My blood turns to ice.
I spin round to see him sitting in the back corner of the room. My mouth drops open as he acknowledges Cosmo’s introduction with a curt nod to the team.
This has to be some sort of joke.
“Ryan currently works on the features team on the paper, so he knows the brand inside out, and he’s a dab hand at commissioning, writing, and editing. We’re delighted to have you join us, Ryan.”
“Thank you,” he replies quietly.
“Marvelous,” Cosmo says, before clapping his hands. “Right, then. I don’t think there’s anything else to address…”
As Cosmo rounds off the meeting, Ryan glances over to me. I quickly look away, my cheeks burning. There’s the sound of chairs scraping back as everyone gets up to go, and I trip over my feet on the way out, still in shock at the announcement.
Rakhee finds me leaning on my desk, trying to make sense of the impending doom that I’ll be forced to sit next to Ryan Janssonevery single day.
“Harper?” she asks, plonking herself down in her chair and swiveling it to face me. “Are you okay?”
“Ryan Jansson?” I whisper, checking he’s nowhere near. Thankfully, he’s still in the meeting room, talking to Cosmo. “That’swho you’ve chosen to be the features editor?”
“He’s going to be a great addition,” she says, completely oblivious. “He’s knowledgeable, driven, and an excellent editor. Great experience, too—beforeThe Correspondence,he worked asa lifestyle reporter forVenture,you know, the business magazine. He has a few other big names on his CV, too. He’s impressive.”
“Does he ever smile?” Mimi asks, leaning forward on her desk.
“Admittedly, he’s a bit… reserved,” Rakhee acknowledges. “He’s the quiet type. Very focused. But I’m sure he’ll relax and lighten up a bit once he’s settled into the role.”
I run a hand through my hair. “This is… unbelievable.”
“Why are you so upset?” Rakhee asks.
Mimi gasps. “Oh my god! That’s the guy you had eye-sex with the other day!”
“You had eye-sex with Ryan Jansson?” Rakhee wants to know, startled.
“No!” I hiss, horrified that someone might overhear.
“They definitely did,” Mimi tells Rakhee gleefully. “The chemistry wasveryintense.”
“No, there’s no chemistry! The opposite, if anything. If you must know… we don’t get on,” I say quietly through gritted teeth.
“You said you didn’t know him,” Mimi recalls.
“I don’t! We met… recently. At a book launch. He was arrogant and obnoxious and patronizing. We can’t work together.”
Emerging from the meeting room with Cosmo, Ryan continues toward us as Cosmo splits off into his office, and I quickly sit down, ducking my head behind my monitor.
“Thanks again, Rakhee, for the opportunity,” he says, appearing at her side.
I busy myself with my notebook, angling my chair away from them, toward the wall.
“Don’t thank me! You got the job on your own merits,” she says brightly.
“Big shoes to fill,” he remarks.
“Nah,” she chuckles. “Hey, I hear you’ve met our wonderful celebrity editor, Harper.”
What have I ever done to you, Rakhee?
I reluctantly turn my chair to face him.
