His Little Editor (Ellis PH book 1)

Chapter 10

Terry hands me the messages from lunch and stares for a couple of seconds before speaking “Can I ask you something boss?”

I head into my office waiting for him to follow before shutting the door behind us. Sitting in one of the plush emerald green chairs in front of my desk I sit sideways and motion for him to sit in the chair besides me. Tucking my hair behind my ear I answer him.  “Sure. What’s up?”

“Do you think my job is on the line? I mean Mr. Ellis waited around for you to talk after that meeting. “Terry look’s down at the floor before speaking again not making eye contact. “You know what, forget I said anything. I’m being overdramatic.”

Reaching out for his hands I wait for him to look up at me before answering, “I appreciate you coming to me with this question instead of just finding another job. I am nothing without my kick ass assistant beside me so he can try but I would never let you leave me. I mean unless you were no longer happy then I’d let you go.”

He lets out the breath he has been holding and slumps into the chair with relief. I stand and pat his shoulder before heading behind my desk and preparing for my next meeting. Before he makes his way out the door, I pipe up again “Oh and Terry, I’m leaving at 4 today, which means you are too.” I smile at him.

Leaning my head back against my chair I take a moment to just close my eyes and breathe before going over my notes for the next author meeting.

“Knock, knock” I jump a little in my chair before looking up towards my door. It takes a moment for me to realize that I am such a bad friend. I look at Jax who’s standing tall against my door frame with his large tattooed arms crossed over his chest. His muscles making his polo strain everywhere while he watches me for a minute before pushing off the frame sauntering towards my desk after pulling the door closed behind him. 

Opening his mouth to speak I cut him off before anything comes out of his mouth “Oh no, Jax. I am so sorry. I had to get my brother a graduation present and forgot to get you lunch.”

“Oh, I already ate.” He shrugs nonchalantly before sitting in the chair terry was occupying not long ago. It’s almost comical to see this huge man dwarfing my guest chairs as he is.  “Charlie, I don’t want you meeting with Ian alone.” He pauses before speaking again opening his mouth and closing it a couple of times before coming out with it. “He was in your office alone behind your desk when you and Sawyer were talking in the conference room and I could tell he really wanted to be alone with you at lunch when I asked if I could join. I was going to join anyway but I thought maybe I was over reacting a little and decided to just talk to you when you got back. Not to mention that kiss on your cheek earlier and the way he looks at you makes me really uncomfortable.” His eyes are carefully observing me before he goes on, “It seems to me like he wants you to be more than his editor which is cool if you want that, but it doesn’t seem like you do.”

“Terry?”

“Terry wasn’t here, he was on lunch like usual at 11:30. I closed your office and kicked him out to the waiting room.” Jax leans forward with his elbows on his knees looking really uncomfortable in my silence. My brain is going at a million miles a minute trying to process Ian’s behavior and looking into the past to re analyze every meeting. After a couple more minutes of just staring at me Jax sighs but continues, “I’m just worried, I may give you s**t but I care. You Remind me of my annoying ass little sister Tessa except you’re hot.” Jaxon Grins at the last part making me smile back. “Just promise to have someone with you whenever you two have a meeting. It doesn’t have to be me. it can be Terry or Sawyer.”

“Jax, I can’t have a babysitter when I meet with authors. I’m Young and no one really takes me seriously as is. So, I’m sorry, but no.” I sigh. The care and the veiled hurt at my refusal shine in his eyes making me squirm in my chair.  

Abruptly Jax stands and shoves his fingers through his hair pushing it out of his eyes. “Fine Charlie, but if anything happens to you so help me God.” Jax storms out of my office slamming the door behind him on his way through. 

leaving me a little stunned at his anger, I just stare helplessly after him. In the weeks that I’ve been hanging out with him, this is the very first time I have witnessed him losing his cool. He has always been the laid back, flirty, joker.

The longer I sit here the more I feel upset he thinks I can't handle myself and that he would just get angry when I didn’t agree with what he told me to do. I was really starting to rely on him as a friend and looking forward to his witty banter.

 Fed up I grab my purse and leave for the day. I stop by terry. Can you just cancel the rest of my meetings? I’m leaving. When you’re done doing that, you can go home as well. See you tomorrow.”

Terry replies already reaching for the phone. “Sure, thing boss, but I can’t leave after that. Mr. Ellis requested a meeting with all of the assistants at 2”

“Okay, Have a goodnight.” This was not what I needed today. Walking towards the elevators to go down to the garage I dial Shawn before I’m underground. She picks up on the second ring. “Whiskey Wednesday is happening this week.”

“Yay! I need a drink too.”

“I have seriously so much to tell you it’s not even funny. Listen I’m leaving the office now, but I’ll see you at Fresh water Wednesday, right? 7PM?”

