Page 20 of Mr. Bad News

“Ohh, well fuck then. I still mean it. I better get some stories about the many orgasms Mr. Snow has blessed you with. Mr. Snow, if she tells me it was bad, I’m telling everyone I know. You of all people should know how quickly news travels. I want an A plus effort. You two have a good night.” Carrie hangs up the phone and I can no longer hold in the laughter building in my gut.

Ella tosses the phone in her bag and covers her face with her hands. “Kill me now.” She mutters against her palms. “I’m so sorry. That’s so embarrassing.” She pulls her hands down and her eyes are slightly wet. She’s mortified.

“Nothing to be embarrassed about. Your friend is looking out for your best interests.”

“I know, but I don’t want you to think I’m trying to be anything besides professional.”

I rub my thumb against my bottom lip and she sucks in a breath. I’ve seen her do this several times today whenever I do this. Nice to know that I’m affecting her as much as she’s affecting me.

“And if I don’t want to keep this professional?” I hear the words come out of my mouth, but I can’t believe it was me who said it. What the fuck has gotten into me. This whole conversation is just ripe for sexual misconduct accusations.

She presses her legs together tighter and her hands grip the hem of her skirt tightly. “What do you mean?”

She didn’t turn me down completely, “Well, here during working hours you’re here for your article. But I’m proposing that once we walk out the doors, everything is off record and we just enjoy each other's company. Of course, only if you want. If you decide to go straight home, I’ll have a car drop you off.” I maintain eye contact with her and wait for her to answer. Since I’d met her I’ve wanted nothing more than to get her out of my life. Now I’d pay a small fortune if she’d have dinner with me. She’s affected me that deeply in just the day she’s been here.

I watch her stand from her chair and my heart drops slightly. She’s not as interested as her friend thinks.

“Do I need to go home and change or will what I’m wearing suffice?” She smirks at me.

“You’re perfect exactly as you are.” I grab my wallet and phone from the desk, and the both of us make our way out of the office.

Tonight is going to be fun, I can tell already.

12

ella

Breathe.This is fine. There’s nothing abnormal about going out to eat with one of the most respected and mysterious members of the media empire. Yeah this is fine.

I dart my eyes in his direction just to make sure I didn’t say my inner pep talk out loud. Luckily it seems that I didn’t. We walk to the elevator and he presses the button to call it.

I’m not blind, I know sexual tension has been building since the day that I met him, but I didn’t expect to feel so needy for him before he’s even laid a hand on me.

I did my best to keep things as professional as possible today as I followed him around the building and listened in on the conversations and deals that he made with people in his charge, but every few minutes he’d say something or touch my arm innocently and my panties would get soaked through once again.

No one has ever turned me on as quickly and as much as Percy Snow.

“We’re off record right?” I ask and even though it’s me here doing the interview.

“Yes. Off record from here out.” I watch his deft hands undo his tie and leave it hanging around his neck.

“I need to say something then.” I don’t look at him, because I don’t want to lose my nerve.

“By all means.” I can see him looking at me through my peripheral vision.

“You overwhelm me. I don’t really know how to handle this.” I admit and feel a bit lighter.

“You and I both.” He says just as the doors to the elevator opens.

I stand there staring at his back for a second before I force my feet to move and join him in the elevator.

The doors close and it feels like the tension compounds with every second. Percy reaches over to press the button for the lobby and in the process his tie slips from his neck.

The both of us bend to pick it up, but I’m a little faster than him. I grab it and he bends his head so I can drape it over his neck.

I feel my heartbeat in my fingertips as the silky material slowly passes over them. He smells so good. I lean forward and my eyes focus on those lips that seem like they’d be so soft on mine.

They look so … perfect.

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