His Little Editor (Ellis PH book 1)

Chapter 11

“Congratulations Babyboy,” I yell and launch myself at my brother wrapping my limbs around him as his arm wraps around my back holding onto me tightly. I was still wearing my dress from earlier I just added a jacket, I didn't care if my dress road up I just miss him. My parents follow closely behind me and join turning the hug into a group one. “I’m so proud of you Jesse.” I whisper in his ear. My parents let us go but I cling to him.

“Yea... Can we eat now? I’m starving.” Jesse looks away blushing, still holding me up.

“Charlie let go of your brother. Let’s go feed him, you know how he gets when he’s hungry,” my mother scolds.

“Ugh. Fine.” I pout and put my feet on the floor and straighten out my dress. “So were going to Antoni’s for the best Italian food of your lives.”

“Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of Leo’s. Sorry Char. A 

Guy only graduates once.” Jesse responds laughing.

“Well let’s head out then. Leo’s gets busy around this time and I didn’t make reservations.” Sighing I lead my way to my car. 

We get to Leo’s and its packed, but Jesse walks up to the hostess and she greets him like an old friend. He plants a kiss on her cheek and gives her a hug. “I knew you’d be coming in after the ceremony, so I saved you a booth in the back. This way guys.” We follow her to the back, and I slide in the booth after Jesse sandwiching him in. “Jesse normally lets the chef make whatever he wants, is that cool with you guys?”

“Sure, sounds great,” all three of us respond at once then making eye contact and laughing.

Jesse just says, "Thanks Veronica. I'll see you on Thursday night, right?" 

"Well I'm not canceling the game, so yes.” she walks away with an extra swing to her hips leaving us to catch up.

 Jesse’s talking all excitedly to us about his new job, his dodgeball team that he’s on with veronica, and his weird roommate. I go over the take-over at work, the funny story of how I met my boss leaving out the s*x part, and the struggles of no one taking me seriously because of my age. My parents babble about the next place they’re traveling to, their most recent trip and life in Modesto where I grew up. 

Feeling as if someone is watching me, I slowly look around the trying to find the source of the eyes I've been feeling on me the past ten minutes. I make eye contact with a pair of honey brown eyes and freeze. The man gets up and starts making his way over. “s**t,” I mutter under my breath.

“What Char?” Jesse whispers back looking around and trying not to get my parents attention. His eyes land on the sauntering form of the man I really don’t want to see right now. “Do you know him? Do you want me to get rid of him?”

“Hey, I’m sorry to interrupt but I saw Charlie from across the room and I had to say hi to her.” A too sweet voice intrudes on our conversation.

“Hey Ian.” I meet his eyes. Jax’s words bounce around in my head. “You really didn’t have to I saw you a couple of hours ago.”

“I’m sorry I forgot to introduce myself, I’m Ian, Charlie’s favorite author to work with.” Looking around Ian smirks waiting for introductions that I really don’t want to give.

“This is Karen, that’s Dave and I’m Jesse.” Jesse answers in my silence.

I get up and grab Ian’s arm firmly. “I’ll be right back guys.” I toss over my shoulder while pulling him towards the bathrooms.

“Charlie what are you doing? Loosen your grip a little please.” Before I’m able to drop my hand, Ian pulls free and leans towards me caging me against the wall in the hallway. “Bold of you to pull me away for some alone time in front of your boyfriend and parents.” Ian looks at me smugly. The expression on him just reminds me of one of those evil vampires he is so fond of writing about. Being this close to him I’m overwhelmed by smell his strong cologne mixed with the undertones of his natural smell not mixing well together. I place my hand firmly on his chest and push hard only managing to get him to move a couple of inches.

His hand leaves the wall capturing mine to his chest. Yanking my hand free from him I let my fury come forward without thinking. “Ian what the hell!  First don't call me babe, we already had the conversation about work boundaries, which also means personal life. Therefore, you don’t get to fish about Jesse. Second you saw I was with people. I could have been in a business meeting and you interrupted.” not amused I stand there with my arms crossed.

“I could hear your gorgeous laugh across the room, I had to get closer to you. I knew I wasn’t interrupting a business meeting because Jesse, your brother graduated today. I saw it on your calendar earlier. You were so relaxed, I thought I might as well come say hello.” Ian shrugs. “I honestly didn’t think it would be that big of a deal.”

