Page 12 of The Thorne at My Side
My thumb hovers over the image before I open the article as my mind returns to the electricity we generated between us this afternoon.
I wish I had paid more attention during her workshop instead of worrying about my appearance and enjoying hers. Even though I'm creating a product that will be her direct competition, I want to know more about what she does, and how she thinks. Not only because it could make the product better but her wit and sense of humor put me on my toes. My ego might not be used to getting turned down but he’s definitely ready to play.
Greg, my driver, navigates us through Dupont Circle. My eyes dart from car to car as it passes by. Everyone was up in arms when the first self-driving technology hit the road but that turned out okay. Well, as long as there is still a human there to intervene.
I shake my head to clear the small spark of doubt that snuck in over the course of the day. My news article technology isn't going to put people's lives in danger like a self-driving car would. They’re just words. What harm could they do?
CHAPTER 5
For The Record
MAGGIE
"That's nice of you to say Mike, I appreciate it."
Mike, my lackluster date from last week, called me because he wanted to talk about the Thorne announcement. One of the things we bonded over when we met was the prevalence of AI in content creation.
"I'm serious Maggie, you are in the perfect position to document the downfall caused by this technology."
He's been on and on now for most of my Uber ride to the podcast studio. He wants me to start collecting evidence. I can't tell if it's for a book or a criminal case.
"I'll think about it Mike.” I placate. “It's going to be interesting that’s for sure. Listen, I just pulled up, I gotta go."
"Okay, I'll talk to you later."
I hang up without responding instead of lying. The last thing I want to do is talk to him again. As I step out and thank the driver, a matte black Tesla Model X, with those obnoxious wing doors, pulls up behind me. I roll my eyes because all the possible good will points this jerk could earn by driving an electric car get wiped away by the wing doors. I jump on the elevator and head up to the third floor. In the reception area there is a table withgreen apples and cucumber slices. I put a few on a napkin before stepping back and taking a seat.
I bring the apple to my lips but pause when the door opens.
Austin.
Sam and I took a full fifteen minutes after watching him walk away earlier to discuss his physical attributes. I haven’t been that thirsty ever in my life. I spotted him the moment I walked into the room, my eyes drawn like magnets to where he was standing at the back. I’m not even sure what caught my attention first?
Was it his chestnut hair that looked like he styled it by running his fingers through it?
Or his broad chest and shoulders that filled the jacket he wore like a second skin?
Maybe it was the way he confidently slid his glasses back into place before burrowing into my soul with his iron ore eyes?
I struggled for the rest of the presentation to keep my eyes off of him but I felt his gaze on me the whole time.
I definitely noticed his ass and thick thighs as he walked out. Sam and I could have used a cigarette to calm us down after the way we oogled him.
I admired his suit when he was at the workshop earlier and it’s still as sharp now. He smooths his hand down the front of the navy blue wool with a small monochrome plaid woven throughout and my eyes follow the movement. His shirt is crisp and he still isn't wearing a tie so I can see the dip at the bottom of his throat under an Adam's apple that bobs when he lifts his gaze and lays eyes on me.
Two earthy eyes sparkle behind his round framed tortoise shell glasses and you’d think that would make them more difficult to connect with but you’d be wrong. It’s like the glasses serve as spotlights and all Ican focus on is the way his eyes slightly widen as he recognizes me.
"Hello again," I say with a smile as I lower the apple back to the napkin in my lap, wishing I had taken the time to reapply my lipstick before coming in here. I couldn’t believe that my snarky side got the best of me and that my professionalism slipped into almost flirting. Maybe this is my opportunity to redeem myself, play nice.
"Well, what a small world," he says as he steps over and takes an apple for himself. I watch him settle into the chair across from me. He sits back and slings one leg over the other and balances his ankle on his knee. I watch, transfixed as he pulls his phone from his pocket and begins typing something. I find myself swallowing air when he parts his full lips to sink his teeth into the apple. The crack of his bite ripping through the flesh of the fruit echoes through the room and my mouth waters.
I am laser focused on the droplet of juice stuck to the corner of his mouth. The urge to stand up, walk over to him, and lick it clean hits me like a freight train.
"Oh good, you're both here!" A woman says with a clap that startles me out of my lusty haze. "I'm Jenna, your producer today. Did you introduce yourselves? Maggie Collins, speech writer and campaign communications expert," she waves towards me, "and Austin Thorne, senior executive at Thorne Media Corp and lead on the new AI Media project that was announced today."
What now?
He’swho?