“Yea Char 7:30 it is. Bye love you.”

I giggle and walk into the garage towards my car “Bye, love you too.”

“Who do you love?” 

I jump, turning around so fast I lose my balance in my heels. Two arms catch me before I tip over and my face meets the floor. I glare at him. “What the hell Sawyer?”

“Sorry darlin,” he says sheepishly, hand rubbing the back of his neck.  He follows me as I continue onwards towards my car. “I didn’t mean to frighten ya. I came to find you to talk. Jax told me his concerns about Ian.”

I stop, facing him again. “No. Sawyer I can handle myself. So, you and I aren’t talking about this.” I glare again at the infuriatingly beautiful man. His Black suit that once again is tailored to perfection makes me think of what I know is underneath. My thoughts quickly turn to unbuttoning his jacket and shirt and getting him out of them so my tongue and hands can roam his muscular build. I shake my head and look up at his face putting my thoughts about unwrapping him and licking him like a lollipop on the back burner. I meet his Green gaze noting the concerned crease between his brows and reach for his left hand intertwining our fingers. We stand like that just searching each other’s eyes for a couple of minutes.

Sawyer drops his head and kisses my nose and then my lips sweetly before continuing our conversation, “Fine, but I want to meet him. He’s one of my author’s and it’s coming to the end of his contract. I need to assess whether we keep him or drop him.” He pulls me into him by our interlocked hands and gently wraps my arms around him before putting his around me one hand rubbing my back while the other keeps me close.

Resting my head against his chest basking in the comfort of his arms and the steady beat of his heart, “Sawyer, he’s my biggest Author. Please don’t drop him on me.”

His hand tangles in my hair and tilts my head to look up at him. His gaze steady he murmurs softly, “When’s your next meeting?”

“I’m leaving for the day actually. I hope you don’t mind.” I smile up at him knowing he won’t say anything about it.

“No darlin, I meant when is your next meeting with Ian?” Sawyers voiced quiet keeping us in this calming moment.

“Thursday night for dinner.”

Sawyer’s gaze darkens right before he growls, “Jesus Char! Are you stupid? You can’t- “

I don’t even let him finish his tirade before I jerk away from him pissed off. The calm he had given me quickly dissipates and I’m now furious. “f**k you Sawyer. I am not stupid, nor do you get to tell me what to do.” I quickly make my way to the driver side of my car.

 I didn’t need this s**t from him or Jax today. I’m stressed enough about my parents getting here and being in town. I had just started my car when my passenger door opens, and Sawyer gets in. “Get out Sawyer.” I glower at him from my side of the car.

His eyes meet mine in a heated match trying to claim dominance.  “No. Look Baby- “

“I said get out sawyer.” I raise my voice cutting him off. I face the front staring out of my windshield at the concreate wall waiting for him to leave. When the door doesn’t open, I shift my angry eyes back towards him.

“No… I’m going with you. I’ll tell Jax to handle the rest of my meetings today.” Sawyer buckles his seatbelt showing that he isn’t leaving.

I drop my head to my steering wheel and break out sobbing. I’m so overwhelmed with him and Jax’s whole alpha dominance show about Ian. Right now, I feel as if I can’t even handle my emotions because it feels like no one thinks I can handle myself or my authors. Feeling this way just makes me more upset because it proves them right and makes me feel whiney.

Sawyer gets out and comes around to my side opening the door. Grabbing my hands from the wheel he pulls me up into the most comforting hug I’ve had from a man who wasn’t my father. Sawyer cradles my head to his chest with one hand and rubs my back again with the other. “Shhhhh, Baby I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you, I just… f**k, I don’t want anything to happen to you. I got a little possessive when Jax told me, I’m so sorry baby. You aren’t dumb, I’m sorry Char.”

Sniffling I rub my tears on his jacket knowing I look like a mess at this point. I don’t care anymore. I just want to be taken seriously. I straighten and look up at him. “Sawyer it’s not that. No one takes me seriously. I feel like You, Jax, and all the other editors look down on me like I’m a kid. I can take care of myself and none of you are letting me.” I pull away from him, “I need you to trust me about this. I can handle myself and I don’t want to hear another word about it.”

“Fine, but I’m coming to dinner on Thursday. It’s important I meet my contracted authors, and we do need to sit down and discuss possibly renewing it.”

I harshly release my breath and begrudgingly agree. “Fine. Can I go now?”

“Can you wait 10 minutes? I need to go talk to Jax.” Before I even answer he grabs my purse closes the car door and locks it. Grabbing my hand in a death grip, he starts pulling me to the elevator and presses the button for the top floor.

He doesn’t drop my hand at all. I look at him baffled “Wait I thought we were meeting Jax?”

“We are.” Sawyer responds.

“But his office is on the thirteenth with me.” And I reach to press 13 only for sawyer to push my hand down and shake his head no.