“Oh, you mean when Jax kicked you out of my office earlier.” I let my words hang in the air. When he doesn’t look away embarrassed or even respond I continue, “What were you even doing Ian?”

“I told you earlier I was waiting for you.”

“In my office? When I wasn’t there? And neither was my assistant? That’s not ok. You wait in the waiting room or lobby not my private space.”

Ian sighs, “Well I’m sorry. Really didn’t think it was a big deal.” His arm drops from its post on the wall and he straightens up turning to leave

Before he gets too far, I remember about dinner on Thursday. “Wait Ian, Mr. Ellis will be joining us Thursday for dinner. He wants to meet all of his authors and said something about going over the possible renewal of your contract.”

“No.” he snaps, then softens his voice reaching for my face, "I want it to just be the two of us baby."

I smack his hand away before he can touch me and firmly state, “I’m sorry. He’s my boss and this meeting is nonnegotiable unless you want to be dropped from the roster. Listen I have to get back to my family. Have a nice night.” I take a deep breath and walk past him making sure to not accidently brush him.

“What was that sweetie?” my dad inquires as I slide into the booth next to Jesse who grabs my hand and gives me a quick squeeze.

“Just business. Let’s go back to celebrating my genius little brother please.” The rest of the night continues much as it started, Full of fun and love. As much as I tried, I couldn’t get my head back in it, and Jesse noticed like usual. He grabbed my hand under the table and wrote “you ok?” against my palm. I give him a quick nod and smile before trying to follow my mom’s words again. The encounter with Ian was eating at me because of Jax’s words. I know we switched restaurants last minute, but it still bugged me. I needed to talk to Sawyer because even though we switched restaurants this felt like too big of a coincidence.

At the end of the night I yelled out my car window at Jesse about coming to Whiskey Wednesday this week. I dropped him and my parents off at his place and continued to drive around for half an hour before heading home.

I let myself into my flat and put the kettle on my gas stove. I loved the stove because It felt authentic to the Mission district I lived in of San Francisco. I felt it added charm to my place and was one of the reasons I took this apartment. It was the perfect mix of old and new charm for me.  I spaced out sitting on my barstool till the kettle screamed at me. Making myself a cup of chamomile to calm my nerves I head to my bedroom while it steeps. Flipping on my light I placed my cup on my nightstand on my way and to change into pajamas. Laying back in bed I grabbed my tablet and tried to read with no avail. Really bothered by tonight I dialed Sawyers number that I had saved into my phone this afternoon. He picked up on the first ring.

His deep voice rumbles through the line, “Sawyer Ellis of Ellis Publishing company, Ho- “ 

I cut him off before he can do the whole greeting. “Sawyer it’s me. Do you have time to talk or were you busy?”

I hear voices in the background of the call but his voice rings clear, “Baby, I am never too busy to talk to ya.”

Knowing he’s out right now from the noises around him bugs me a little bit. I’m not the jealous type, but I thought he’d be home after a long first day in the office. “Really? because it sounds loud wherever you are,” I huff out.

“Hold on.” A few seconds later he speaks again, and the background noise diminishing almost completely before he speaks up again. “Sorry Jax dragged me out, better?”

“Yea, but I’ll let you go you’re busy and I don’t want to interrupt. Bye sorry for calling this late.” 

“Wait Charlie, Seriously, don’t go. I have time to talk to you. What’s up baby? Is this What ya’ll kids call a booty call?”

“I ran into Ian at the restaurant we went to after my brother’s graduation. He was staring at me and came over to talk to my family. It just really bugged me after Jax finding him in my office alone earlier. I pulled him aside to”

“Wait, Jax found him alone in your office, and neither of you thought to tell me? I only knew about him being really touchy before the meeting and him refusing to let Jax join you guys for lunch.” Sawyer sounding pissed cuts me off. "Jax never told me that."

“Sawyer I’m sorry,” I whisper not wanting him upset with me after my long day. 

“I’m coming over. I’ll be there in 15. What’s your address, I still don’t know this city very well.” I hang up after the goodbye pleasantries and giving him my address. Feeling relieved that this man whom I barely know was coming. I irrationally felt safer just knowing he was on his way.