He shook his head. “It’s hitting me really hard.”
“Aww, luv.”
He buried his face into her shoulder. All the petty jealousy with his brother, the drama with Sascha. He would shove it all aside, if only Phoenix would get better.
A nurse came over to the trio. “Mr. Walker’s out of surgery. We’ll let you know when you can see him. It might be a while.”
Caleb turned to Sascha. It comforted him having her there, but wasn’t he being selfish? “Thanks for driving. Do you want to go and open up the shop?”
“Forget the damn shop, I’m waiting here with you,” she said.
His mother straightened. “I know it’s going to be tough to see him like this. But we’re going to be strong for him. It’s not going to help if we fall apart. Understand?”
She looked so determined, it was impossible not to believe her conviction.
CHAPTER 4
IN THE COLD, COLD NIGHT
Phoenix
Phoenix floateddownstairstwo or three at a time. His movements were effortless, effervescent. His body seemed suspended, capable of fluidity that defied gravity. He sank slowly, a burning at the edges disturbing his cool darkness.
Quiet. Silence. Once, his mom took them to vacation at a Relais-du-Silence chateau. He resisted that amount of solitude and stillness. Now, it beckoned to him. He answered its call.Yes. Now. Okay.
“Phoenix?” came the whisper. A tug on his consciousness.No, not yet.Stay silent.He vaguely recalled some epic struggle. A struggle with gargantuan proportions, like a sweeping Hollywood production. Now, an eerie hush followed the struggle. Blackness beckoned.
CHAPTER 5
INTIMATE SECRETARY
Liv
Monday funday. Liv loved her boss, but wondered how she had landed in the middle of a modern-day “Mad Men.” First thing, she sent Phoenix a text reminder of his meeting to present the agency’s creative capabilities to a potential client. Not that he needed the reminder. It was more the satisfaction of doing something for a man whose hyper-independence meant he asked for little.
Liv was shocked to realize she’d been at the agency for twelve months. A year ago, job prospects for recent graduates were as scarce as affordable apartments in Midtown. Liv’s plan of working in advertising didn’t land her a desirable copywriting position. Instead, she could only find administrative roles.
Her sense of candor during interviews didn’t win many offers. Except at counterAgency, where her stubbornness amused rather than intimidated Phoenix. She fell in love with the spirit of the unique place—and maybe a little with the guy who orchestrated that spirit.
She had stepped into his airy office, noting the broad expanse of glass opening up over Midtown. The air was scented with fresh orchids.
“Phoenix Walker. Nice to meet you,” he’d said, standing to shake her hand. His grip was self-assured without crushing her fingers.
She’d settled into the indicated seat across from the clean sweep of his desk.
He made her feel at ease, then got right down to it.
“Tell me about your career aspirations.”
“Honestly?” she asked, studying his blue eyes. His suit probably cost more than she would make a week. Outside his glass wall, she could see that the nearby conference room was abuzz with a creative team brainstorming and drawing on a whiteboard.
“I love to write,” she said. “I’d like to be a copywriter.”
He scanned her résumé, already marked up with circles and underlines.
“Editor of the school paper, published editorials, finalist in poetry competitions, a degree in English with honors. Your writing skills are coming through. So why apply to be an executive assistant?”
She sat straighter, her palms suddenly damp. She needed to explain the pivot.
