makes her appealing in this day and age.”
Robert doesn’t look up at me, instead continuing to stare at the page in his hand.
“You don’t think she comes off as too independent?” he asks dryly.
“No!” is my emphatic answer. “This is the way that I see her. Please. I hope you understand. If I have to change her, then I’m changing everything about the book.”
Robert lets out a huge sigh, still looking at the papers in his hand. I hold my breath. Oh no, is he going to overrule me? Is our entire deal going to go bust? I’ve wanted to be a published author for so long, and if we can’t work out these differences, maybe I’ll be dropped by Cameron Publishing. That would be ironic, wouldn’t it? My career would be over before it even began.
But then, to my surprise, Robert looks up and his blue eyes are crystal clear.
“Okay,” he says simply.
“Okay, what?” I ask, confused. “Are you okay with my suggestions?”
“Yes,” he replies. “I respect your opinion, Elisa. This is your baby, and if you feel so strongly about Sarah being a lone wolf, then that’s fine. We’ll leave her as is without adding a supporting third character.”
I jump up and throw my arms around his shoulders.
“This is amazing,” I breathe. “Thank you, Robert.”
He smiles.
“It’s what I do, Elisa. All day, every day, for years now.”
I blush.
“Well, I mean it. Thank you. You can’t even imagine how much this means to me. Thank you thank you thank you,” I gush while giving him another hug. He’s so huge and strong that my face goes red and my body feels hot. Mumbling, I look down. “Well, I guess that solves things. I should go.”
He chuckles.
“Wait,” he says. “Why don’t you hang out a bit? You seem a little discombobulated. Are you okay?”
I flush. Oh god, this man can read me so easily.
“I was a little flustered because things happened so fast,” come my rushed words. “But I’m okay now. Thanks.”
Robert grins at me, standing from behind the desk and coming to stand by me. “You look like you could use a distraction.”
And with that, he lifts me effortlessly from my seat and leans me against his desk.
“Oh,” I breathe. Robert kisses me hard and fast, his tongue immediately slipping past my open lips. “Oh, you meant this. Yes, I think I can stay.”
He chuckles deep in his chest, and the sound slithers through me like a physical caress. “I thought so, sweetheart. You need some hard loving, don’t you? That’ll relieve the stress, don’t you think?”
But I’m too lost for words because his kisses are getting more and more intense. Before I know it, my blouse is on the floor. Robert kisses down my neck to the tops of my breasts. “I love that,” I breathe. “Never stop doing that.”
He laughs against my tits. “I won’t.” He nibbles on my skin.
“Oh, please yes.” I didn’t know how sensitive my breasts were until this man. “Robert,” I beg again. “As much as I love this, I need to feel you inside me. Now.”
He chuckles low in his throat before expertly removing my bra and suckling on my nipple, ignoring my pleas for more. My panties are drenched. I’m glad I wore a matching set today. Not that I expected to have sex with Robert again. I just kind of hoped I would.