Page 112 of Is It Casual Now?

Jamie snorted and laughed. “It was about a dog, and ninety percent of it wasn’t true. But the cash came in handy. I felt so gross after doing it that I refused to even pick up the phone when they called again.”

“But you had minutes,” Siena said.

“I had minutes.” Jamie’s eyes twinkled.

Siena would track down the article some other day, or maybe when she got back to the office. She’d just have to figure out what name Jamie had written it under first, because Siena had no doubt that she’d used anom de plume.Especially if she didn’t even want Siena to read it now.

“I’m looking to undo the effects of what you did to my client a few months ago. I need to restore her image.”

Jamie frowned. “That’s going to be hard unless she becomes a little nicer.”

Ingrid’s lips curled up at that. “That’s where good PR comes in handy.”

“I won’t lie to my readers.”

“I’m not asking you to,” Ingrid pushed back, a glint in her eye that had scared Siena more times than she cared to admit. Most of the time, it came out all right, though. “I’m asking you to write what’s real and what’s not. Exactly like you did with Bunny and Piper.”

Jamie looked suspicious. And rightfully so. Siena would also be hella suspicious of what Ingrid was saying if she didn’t know her. Ingrid’s moral standards were nearly as high as Siena’s, she was just a little more willing to take on ethically questionable clients and push them to bigger and better things. It was why she was more successful than Siena overall.

Siena thanked the waiter when their food arrived. Ingrid and Jamie were still having a bit of a stare down, and Siena was damn sure that it was not her place to get in the middle of that.

“I think you’re walking a fine line in what you’re asking of me.” Jamie pursed her lips in thought.

Siena resisted the urge to jump in and play mediator. She wanted Jamie to get this job, not just because Jamie needed it but because Ingrid also really needed someone, especially with her current client list. It was getting difficult for her to wrangle them all on her own. It would also be nice to at least have Jamie on their side more often than not.

“How many hours?”

“It’s full time,” Ingrid responded. “Salary.”

Jamie narrowed her gaze. “Then I won’t work over forty hours for you, and I get to keep my outside media jobs, the ones I run and my contracts.”

Ingrid shook her head. “No.”

“Then I won’t work for you.” Jamie leaned back in her chair with a sigh of relief. Then she bent over her plate and took a huge bite. “I won’t be owned by anyone.”

Ingrid raised an eyebrow at Siena and pointed at Jamie. “She’s good.”

“She is,” Siena agreed. Watching Jamie in action like this was hot as hell.

Ingrid faced Jamie. “I will approve your other contracts, the people and presses anyway. I don’t want you to be workingfor anyone who conflicts with me. As for your own business ventures. You’re more than welcome to continue those.”

Siena knew that was what Jamie really cared about. The only other contract she had right now was with her, and that one wouldn’t conflict. She and Ingrid did enough business together to make sure of that. Siena ran her fingers through her hair and pushed her leg against Jamie’s in support. She wanted Jamie to know that she was there for her no matter what.

“You have to respond to those requests in forty-eight hours. If I hear nothing, it’s at my prerogative whether or not I sign a contract.”

“One week,” Ingrid countered.

Jamie shook her head. “No, this industry moves far too quickly for that. I’m tempted to make it twenty-four hours.”

“Twenty-four? Jesus, I do have to sleep you know. Maybe take a piss.”

Jamie laughed lightly. “The gossip never ends, and if I miss a story because you’re too slow, I’m not going to be a happy employee.”

“I’ll have to think about the time on that one, and we can negotiate it after you decide if you’re willing to sign a contract.” Ingrid finally started to dive into her breakfast.

It seemed that Jamie had been hired. Right? Siena wasn’t entirely sure, but that’s what it felt like with the ping-ponging back and forth between the two of them.

“What’s the salary?” Jamie eyed Ingrid inquisitively.

---