“His office is on the 24th floor with Luke and I. They don’t have offices down there despite always being down there.”

“I feel lied to slightly although I guess that makes since because they always come to me. Why are they always on 13 then?”

“Jax just happens to be my number two and step brother while Luke’s been with the company since I took over after my Mom died. Jax joined up after his stint in the marines. We all grew up together. They're always on 13 making sure everything is going smoothly, plus Dec's office is there and he’s one of us.”

The doors open and I don’t even get two steps off the elevator before I get tackled into a bear hug. “I’m sorry. I won’t undermine you again Char.” Jax Basically shouts in my ears. “please, Forgive me.”

I wrap my arms tightly around Jax’s waist and lay my head against his lower chest. They grow them damn tall in the south. “I can confidently say after just crying all over Sawyer about this topic that I’m over it. So, it’s ok Jax. We’re all good.”

Sawyer lets out a growl behind me. “You Can let go of her now. That’s my girl you’re squishing.”

“Shh not too loud someone might hear you!” I whisper yell at him. Jax laughs and holds on tighter to me ignoring Sawyer.

“Luke, Jax and I are the only three with offices up here and they are aware of us. Anyway, Jax I need you to take over all my meetings today.”

“Fine but it’s gonna cost you.” Jax grumbles back clearly annoyed with having more work.

“I sign your very nice paycheck dude. And you’re my brother so Don’t push it. But seriously hands off my girl.” Jax squeezes my tighter to his chest meeting Sawyer’s eyes in a challenge.

I tap his arm and gasp, “Jax can you please let me go now I can’t breathe?” Dropping his arms quickly he takes a step back.

” Sorry Char.” A guilty looking Jax shifts his eyes to the floor.

Sawyer pulls me to him and wraps an arm around me. “Text me if anything important comes up. Thanks man.”

“COUGH. COUGH. YOU’LL BE TO BUSY COUGH.COUGH. HAVING s*x COUGH. COUGH .TO PICK UP COUGH.” Jax fake coughs at us. His eyes are gleaming with mischief and both of his dimples frame his smile giving him a troublesome little boy look to him.

“He’s not coming home with me. I have my brother’s graduation to get ready for.” I press the button for the elevator and wait. 

“Ah, come on! I promise I’ll be good if you let me tag along?” I’m almost tempted to let him until I see the look on his face and in his eyes that almost mirrors Jax.

“Hell no. I know trouble when I see it, and I see double trouble right there.” I point at them emphasizing the fact that I’m not fooled by them.  “I’m leaving.” I step on to the elevator with Sawyer right behind me, but before he gets on fully, I shove him off as the door closes laughing at his attempt to join me.

When I got back to my car, I was shocked to see Dec leaning on the back-bumper waiting. “We never got to finish our talk earlier and Terry said you left but your car was still here. I knew you’d show up eventually”

“Can we talk tomorrow Dec? I was just about to leave for the day.” I glance at him as I dig through my purse for my keys.

“Oh, yea sure I guess.” He looks at the floor dejectedly. 

Knowing that this involves my best friend I glance at my watch taking note I still have two hours to get ready for tonight. I look up at his sad face framed by unruly red hair. “Do you still have your last break? We can go get coffee and talk.”

Declan cheers up quickly and flashes a smile. “I’d like that.” I start walking and Declan falls into step behind me letting me lead.

“Dec? Why do you do that? You never lead just follow behind” I slow and make sure that he walks beside me.

“I’ve only been here for two months. I have no clue where anything is. SF is a different City than New York.” He keeps my pace as we walk out towards the street. Dec and I fall into a steady silence till he speaks again, “How’s Shawn?”

“She’s good, she wanted you to call her though.” I reply giving him a pointed look.

“I know. I want to but she never gave me her number. I wanted to do a lot with her that night, but it’s unfair to her.” Dec glances to me meeting my eye, “Not to mention we were pretty drunk thanks to Sawyers tab he forgot to close. I like my companions sober”

“What do you mean?” 

“Char, I’m not staying here. I promised Sawyer 6 months to help the merger here. My family is in New York, and I only have five months left. I’m not staying. My family means to world to me. Shawn is a relationship girl not a just fun girl. I can't do that to her.”

Arriving at the coffee shop we order and grab our coffees and start walking back.” You don't know unless you give her the choice Dec. You're both young and it’s the time for fun. But  Can you do me a favor? Can you call Shawn and tell her? Give her the choice. I’ll give you her number.”

“I’d like that. Thanks Charlie, and I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to lead her on that night. She’s just exactly what I want in a girl, and my mother would love her.” We arrive back at my car and he sighs, “I guess I’ll let you leave now.”

“Wait Dec her number.”

“Oh yea. Thanks” he  accepts before walking back into the office