Page 27 of Is It Casual Now?

“Us bickering is a good thing that’s remained?”

“No. The fact we can have different opinions and not turn them into a screaming match.”

“I like that, too.” Tori smiled and sipped from her glass.

The silence was comforting until Tori brought the discomfort right to Siena’s face.

“So you are attracted to her still,” Tori said.

“Shouldn’t that be a question?” Siena wasn’t ready to admit that openly to anyone, not even herself yet.

“Definitely not.” Tori laughed. “So what do you plan to do about it?”

“I guess I’ll go tomorrow. Get this interview over with.”

“Not what I asked. And you know it.”

“Of course it is.” Siena smirked and breathed a sigh of relief as Tori rolled her eyes but let the conversation go. They talked a little longer, and by the time Siena left, she felt a little lighter. Not exactly better, but at least decided.

Sleep teased Siena all night. It never stayed long enough. She would wake again an hour or so after finally drifting off, feelings of control slipping away from her.

Tori had been right. Again.

With all the bad press Jamie had given to Bunny and Piper over the years, she would be the only one who could truly make a dent in any of those questions she had posed article after article.

It took Siena twice as long as normal to get ready. She changed out of her black pin-striped pencil suit and decided on loose black pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and a vest. She kept debating on whether or not to take a jacket. Uncharacteristically running a little late, she grabbed the jacket off the hanger before she raced out of her front door. Well, she was late for her liking. She heard her mother’s voice in her head.If you aren’t ten minutes early, then you might as well be late.

The cozy cafe she had chosen was only a few blocks away from her place. Close enough for her to feel as though they were meeting on her own turf. But far enough away that it wasn’t Siena’s locale. And Jamie wouldn’t know precisely where she lived. The weather outside already promised to be a drizzly, bitter affair, which meant that winter would soon be upon them.

Siena looked down at her outfit and worried her bottom lip. Since when had she ever felt so concerned about what she wore when meeting the press? She scoffed at the thought as a rideshare pulled up. After getting inside, she settled into the back. Her mind wandered without her permission.

She had never willingly met with any sleazy journalist before. The only time she’d encountered them, it’d been unexpectedly at events where she had directed security to get her clients through safely. She’d met with real journalists all the time, but Siena wouldn’t classify Jamie as one of them.

Siena loved her job. There was a thrill in it. A rush she lived for. But it had never been her desire to be the face of anything.

Scoffing, she noticed the driver flicking his eyes to the rearview mirror and checking on her. She met his gaze and gave a small smile, cheeks warming with embarrassment. It always seemed such a private space in the back of a cab, too easy to slip into alone mode, when in reality you were still in public.

As far as she knew, her face had never been publicly circulated with her name. There were photos of her in the background. Not many but a few. But whatever deity, if any, that looked after the entertainment industry had found her worthy of remaining unrecognizable.

She mulled over this fact as the driver pulled up two shops away from the cafe. Siena could have kissed the grizzled man for not pushing for small talk as nerves already tingled beneath her skin. When Siena had started managing, she had been able to project confidence in public with an ease that had been lacking lately. She never struggled to remain professional or polite, but it didn’t fill her with the same excitement or energy it once had.

Not like the joy she got when helping a new artist get their foot further into their dreams. She enjoyed working one-on-one with her clients, even the more challenging ones. At least they helped her appreciate other clients. Especially the ones who had turned from client-only to also friends—like Bunny and Piper, and Siena sensed that was going to be no truer than this winter. Bunny was running Piper into the ground, and they were both exhausted and needed a really good break.

Stepping up to the door, Siena knew she had to force down the butterflies in her stomach and smother the tingling anticipation of sitting down with Jamie again. This wasn’t about her and Jamie.

She would put on her business face, and she would be the hard-ass manager she had become known as. They may not recognize her face, but she would be stupid to think many journalists in this town, or in any media reporting, wouldn’t recognize her name. Years and sacrifices, sweat and tears had gone into this outcome.

The bell above the door tingled as she pushed it open and stepped inside.

Like hell she would allow a moment of weakness to undoall that she had worked for. No matter how screwed up and complicated the moment was turning out to be.

The warmth of the cafe washed over her, and she took in a deep breath to center and settle herself. Her stomach grumbled as warm sugar and cinnamon from the pastry case joined the comforting aroma of coffee. She gave herself to the count of ten to indulge in the warm hug of the place before coming back to reality. Hopefully this meeting wouldn’t make it impossible for her to return and enjoy the ambience again.

When she opened her eyes, her manager mask was firmly fixed in place once more. This was a business meeting. And it had been more years than she cared to count since a business meeting had made her nervous. She wasn’t going to let this one change that record for her.

She spotted Jamie sitting with her back to the corner at a small round table that looked far too intimate to be for a business meeting. Despite her suddenly dry mouth and her need to lick her lips, Siena pushed her shoulders back and lifted her chin ever so slightly. Each step sent a shock ricocheting up her legs, making her body tremble and heat pool between her thighs.

Business meeting!she reminded herself.

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