Chapter 1
“They’ll see you now,” said theNaked Runwayreceptionist as she returned the receiver to the cradle, her sleek bob and perfectly arched brows giving her a polished edge. “Just knock on the door and then enter.”
Sophie E. Clark, who was on the verge of getting the last laugh, blew out a breath. “Thank you.” She stood and made her way across the hall to the conference room. With every step, sweet belly nerves tickled her stomach. “You can do this.” One more hurdle and all of those who had told her she’d never make a living as a professional daydreamer could kiss her ample derriere. The thought brought a smug smile to her lips.
Here she was, the girl voted most likely to never get her head out of a book, standing in the sleek, fashion-forward halls ofNaked Runway, about to meet with the editors-in-chief, one for digital and one for print.
She tugged at the hem of her custom “Book Boyfriend Connoisseurs” tee—a vivid splash of personality against her chic black ensemble—and knocked on the door.
“Come in,” she heard.
Squaring her shoulders, she pushed open the door and stepped inside with confidence buoyed by her passion. There were two women sitting at the conference table, both highly recognizable by anyone who’d bothered to do their homework.
While Sophie had expected to meet the digital editor-in-chief who had called her in for the interview, she had not expected to see the magazine’s owner present as well.
Unsure of the protocol on who to introduce herself to first, Sophie decided the owner trumped the other. She extended her hand to the older woman in the room. “Sophie E. Clark, at your service,” she declared, her insides fluttering with excitement.
“Ms. Birdie Fairway,” the owner said as she stood, holding out a hand. “But please, call me Ms. Birdie.”
“It is such an honor to meet you,” Sophie gushed. “I had no idea you’d be a part of this interview.” She reached out and shook the woman’s hand. “Your charity work in the city is simply phenomenal, especially your legendary bachelor auctions. For which I have a fabulous idea for you to consider.”
“Why, thank you, dear,” Ms. Birdie said, then waved at the other woman in the room. “This is Isabella P. Chance,Naked Runway’sDigital Editor-in-Chief.”
Sophie turned her attention to the woman who held her dreams in her hand. “I loved your designs back when you competed onFashion Runway, and I never miss an episode of your podcast. Your coverage of the feud between the Rake of Manhattan and Dr. Stone kept me in stitches. It is an honor to be in your presence. I’m Sophie E. Clark.” Too late she remembered she’d already introduced herself.
“I love you already.” Isabella stood and shook Sophie’s hand.
“You do?” Sophie said, just as a bored-looking brunette entered the room on a cloud of perfume. “Why is that, exactly?”
“Because someone wise obviously taught you to include your middle initial when you introduce yourself,” Isabella said. “Itincreases people’s perceptions of your intellectual capacity, performance, and status.”
“Actually,Junie B. Joneswas my favorite book when I was little, and I liked how she used her middle initial, so I adopted the habit as well,” Sophie admitted.
The newcomer to the interview looked Sophie over, shrugged, and said, “You must be Sophie. I’m Frankie Peterson.” She raised a rude eyebrow at Isabella. “I do not need a middle initial to be validated as important.”
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Peterson,” Sophie said, bobbing as if she’d just met a queen. “I’ve heard frightfully wonderful stories about you.”
“Heavy on the fright, I’m assuming,” Isabella said without a hint of humor in her voice.
Sophie was disconcerted by the dynamics playing out between the two. “Not at all—”
“If we’re quite finished with the pleasantries,” Frankie said, “could we get down to business? I have back-to-back meetings all day.” She took a seat, leaving Sophie the only one standing. “I’ve not had a chance to read over your pitch, but Isabella assures me it’s fabulous. Of course, her opinion seldom sways mine. So please, give me the condensed version of your idea for our column.”
Sophie squared her shoulders, her heart beating heavily with excitement as she looked each executive in the eye. “Thank you for having me,” she began. “As I said in the proposal I sent you, Manhattan isn’t just a backdrop for the most heart-fluttering romantic comedy movies and books. It’s also where fantasy meets reality on every corner, in every coffee shop, and in the unexpected encounters that feel like they’ve stepped straight out—”
“For the love of time, get to the point,” Frankie interrupted.
Sophie gulped. “Find Your Book Boyfriendwill be a monthly column dedicated to bringing the allure of rom-com boyfriends into the lives of our readers. This column will engage our audience in a quest to find real-life, Manhattan men who mirror our favorite fictional heroes.” Her smile widened as she envisioned the column coming to life. “Each edition will dive into the world of a different rom-com hero trope—be it the charming bookshop owner with a secret or the ambitious lawyer with a heart of gold. Within each column, I’ll tie in a popular rom-com novel that celebrates that hero trope. Then I’ll explore the city’s nooks and crannies, seeking out men who embody these qualities, and report back to our readers on my finds. Thus the titleFind Your Book Boyfriend.”
Sophie paused. Frankie had said to make it short. But there was so much more to say. “We’ll inviteNaked Runwayreaders to join the adventure through interactive challenges, themed events, and even nominations for their own real-life rom-com heroes. The column I’m proposing will connect, inspire, and maybe, just maybe, lead to real-world romances.”
Sophie took a breath before giving her closing line. “Find Your Book Boyfriendwill not only set trends but also celebrate the joy of romance in the real world, proving that the search for love—inspired by the characters from our beloved rom-coms—can be as thrilling as the novels themselves.”
She sat back, her pitch complete, hope building as she awaited the response from the three women.
Isabella squealed. “It was a fabulous idea when I read your letter of inquiry, and it’s even better in person. I can envision it now. We can interview your book boyfriend finds on our podcast.”
“I’m just not sure how we’re going to tie it into fashion. Sure, we went off-brand with ourRAKEishcolumn, but having a prince behind that column sold magazines. What is so specialabout you that will bring new subscribers to the table?” Frankie asked.
