Page 50 of A Reclusive Heart

“Alright then,” Jamie said, releasing a shaky breath as the elevator came to a stop. “Then, if either of you gentlemen need me, I’ll be in my office,” she said with a firm nod.

She was nervous and there was nothing he could do for her. He hated this. He hated having to pretend that he didn’t care just to protect both of their reputations, but if he still wanted to have a job at the end of the day, then he had to do this. He was her agent, technically her boss, and sleeping with her was more than enough to get his ass canned.

If he lost his job for fucking one of the clients, his reputation wouldn’t be worth shit and he’d never work in this industry again. He loved his job and what he did. He sure as hell didn’t want to start over again, but more importantly, he didn’t want to leave his little recluse to fend for herself. She needed him and as long as he was around, he was going to protect her.

When she stepped off the elevator only to look around nervously, he had to stop himself from smiling since he knew that she wouldn’t appreciate it at the moment. He stepped off the elevator to join her and waited for her to admit that she was lost, but of course, she was too damn stubborn to admit that so he gave a strand of her beautiful strawberry-blond hair a gentle tug to get her attention.

“Your office is down that hall,” he said, gesturing to his right.

“I knew that,” Jamie said with a stubborn nod as she took off in that direction, hugging her bag tightly against her chest as she went. He sighed heavily as he watched her occasionally jump out of the way of someone who wasn’t watching where they weregoing and he knew without seeing her face that she’d apologized each and every time. It seemed that they still had a few things to work on, Nick thought as he moved to follow her only to stop when Rick cut him off.

“We need to talk.”

CHAPTER 25

If she didn’t get a fix soon, she was pretty sure she was going to die, Jamie thought as she tried to focus on the Word document in front of her. She was supposed to be writing. Well, she’d assumed that’s what she was supposed to do since no one had told her differently. She was already caught up editing the manuscripts they’d given her so that really only left her to write.

She checked her inbox, hoping to find an email telling her that it was her turn to write the next chapter, but so far, nothing. This was the first time she’d ever collaborated with someone on a book and she had to admit that she was enjoying herself. She loved the story. It was a challenge, one she loved and hoped to do again.

After another minute, Jamie realized that staring at her inbox wasn’t exactly going to help, so she returned her attention back to the chapter that she was working on, but her mind kept drifting back to what happened outside earlier. She couldn’t stop thinking about the things they’d said to her. Nick had warned her about the paparazzi and how cruel they could be to get what they wanted, but nothing could have prepared for what they’d said to her.

She really needed some chocolate and a Coke, but so far, she hadn’t been able to track any down. When she asked around, her questions were met with blank stares and muttered comments about carbs and diets. How could any woman function without chocolate? Jamie found herself wondering. It really was unnatural.

After a quick search of the vending machines and the break room, she’d discovered, much to her horror, that everyone had been telling the truth. There wasn’t a single morsel of chocolate to be had. For all of ten seconds, she’d considered sneaking out of the building and hitting the convenience store she’d spotted down the street, but she really didn’t want to deal with reporters again.

A small knock at her door had her sitting up and nearly sighing with relief. Nick said he was going to find some chocolate for her and since he knew the lay of the land better than she did, she figured that he’d have better luck.

“Come in,” Jamie said, trying not to look too eager, for the chocolate or the man, she wasn’t sure which one she needed more.

When a pretty, tall brunette stepped into her office carrying a cardboard box, she did her best to hide her disappointment. She placed the box on the corner of Jamie’s desk with a smile and explained, “This is all the mail that we picked up from your apartment building while you were on tour.”

“It’s just mail?” Jamie asked, nearly pouting since she’d kind of been hoping that there was also some chocolate in there.

“Yes, Miss Harris. Is there anything else I can do for you?” she asked with a polite smile.

“No, thank you,” Jamie mumbled sadly as she pulled the box closer to her, dreading every minute of this chore.

She hated sorting through junk mail, Jamie thought only to frown when she came across a letter without a return address.Curious, she opened the letter only to feel the air rush out of her lungs as her eyes widened. With a shaky hand, she put the letter aside and tore through the rest of the box. She found thirty-five letters in total, each one more gruesome than the last.

Having absolutely no idea what to do now, she placed the letters back in the box and headed for the door as she considered finally making a run for it.

“How’s the tour going?”Rick asked as he handed Nick a glass of water.

“It’s going well,” Nick said, wondering when Rick was going to get to the point.

Thankfully, he didn’t have to wait long.

“The kid isn’t going to sue,” Rick said as though Nick had really been worried. The kid got what he deserved for attacking Jamie. As far as he was concerned, he was lucky to still be walking.

“He attacked her,” Nick simply said.

Rick nodded. “I’ve seen the pictures, but from what I understand, it was part of a frat house scavenger hunt. He wasn’t trying to hurt her.”

“I don’t care what it was for. He had no business putting his hands on her,” Nick explained calmly, even though the memory of the asshole touching Jamie left him feeling anything but calm.

“You don’t think that you took things a little too far? You broke his jaw, Nick,” Rick said, sighing heavily as he dropped down in the chair across from him.

Nick met his friend’s gaze as he asked, “If it had been Dana, would you have done anything differently?”

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