Description:Fun goodie bags full of an Urban Dicktionary of Dating (Ella to design), lipstick and sanitary products. A three-course meal, viral walls with bar codes for maximum social media impact, live music, plus an app demonstration from Zola, Katy and Ella. Jimmy, Fee and Travis will join them.
Dress code:Female-inspired.
I felt my head flop back, as I stared at the ceiling, my chest tightening. What had we done? Guilt simmered in my gut. This was The Dicktionary Club, amplified by a million. I shut my eyes, rethinking all Britney’s plans in a desperate attempt to tame them. There was no mention of women’s safety or offering the hope of finding true love. The app was literally being marketed as a burn book – and we were willingly feeding that narrative to the press. Part of me thought it would do well initially, but it would eventually create such a hostile, bitchy culture. Deep inside, another part ached to be proud of what I’d created. I knew an app solely focused on slating men, no matter their past treatment of me, couldn’t be the answer.
It was after six by now, and the office was dark except for my screen. I remained there, focused on researching similar apps and their PR strategies. Zola and Katy had gone home earlier; Zola said she would sleep with Katy tonight to help ease her stalker worries – as long as she promised to change the sheets.
A knock startled me from my work.
‘Hey.’ Jimmy’s voice sounded tired. ‘What’s up?’
‘Hey.’ I looked up from my screen, my eyes blurry.
‘Don’t you ever sleep?’ he asked with a slight smile. ‘Or explore?’
I pulled a face. ‘Explore? That’s not my idea of fun.’
Jimmy stepped forward. ‘You’re in a new city, the best city in the world, I might add, but you never seem to leave this place.’
Raw panic suddenly seized me. ‘How do you know I never go out?’ I blurted, the words tumbling out before I could catch my breath.Was he watching me? Could he be the weird texting stalker?Paranoia prickled across my skin, growing more intense with every possibility that crossed my mind – had he seen too much? Did he regret hiring us?
Jimmy chuckled. ‘I get reports on my desk every morning, who signs in and out, and you’ve been the last one to leave this building since you started.’
My shoulders relaxed. ‘Aww, right. Well, I like to work,’ I said, realising I sounded defensive.
‘Come on, Ella. Didn’t you have one thing on your New York bucket-list?’ he pressed.
‘OK,’ I hummed. ‘I have, and I will do it before I leave. Happy?’
‘What is it?’ Jimmy leaned closer. ‘The Knicks? I can get you courtside seats.’
I laughed, shaking my head. ‘I’ve seen enough sport to last a lifetime.’
‘Come on, no judgement,’ he said, now standing over me, brown eyes tired but mischievous.
‘Fine. The Empire State Building,’ I admitted. ‘Cliché, I know!’
‘Oh, so you’re into skyscrapers?’ He bit his lip. ‘OK, got it.’
I laughed. ‘Not like that! I just watch a lot of movies. And I find heights peaceful, quiet even. Plus, come on, it’s the most iconic building in the world.’
Jimmy agreed, then rubbed the stubble on his chin. ‘Have you heard of Summit One?’
I shook my head. I remembered it vaguely from one of Katy’s TikTok reposts, but I hadn’t paid much attention.
‘It’s cool. If you’re up for it, I’d show you around.’ He said it so casually I almost asked him to repeat himself.
‘Emm .?.?. Sure. Maybe.’ I felt my arsehole clench and was suddenly conscious of the plush leather seat sticking to my thighs. ‘When I finish all this and .?.?.’
‘Great.’ He grinned. ‘I’ll pick you up at Hudson Yards tomorrow night at seven.’
‘What?’ Shit. I should’ve been clearer. Jimmy was hot, but also my boss, and I was fresh out of a breakup. Was this a date, or just friendly? ‘Jimmy, I didn’t know you meant tomorrow. I have .?.?.’
‘I’m not listening now.’ He laughed, covered his ears, then left.
When he was out of sight, I paused. A strange, giddy, excitable feeling tickled my stomach. I immediately brushed it off, knowing I should make up an excuse to bail. Then I thought of Philip and how carefree he was back home in Scotland with his new six-foot twig of a model to entertain. Still, I couldn’t go, could I? How the fuck was I going to get out of this?
Chapter Twenty-Four
