Page 2 of You & I, Rewritten

“Ah, there you two are!” says a voice I instantly recognize from my multiple rounds of interviews. Mitch Austin, founder and owner of, well,everything, stands from his seat at the head of the long, marble conference table.

“I’ll keep this quick because I know we all have a lot on our plates,” he says through a genuine smile and excited eyes to the rest of the team. Mitch is one of those middle-aged men who finds himself luckily hanging onto his youthful appearance with ease—just a light graying at the temples and deep expression lines around his eyes. His tall frame still shows the signs of an active lifestyle not yet restricted by his age.

“But I’d be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to introduce you all to our newest editor, William Cowen.”

My palms instantly begin to sweat as I feel every eye in the conference room turn toward me as I stand frozen in the doorway.Definitely wasn’t expecting this.I smile at a woman I believe to be named Jane and she gives me a ‘Buckle Up’smirk that sets the tone for what I just walked into.

“He comes to us from Chicago and brings a fresh perspective and a deep understanding of our market, so do your best to make him feel right at home here,” Mitch says as I begin fidgeting with the button on my suit jacket. “And if memory serves, he’s a big taco guy, so I’m sure he’d appreciate all your local lunch recommendations,” he adds, giving me a wink, and I’m torn whether I should feel mortified or honored that he remembered me devouring eight tacos during our initial lunch meeting.Probably both.

Clearing my throat, I step forward, wiping my now disgustingly sweaty palms on my new suit pants, and face my new coworkers.

“Hi everyone, like Mr. Austin said, my name is Will Cowen and I am so excited to be a part of this team.” I give them the brightest and most eager smile I have as I wait for some verbal or nonverbal feedback, but instead, I’m met with the most awkward silence.Nothing? Not even from smirky Jane over there?I glance at Klair but can’t get a read on her facial expression, so obviously I should just continue.Right?

“I got my start in a much smaller publishing house, but I’m ready to hit the ground running and I promise I’ll get up to speed in no time! Throw whatever you’ve got at me.”Confident, helpful, charming? Atta boy.Well, that went as well as it could have, but my parents always told me that there is nothing more important than a first impression!

Several people step forward, one after the other enthusiastically shaking my hand while offering semi-forced smiles and words of welcome. I know I’m new, but it’s apparent that the team’s baseline mood is tense, and I can’t help but wonder why.

“Anything to add, Graham?” I can hear Mitch ask across the room. The team before me parts slightly and the man Mitch must have been speaking to comes directly into my line of sight.

He’s stunning and instantly, I’m intrigued.

So, this is the notorious Graham Austin.My eyes haven’t left him, it’s like they can’t, and even as I take a step back, easing into safety and calm after reclaiming my spot next to Klair, I find myself fixated on the man before me. He’s young—much younger than I would have expected for the managing editor of Austin Publishing House—and his demeanor is unbothered as he leans casually against the wall. But from his perfectly manicured scruff to his simple, tailored appearance, there isn’t anything casual about this man. He screams purpose and control. I make a mental note of his eyes—although, I can’t pinpoint their color from where I’m standing, the intensity of his stare is disarming. It’s obvious to me that Graham Austin is perhaps the most physically perfect man I’ve ever laid my eyes on, but what’s more attractive is the professional aptitude he exudes.

“Welcome to the team, Will,” he says, disinterested and all business as he stands, straightening the lapels of his crisp navy suit, and turns back to the rest of the team. “However, if no one has anything else work-related, let’s wrap up so we’re not wasting anyone’s time.”

With that, he gathers his things and exits the conference room, an unspoken signal to the rest of the team that it’s time to get back to work.

I lean against the doorway, doing my best to keep my gaze upward and the smile plastered on my face as everyone exits, even though I’d be perfectly fine crawling into a deep, dark hole and never coming out.

* * *

“What. The.Hell. Just. Happened,” I angry-whisper to Klair once we’ve made it back to our desks. I’d walked back in a daze, feeling conflicted because yikes, that didnotgo well and my anxiety doesn’t tolerate weird social interactions like that, and how in the world is someone like Graham Austin real. That scruff. Those eyes…Should I bethisturned on in the workplace?Down, boy.

Without saying a word, Klair comes over and gives me a quick hug. She places her hands on my shoulders and looks me right in the eyes.

“Listen, you cannot takethatpersonally. As your best friend in the entire world and now your cubicle buddy, I failed you by not giving you a heads up, and for that, I’m sorry. Forgive me?”

She gives me the cutest and most dramatic puppy dog eyes that under the worst of circumstances, I’d probably have a hard time not giving into.

“Knock it off…Obviously I forgive you!” I can’t help but laugh as I swat her hands off of me. “I just wasn’t prepared for whateverthatwas. Like that wasn’t just in my head, right? He totally dismissed me?”

“Yes and no. With Graham, you’ll learn that he’s entirely business-oriented. Period. He comes in, does his job—exceptionally well, I might add—and goes home. His only focus is growing this company and being the next generation of leadership in publishing.”

On one hand, I can wrap my head around that. Knowing now who he is, he clearly has a legacy that dictates his every move. So, without wanting to come across as just the son who inherits it all, I can only assume he wants to prove to everyone just how competent and worthy of it all he truly is. But on the other hand, there was a noticeably different vibe in that conference room than when I met some of the team earlier. They are reacting to Graham’s level of intensity, and from the freshest set of eyes in the office, is that really the most successful work environment?

Knowing my gears are churning on overdrive, Klair continues to soothe my nerves.

“I promise you, Will, that wasn’t about you. This is how he always is. But between you and me, because very few people have witnessed it, that man is truly one of the kindest and most loyal souls I’ve ever met. He’s been there for me in ways that have blown my mind.”

With that, she turns her attention back to her work, and I try to do the same. The rest of the day goes off without a hitch, but I keep having this unhealthy feeling that the interaction I had with Graham earlier was in fact about me…or at least partially about me.

I dive back into work, knowing in my heart that at this moment there isn’t anything to be done about this new delicious thorn in my anxiety’s side. Flipping through the stack of manuscripts Klair handed me this morning, I’m more determined than ever to show my team just how appreciative and ready I am to be here.

It’s not lost on me that I have a perfect view of Graham’s office from my desk. Every so often, I sneak a glance in his direction only to find him pacing on the phone behind his partially frosted glass doors. There’s no denying he takes his job seriously and from what Klair’s told me, the man’s got one hell of a work ethic. I’m all for professional competence—it’s all I aspire to be, but now I’m just curious as to what makes this prickly man tick. He’s young, attractive, and clearly succeeding professionally. He can’t bethisintense all the time. Right?

I’ve lost track of how many hours it’s been since I have left my desk, but by the embarrassing sounds coming from my stomach, I know I’ve missed lunch and then some, a nasty habit I picked up as I was just getting my foot in the publishing door and desperate to impress my boss.

“Klair, wanna get out of here and—” I start and then stop as I take in her empty desk.The bitch left me!Klair is notorious for her Irish exits, so much so that it’s almost no longer surprising when she just randomly disappears.Almost.

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