“That doesn’t stop them from calling,” I snap, holding up my phone. “I’ve got three requests for interviews from people who call themselves ‘culture writers.’ What the hell does that even mean?”
“It means you’re the hottest topic this town’s seen in years, and they want clicks,” he says evenly. “Which is why you don’t say a word. You route everything to Nina.”
“Perfect.”
I exhale through my nose and keep scrolling. More comments. More opinions. Too many of them about Max.
Drake watches me then shifts gears. “Look, I know you’ve got your ways about you,” he starts. “The way you are with women—”
“Drake,” I warn, without looking up.
“But things seem different with Max,” he says, leaning in.
“Different how?” I ask, still sifting through the comments.
“For one, you brought her around us here at work.”
“Yeah, and whose fault is that?” I ask, as if he didn’t ambush me with this crazy idea.
He laughs. “You let me take a picture of you two. You’d normally never let me get away with that.”
“You acted like I didn't have a choice!” I snap. “You told me it was for the business.
“She no longer seems like an annoyance to you, E. You actually seem like you like her.”
I finally look at him. “Yeah, no shit. Especially with the way you framed us in these articles.”
He smiles. “That’s not a denial.”
Then it hits me.
“Drake.”
He gives me the Black-man head nod, all mock innocence. “What’s up?”
“Did you pitch these stories the way you did to see if it’d push me into something serious with her?”
“Would it be such a bad thing?”
“That’s not the point,” I snap.
“Then what is?” he presses. “Because I’m not going to pretend you haven’t been a lot less of an asshole since she showed up. You’ve been walking around like you’re actually enjoying your life since you’ve been getting your di—”
“Easy,” I growl.
He raises his hands in surrender. “Okay. Sorry. I’m just saying—I see the way you look at her when she’s talking in meetings. The way she looks at you when she thinks no one’s watching. It’s…endearing. Or whatever.”
I scowl. “And what’s got you all romantic all of a sudden? The man who frequents strip clubs for companionship.”
He shrugs. “A brother can’t evolve?”
“I guess.” My attention drifts back to my phone.
Another comment about Max catches my eye.I hope she’s worth it.
I should feel defensive. Should be tempted to call every outlet and demand they pull the stories. But instead, I smile. Because I can’t really be mad at the picture Drake’s painted. Not entirely.
I glance through the glass wall of my office, toward the space outside where she’s sitting at one of the hot desks, shoulders slightly hunched, head buried in her laptop like the rest of the world doesn’t exist.
