Page 1 of Ardent Desires

Prologue

Ellie

“Just open the damn thing,” Jenna says, exasperated, leaning over my shoulder, her fingers twitching like she’s about to grab the mouse herself.

I sit frozen in front of the ancient laptop we’ve shared since college, staring at the blinking email notification. The subject line reads:Blackwood Enterprises – Job Application Result.My stomach’s flipping like I’m on some never-ending rollercoaster ride. I haven’t breathed in what feels like hours, but it’s really just been a few minutes.

Jenna nudges me again. “You’ve been obsessing over this all week. You finally have the answer, and you’re chickening out? No way. Move. I’ll do it for you.”

She reaches for the mouse, and I slap her hand away. “I’ll do it,” I say, even though my voice wobbles. Damn it.

Jenna flops dramatically onto the couch beside me, pulling her legs up and hugging her knees to her chest. “Okay, okay, but hurry up before I die of suspense.”

I’m procrastinating like a pro. My fingers hover over the trackpad, but I keep glancing out the window at our little town. Westport is small—like, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it small. The streets are quiet today, only a few cars parked along the main road. The diner, with its old neon sign blinkingOpen, is across from the park where we used to play as kids. It feels like a million years ago, and now here I am, one click away from finding out if I’m about to leave it all behind.

Jenna’s phone buzzes. “Mom says hi,” she says casually, but there’s an edge to her voice. It’s always like that when her mom comes up. My mom died when I was 13, and Jenna’s family took me in without a second thought. I’ve always had a place in her family, but sometimes, it still feels like there’s a gap I’ll never fill. Jenna’s mom does her best, though. She’s good people.

I inhale deeply, willing myself to stop overthinking. “Okay. I’m doing it,” I announce, more to myself than Jenna.

“Finally!” Jenna scoots closer, her face practically glowing with excitement. “This is it, Ellie. You’ve got this.”

The click feels like it echoes in our tiny apartment, and there it is. The email opens, and I scan it so fast the words blur together. I blink. Then read again. Slowly.

We are pleased to inform you…

“Oh my God,” I whisper.

“What? What?!” Jenna’s bouncing on the couch like an over-caffeinated squirrel.

“I got the job.” My voice comes out high-pitched, almost strangled. “I GOT THE JOB!”

Jenna screams, launching herself off the couch, arms flailing, and in less than a second, she’s wrapping me in a hug so tight I can barely breathe. “Holy shit! Ellie, you did it! I knew you would!”

We’re both laughing, maybe crying a little, jumping up and down in the middle of our living room, which is barely bigenough to contain all our excitement. The floor creaks beneath us, and I hear Mrs. Hernandez from downstairs thumping her ceiling with a broom, but I don’t care. This moment is ours.

“I’m gonna work for the Marketing Director of Blackwood Enterprises!” I shout, not caring how loud I am. “This is crazy. I’m going to New York!”

Jenna grins at me, eyes shining. “See? I told you. We’re getting out of this place, Ellie. You’re going to be the big-shot marketing genius, and I’m gonna run the bakery. We’re gonna kill it.”

The bakery. I grin back at her. We’ve been planning it for months now. Jenna’s dream is to open a little shop, and I’ve been helping her with the business plan. It’s one of those things that keeps us going, even on the toughest days. The thought of running something together feels like a piece of home we’ll always carry, no matter where we end up.

“So,” Jenna flops back onto the couch, looking way too relaxed now that the suspense is over. “What’s the plan? You know, besides becoming a badass assistant in one of the biggest companies in the world.”

I sink into the chair, trying to wrap my head around what just happened. “I start in two weeks. Gotta find a place to stay in New York, figure out how I’m going to afford rent, and not totally freak out on my first day.”

“You’ll crush it,” Jenna says with a confident nod. “What’s the name of the guy you’re gonna be working for again? Marketing Director…?”

“Uh,” I glance back at the email. “Jameson Reed.”

She snorts. “Sounds like a rich asshole.”

I laugh. “Probably. But if he signs my paychecks, I’ll deal with it.”

“Damn right, you will.”

We sit there for a second, both of us grinning like idiots. This is it. The start of something new. Something big. I’ve beendreaming about working in marketing ever since college, and now I finally have my shot. No more answering phones for sleazy insurance agents or running errands for ungrateful bosses. This is the real deal.

“Ellie Sanders, Marketing Assistant for Blackwood Enterprises,” I say aloud, testing the words out, letting them sink in. “Holy shit.”

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