Page 26 of Long Story Short

‘I told you – I would like to get to know that man,’ I said, wishing he would open up to me fully. ‘I was so intimidated by you when we first met, and for a long time. I was so nervous about this trip,’ I admitted. ‘But I want to succeed in this career so I knew I had to get past it. And the more I got to know you, the more I saw that we needed each other. That made me less nervous of you.’

Jake raised an eyebrow. ‘You were intimidated by me? Well then, the feeling was mutual.’

I choked on a sip of wine. ‘Are you joking? There was no way you’ve ever felt that way about me.’ I gestured to myself, thinking I must be the least intimidating person on the planet. Especially to someone like Jake Richards.

‘I was nervous for this trip too,’ Jake said. ‘Everything felt like it was slipping away, and I saw on your face how disappointed you were in me. I knew you loved my books and I hated letting you down. I wanted this trip to go well. Needed it to. And when I found out that your career was dependent on it as well… I felt terrible when both the interview and the panel went so badly. I tried to fix it earlier.’ He shook his head. ‘I bet you want to just give up on me now, and I wouldn’t blame you.’

‘I do find you frustrating,’ I said, the wine loosening my tongue.

‘I want to make it up to you so bad,’ he said gruffly.

‘Hayley won’t want to promote me after this trip; I’ve accepted that. Maybe I am not agent material after all,’ I said, thinking about how Jake hadn’t followed my advice. It hurt more than I cared to admit to him. More than it should for a work situation.

‘I’ll tell her that you are,’ he said fiercely. ‘I can’t let this trip mess things up for you as well. I’ll do whatever I can.’

‘I don’t know, maybe my advice hasn’t been right…’ I wondered.

‘Don’t doubt yourself because of me.’ He took a gulp from his drink. ‘You will go far, I know it. You’re tenacious. And ambitious. And great with people.’

‘Ha. Not great with men, though…’ I trailed off, wishing sometimes, I could go back in time and not blurt things out.

‘You’re doing pretty good with me,’ he replied. ‘Or is that because this is just professional?’

‘Are you asking me or telling me?’ I asked, once again wishing I had a better filter between my brain and my mouth, but I couldn’t help myself. I was suddenly desperate to know if this was still just professional for him.

I had definitely shocked him. Jake stared at me for a moment and I was sure his eyes flicked over me in a way that was definitely not professional. But then he stepped back with a sigh, breaking our eye contact. ‘It has to be, right? I know I’m not technically your client, but we are working here together. I’m ten years older, Freya, and you want romance, which is something I’m not sure I can give anyone right now.’ He shook his head, his expression dark.

This man had secrets that I wanted to unlock but I didn’t know how. ‘I thought you weren’t like other men,’ I said, thinking back to him telling me he’d treat me better than anyone ever had. At the time, I wasn’t sure if he meant women in general or me specifically but now I found myself hoping it was the former.

‘Freya.’ He said my name like it was precious to him. Then he broke our eye contact, looking out at the view instead of me. ‘Romance isn’t like it is in books.’

‘I keep feeling like that but I don’t want to give up hope that there is a love like that out there for me. And I think there is for you too. One day, we’ll find it.’

‘You think?’ Jake glanced at me again.

‘If we want it enough.’ I really hoped that was true. Then I decided it was best to move the subject on. ‘The sun is about to set,’ I said, turning to watch, needing to stop looking into Jake’s eyes.

I felt the sting of his rejection mixing with the alcohol in my bloodstream. I knew he was out of my league. I didn’t know if he could give me love like the kind he wrote about, but it was clear he didn’t want to try. Today might have felt far removed from it, but this was a work trip. I needed to remind myself quickly of not only that but also the fact that Jake was keeping something from me. I had to stop myself from feeling any more drawn to him.

We lapsed into silence as the sun started to set on the horizon. Everyone on the rooftop watched the sky turning orange around us. It was beautiful, and a reminder that whatever happens in a day, it ends, and you get a chance to try again tomorrow.

‘Freya.’

I raised an eyebrow when Jake spoke my name after a few moments. My name had come out as a wistful sigh on his lips.

‘What I said earlier about things having to be professional between us. I want you to know: just because it has to, doesn’t mean I haven’t been thinking all day about itnotbeing professional.’

19

The walk back to the Waldorf Astoria was a quiet one. The sun continued to set as we finished our drinks on the rooftop in stunned silence. I had no idea what to say in response to Jake’s admission, and he seemed to regret his words, turning away and not saying anything else either. We then headed back towards our hotel as night time rolled over New York, the city lighting up around us.

My heart was beating faster and harder inside my chest as my mind replayed his words in time with our brisk steps. It was like we suddenly both just wanted to be in our hotel rooms alone to think about the day, so I hurried to keep up with his long strides, and wondered how awkward things would be between us now. His words made me nervous because of how pumped up I felt after hearing them, like I’d just drunk an energy drink or something. To know he had felt the same spark that I had was both a relief and a terrifying thought. Jake had always seemed completely out of my reach but suddenly, he was saying that he wasn’t.

I couldn’t make sense of it. I had no idea if I could trust it. Or him.

We walked into our hotel and to the lifts, waiting in silence and getting in one. The journey up to the floor where our rooms were seemed excruciatingly slow. I had no idea what to say to break the tension, and Jake seemed at just as much of a loss as me.

Finally, the lifts reached our floor and we stepped out and walked to our neighbouring hotel rooms.

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