Page 25 of You. Me. Us.

But wasn’t that half the fun? The giddiness, the anticipation, the feeling that anything could happen? Hillary had spent so long playing it safe, keeping her head down and her heart guarded. Maybe it was time to embrace the thrill of the unknown.

She reached for her phone again, re-reading Julius’s message. His words seemed to leap off the screen, making her pulse race and her skin tingle. How did he have this effect on her, even from afar?

Hillary’s mind drifted to their upcoming date, to the promise of more stolen moments and electric touches. She could almost feel the warmth of his breath against her cheek, the gentle pressure of his hand in hers. The anticipation was delicious, a heady rush that made her feel more alive than ever.

With a contented sigh, Hillary turned her attention back to the task at hand. She had a feeling she’d need all her energy for whatever lay ahead—both in the office and with Julius. But for once, she wasn’t afraid of the challenges to come. She was ready to meet them head-on, with a newfound confidence that she really did have a movie star to thank for.

eleven

. . .

“Hillary Mitchell. My office. Now.”Olivia’s tone didn’t leave any room for any interpretation as she dropped back inside her office, slamming the glass door behind her. In the eleven minutes since she’d hit send on her Comic Con piece, she’d done something horribly wrong.

A wave of panic rushed through Hillary faster than a chaotic day in the trenches, and more deadly as she found herself paralyzed with fear. Gone was the confident woman who kissed handsome movie stars back.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts as she made her way to Olivia’s office. The hallway seemed to stretch on forever, the fluorescent lights casting an eerie glow on the carpet. Hillary’s footsteps echoed in the silent bullpen, each one a reminder that all eyes were on her after a shout like that.

Hillary’s heart pounded as she approached Olivia’s office door, her palms clammy and her throat tight. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves before knocking softly.

“Come in,” Olivia’s voice called from within.

Hillary paused, her hand hovering over the polished wood. She could hear the muffled sound of voices from inside, a lowmurmur that only heightened her anxiety. What if Olivia had found out about her and Julius? What if she was about to be fired, her dreams shattered before they even had a chance to take flight?

With a shaky breath, Hillary pushed open the door, stepping into the sleek, modern office. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of the city skyline, the setting sun casting a warm glow over the towering skyscrapers. But Hillary barely noticed, her attention focused solely on Olivia, who sat behind her glass desk, her expression unreadable.

Olivia looked up, her hazel eyes locking onto Hillary’s. “Have a seat,” she said, gesturing to the chair opposite her.

Hillary sank down, her legs mimicking a gelatinous cube, wobbling as she went. She clasped her hands tightly in her lap, trying to avoid her fear showing. Worst-case scenarios threatened to send her into a panic. Did Olivia hate the piece? Was she going to get fired?

Olivia leaned forward, her expression unreadable. “I read your Comic Con article,” she began, and Hillary braced herself for the blow. But then Olivia’s face broke into a smile. “It was fantastic, Hillary. A truly unique angle.”

A wave of relief washed over Hillary, filling her with a sense of overwhelming joy. Her chest swelled with a lightness and freedom as the words were like a weight lifted off her shoulders. Suddenly, everything around her seemed brighter, more vibrant, as if she was seeing the world through new eyes. It was an indescribable feeling, pure and unadulterated happiness coursed through her veins.

She couldn’t believe it. Olivia actually liked her work!

“Thank you so much,” she managed to say, her voice slightly breathless. “That means a lot coming from you.”

Olivia nodded, shuffling the papers on her desk. “There are a few small rewrites I’d like you to make, but overall, it’s a solidpiece. They’ll be in your inbox shortly. Absolutely cover story worthy. Great job.”

Hillary beamed, basking in the rush of pride. All her hard work had paid off. She stood up, ready to tackle those rewrites with renewed energy. “I’ll get right on those changes,” she said, turning toward the door.

“Oh, and Hillary?” Olivia called after her. “Shut the door for a moment, would you?”

An icy tendril of worry crept up Hillary’s spine as she slowly pushed the door closed. What could Olivia want now? She turned back around, trying to read Olivia’s expression.

“There’s something else I wanted to discuss with you,” Olivia said, her tone serious yet not unkind.

Hillary swallowed hard, her momentary joy evaporating as she waited for Olivia to continue.

Sinking back into the chair, her heart slapped against her ribcage. She clasped her hands tightly in her lap again, trying to steady their trembling. She’d gone from top of the world, to crawling through the sewers in a single sentence. The office suddenly felt too small, the air too thick. She forced herself to meet Olivia’s piercing hazel gaze, steeling herself for whatever bombshell her boss was about to drop.

“I couldn’t help but notice you leaving the office yesterday,” Olivia began, her words measured and careful. “With Julius Theon.”

Hillary’s breath caught in her throat. Had someone seen them together? Her mind raced with the implications, the potential scandal that could unfold. “I... yes, we did leave together,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Olivia leaned forward, her elbows resting on the desk. “Are you and Julius seeing each other? He was a large portion of your article, but with his popularity, that wasn’t shocking.” she asked, her tone more curious than accusatory.

Hillary’s cheeks burned with a mix of embarrassment and uncertainty. “I think so? I mean, we’ve been spending time together, but I’m not entirely sure what it means yet.” She paused, a sudden fear gripping her. “Did something leak? Are there rumors already?”

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