Page 72 of King of Hearts

I didn’t even bother trying to edit, knowing I would be too focused on devouring Andy’s next words. Instead, I took the opportunity to use the bathroom and was delighted when I returned to two new emails. I felt like a child on Christmas with how excited I got every time I saw his name on my screen. At this point, I almost wanted to slap my lovesick self and I hadn’t even told him how I felt yet.

Fuck. I was frozen, my cursor hovering over the button to reply but my finger unable to compute.

This was big.

Huge.

This was obviously what Jay was talking to Andy about when I returned from the bathroom.

Would Andy have done it if I wasn’t there?Didhe do it? Surely not. I could sense his frustration after he spoke to Jay. He was annoyed and now it made sense.

I was stuck blankly staring at his email pondering my own intrusive thoughts when Darren barked my name scaring the absolute crap out of me.

“Arna, here now!” The office silenced, all eyes on me as I stood at my desk and speedily replied to Andy, my taps on the keyboard aggressive as I put my frustration at Dickhead’s rudeness into my actions.

Hitting send on what I knew was the truth, despite my ridiculous thoughts, I raced towards Darren’s office and was about to close the door when I froze in my tracks.

Fudge. Undo. Backspace. Delete.

I just told him I loved him.

Shit.

I told him I loved him – in an email.

Anemail.

Leaning against the wall for support I took a few deep breaths to quell the nausea rising up my throat.

“I can understand why you look pale. I would too if my boyfriend was about to make headlines for all the wrong reasons.”

Brushing the loose hair from my forehead I looked up at Darren’s smug face. There was no way he knew why I was in such a panic, but wait – “Huh? What about Andy?”

“Close the door, Arna.”

“Manners are free, you know.” I mumbled as I closed the door and sat down.

“Arna, Pulse needs the inside scoop.” He lifted his feet up onto the desk in his default prickish pose, lounging like a man who had discovered the upcoming lottery numbers.

“Inside scoop of what?” I was beyond confused at this point and with my brain functioning at half-strength, I needed clarity.

His legs flew from the desk as he shot to his feet. “Arna, don’t toy with me. The press is buzzing. The Hearts are embroiled in allegations of drug use. This scandal will be the story of the fucking year. And you’re going to write and publish it.”

“No!” My eyes went wide, my hand flying to my chest. This was not happening.

Shit. I needed to see him, calm him, reassure him,and lovehim. Not write a fucking bullshit article about him.

“Darren, I don’t know what you’re talking about but I need to go. I - argh - I have a migraine. I’m sorry.”

I stood and pulled the door open with more force than was necessary and raced to my desk to grab my bag, phone and jacket.

“Arna!” Darren’s voice silenced the office once more and I turned towards him, his face blurry through my tears which were threatening to spill. “Youwillwrite this and send it to me tonight. Because you’re a professional and this is what asenior editordoes.”

I glared at him. So many thoughts racing through my mind ready to erupt from my mouth. This mother fucker knew exactly what he was doing and right then I hated him more than ever before.

For a second I imagined myself punching him in the face as I resigned, but I knew I couldn’t be impulsive at a time like this. For starters, I would be forced to move home or ask Paul to cover the rent and that was a low I was not ready for in this life or the next. But more than that, I needed to make sure Darren didn’t just write it anyway with no regard for the man at the centre of the story.

“I will see you tomorrow, Darren.” I gritted through clenched teeth before I practically ran down the stairs and into the first taxi I saw, giving the driver the address of the clubhouse.

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