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Four Weeks Later
Should’ve Let You Stay
Chloe
Seattle, Washington
Why am I so nauseous today?
I stared at the galley proof on my desk, attempting to read the first page, but my vision was blurry.
Confused, I opened my drawer and put on a pair of reading glasses.
No dice.
“Oh, great, you’re here early!” Hazel burst into my office without knocking. “I need you to give me something intelligent to say to our secret buyer.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The private buyer, Chloe,” she said. “He started messaging me via our app the other day and I think I’ve put him off long enough. He’s trying to be nice, so this may not be a hostile takeover like we’ve feared. He doesn’t even plan to fire anyone.”
For now. I sipped my water. “What does his message say?”
She held out her phone.
FutureRoguePublishingCEO:
I hope you won’t find this intrusive, Miss Swift, but one way I like to get to know people is by the books they read. I’m a fan of everything from thrillers and mystery to YA and romance courtesy of my mother. What are your favorite genres?
“Seriously?” I looked at Hazel. “Why do you need help with this?”
“I want to sound as sophisticated as he does.”
“He sounds pretty simple and straightforward,” I said. “You could say you enjoy the same genres and you’re excited to meet him.”
“Can you type all that for me so the message can have your energy? My nail tech will be here at any moment, and I don’t want to get hand cramps.”
I bit my tongue and typed the message for her.
HazelSwiftRogueCEO:
I don’t find this intrusive at all, as I love getting to know people this way, too. I’m obsessed with romance, fantasy, and nonfiction.
“Thanks!”She didn’t take her phone. “Can you answer the other seven messages he sent and bring that to my office when you’re done? Oh, and can you handle the Dean files and the translation files before that?”
“You mean, all the work you’re supposed to do?”
“What was that, Chloe?”
“Nothing.” I smiled. “I said I’ll get right to it.”
“Okay, awesome!”
I waited until she disappeared before heading to the editorial department.
I was halfway down the hall when a series of sharp pains stabbed my stomach. Then something rose up my throat.
Rushing to the restroom, I locked myself in a stall and bent over the toilet, vomiting for the second time this morning.
