Page 4 of Rescuing Rosie
But not Reuben. He’d been into the gym, and cars. And he couldn’t understand why anyone would want to be a librarian.
Her mind returned to the night after that portentous Zoom call, a month or so ago. As ever, he’d assumed that time in bed with him would make everything right. She’d just wanted a soothing cuddle, for him to hold her close, to indulge her with a small cry. But no, he’d moved things on, and she hadn’t been strong enough to say,Not tonight, I’m really not in the mood.She’d just wanted it to be over.
He’d required feedback, as per. He was like one of those ‘How did we do?’ retailers, always demanding a review, both during and after:Does this feel good? Is that nice, Rosie?Did you come?
Following that Zoom call there had been a long silence from the publisher. The date the page proofs were scheduled to arrive – Tuesday – came and went.
‘This is really hard for me,’ she’d said, fighting back the tears. ‘It’s taken me three years to get to this point, and now it feels like it might be snatched away.’
Reuben had all but rolled his eyes. ‘So, like I keep saying – don’t just sit there, ask them what the fuck they’re doing!’
‘It won’t make any difference!’
The new editor’s email had landed a day later, like a bomb in her inbox.After reviewing our list, I’m sorry to let you know that we’ve taken the difficult decision not to publish …
She saw it in Reuben’s eyes. He’d loved introducing her to colleagues and clients as ‘future best-selling author Rosie’. Now she was just kooky-blonde Rosie, who worked for a magazine nobody had heard of, with a novel that might never see the light of day.
Reuben was into high achievers; losers – not so much. That evening he’d thrown up his hands, told her he was sick of hearing about her bloody book, and left. He’d texted to say he was moving in with a friend and would be in touch about collecting his stuff. No apology, no explanation; zero warmth.
She took a deep breath; the air at last smelt of spring. She’d fallen hard for Reuben, but his words as he’d walked out the door had confirmed what she’d probably known for a while. That Reuben only really cared about himself.
Amara Ross waved Rosie into her office. Immediately, the editor-in-chief’s eyes went to Rosie’s boots, and her dark, beautifully shaped eyebrows rose.
‘New?’
Rosie swallowed. Amara’s clothes were excruciatingly tasteful, and with her shiny hair, toned body and glowing skin, she was the embodiment of theHolistic Healthethos.
‘I just bought them. Seventy-five per cent off!’
‘Good,’ said Amara, nodding. ‘Finally, a glimpse of the old Rosie.’
She breathed out in relief. While there was no dress code at the office, Rosie was aware that today, her look was dangerously close to bag lady.
Amara fiddled with her computer mouse for a moment, then stopped and peered at Rosie over her metal-rimmed glasses. ‘Since when were you a beige-and-black kind of girl? Actually,’ she added, as Rosie opened her mouth to reply, ‘thanks to Lucy, our last word in indiscretion, I am aware of your book situation, and that Reuben’s done a runner. Sorry to hear about that.’
‘Yes,’ said Rosie, pulling over a seat and sitting down. ‘I haven’t been doing great lately.’
‘Our Little Miss Sunshine seems to have disappeared behind a raincloud.’
Reuben’s voice slid into her head:You should have talked yourself up. While she suspected Ross the Boss was kind at heart, the hard-nosed editor rarely let that interfere with her work. Rosie would need to do better in this meeting than she had in that Zoom call, if the sword of Damocles really was hanging over her job. She would attempt to ignore the knowledge that bad things happen in threes.
‘It hasn’t affected my work, though,’ she said, sitting up straighter. ‘I’ve met all my deadlines.’
‘That’s good. But you’d probably benefit from some time away.’
Rosie’s stomach dropped.Shit!Was she being put on unpaid leave? Or reduced hours? Or–
‘So … we’re doing a sponsored promotion with Vybe,’ said Amara. ‘They’re setting it all up, and I want you to write it.’
‘Oh, right!’ said Rosie, attempting to keep the relief from her voice.
Vybe, who advertised regularly inHolistic Health, made gorgeous, top-quality activewear in signature vibrant colours. Rosie had invested in a pair of their pale pink leggings, and before book-gate had been coveting a fuchsia-pink sleeveless jacket to wear with them. How cool would her new Docs look with that combo?
‘And the part you’re going to like,’ continued Amara, ‘is that the photoshoot is at a health spa up in the Lake District. I was going to do the piece myself, but I can’t make it now – family dramas. It’s this weekend; sorry for the short notice.’
Rosie gave a hollow laugh. ‘Pretty sure I’m free.’
‘Good. So the hotel’s holding a wellness retreat, sponsored by Vybe. Yoga and Pilates sessions, facials, massages – all the lovely things. And it’s being hosted by Madison Tyler–’
