Page 47 of Bastian

Fuck, no.

Heart… don’t be stupid.

Not again.

I freeze, take a deep breath, and do my best to control my rising temper.

I fail.

“Fuck off,” I say just loud enough for him to hear and turn and leave his smiling ass behind.

I run.

For the second time that night, I run from the feelings the tyrant in the white house has stirred in me.

ARIANNA

IF GROVELING WAS A MAN

“Every corner of my heart is haunted.” — A

“Nessa.” I stop my junior journalist before she heads back in the direction of her office. She did rather well expressing her ideas to the group today. I must admit I was impressed. That and I’m kind of proud.

When she started working with me, she would agree to everything and with what everyone said. Always second-guessing herself, and to avoid conflict or stepping out of her comfort zone she would rather go along with what my other employees said.

Not anymore, though.

Now, she’s not afraid to speak her mind and that’s the kind of journalist I need on my team.

Someone who takes no shit and goes after what they want.

“Yes, boss?” Nessa stops and turns to me with a tired smile.

I still remember how awkward it was for her the first few times she referred to me as boss, especially since I am younger than her. I got my degree in less time than most college students, so I might seem like I accomplished more than her when we were almost the same age but the reality is that I had a privilege she did not, and I recognize it. It doesn’t take away from the fact that I worked my ass off to obtain all I have now.

Drive.

Ambition.

Dedication and a whole lot of hunger to succeed no matter the help. It got me where I am today.

But I recognize a job well done, and Nessa is working her ass off. There is no doubt about that. “Your ideas were much appreciated, and I am…” God, why is it so difficult for me to give out compliments? Nessa looks at me expectantly. “I was impressed and know that they’ll be taken into consideration.” Her face softens, then she nods and leaves in the other direction where her office is located.

See, was that so hard? My latest acquisition, a bitch named conscience, taunts me.

Taking a deep breath, I walk towards my office, needing to be by myself after a long morning of meetings. They were all a success. My team and I discussed our game plan for both the paper and the magazine’s future.

It’s been one hell of a week.

After being a small newspaper slash magazine with an average audience, it all changed in an instant.

All because of one man.

An infuriating man with a God complex.

The articles written about him are the most popular ones and are the reason why we gained more exposure. So much so that the company is being added to press conference lists for not only major Hollywood events but more high-elite social events.

This includes the list of magazines and newspapers allowed to attend the White House future press conferences. It’s also because Sebastian re-posted a news article to his POTUS accounts all over social media.

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