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But with Brandon, it feltnatural.Like he knew how turned on I was, and he wanted to reassure me that he felt the same way. I wanted to dig my fingers into the crack between our bodies and touch him.
And if I had not been at Andrea’s wedding,maybeI would have.
I managed to break free from his spell. It had taken every ounce of my willpower to step away from him and back into the safety of my best friend’s happiness.
Still, the memory lingers. And even while I typed up the article a few hours ago, I still felt the tingle between my thighs every time my thoughts strayed too far.
“Do you have a personal vendetta against this Brandon guy?”
I snap to attention again, this time supremely grateful for the interruption. “What?” I ask, realizing I did not hear her question.
“Brandon Stawarski,” Hayley says, jerking her head towards the article. “He’s not even the one running, but the article is all abouthim.Youhatehim. Why? Did he do something to you or what?”
I ball my fingers into fists. “No,” I say, careful to keep an edge of indifference in my voice. “He didn’t do anything.I’m just a journalist who wants to write the truth.”
My words sound stupid even to my ears, but Hayley only shrugs.
“I should have insisted on reading your article before I let you upload it,” she mutters. I feel a stab of guilt. I’d intentionally made the article sound far more innocent than it was when I’d called her at midnight and asked for her go-ahead. Hayley, who hates being interrupted while sleeping, said yes before I even started to explain in full detail. “Butthe editor-in-chief likes the article, and shelovedthe traffic it brought to the site. Do you intend to keep writing about them?”
I pause, realizing that I had not considered this possibility. I had assumed that the article was a one-and-done situation, that I had finally exacted my revenge on Brandon Stawarski, and that I could resume writing about topics such as the lack of diversity in makeup.
But the thought of writing more articles about the Stawarski brothers and pissing them off even more does make me tingle.
“Er…” I say, unsure of how to translate this into professional speech.
“Gigi,” Hayley says, sounding uncharacteristically strict. “Donotdo any more of the undercover information gathering. We cannot afford to have the head of the largest media company in New York as our enemy.”
“I won’t get the chance,” I say, feeling relief and regret at the same time. I would never have the chance to see Brandon Stawarski in the flesh again and see how angry he was at me. But then, I wouldalsonever get the opportunity to feel his touch on my skin, to…
“Given the traffic this has brought us, we might want to print a few more articles about them,” Hayley says. “As long as there are no dirty tactics. And remember that this is still a women’s magazine, and we have to write articles thatwomencare about.”
“Don’t worry,” I say, backing out of the room as I flash a smile at her. “It’s going to be a great hit. After all, doesn’teverywoman love the Stawarski brothers?”
CHAPTER3
BRAN
“Didn’t think it was possible for any woman to hate you this much.”
“Shut up,” I say, brushing past Theo, who is leaning against the doorpost as I stride into the boardroom. I would have been considerably less irritated by my twin brother if he displayed anything other than amusement about the onslaught of negative press we had been receiving. But Theo, as usual, has a talent for disregarding the obvious and finds the situation more comical than concerning.
The boardroom, the largest room in Stawarski Media Headquarters and the only spot large enough to host all employees, is now occupied by about twenty anxious-looking members of Theodore’s campaign team.
I give them a curt nod, my face a hostile mask that dares anyone to blame me directly for what has been happening lately. Every day for the past week, I’ve been on the receiving end of unnecessary hostile articles from Georgina Harris. The last thing I want is for the vitriol to extend past her sneaky little fingers and into this nerd-filled room.
They nod back, and I relax a little.
But then Alex Payne, the campaign manager, steps forward. “Mr. Stawarski, the new article she posted today mentioned that—”
“I’ve seen it,” I snap at him.
“You don’t need to jump down his throat becauseyoumade a mistake,” Theo says. He still looks amused, as though his campaign is not in jeopardy.
“I didn’t make anymistake,” I say through clenched teeth.
Except for the fact that I was stupid enough to lay aside my common sense.
“You must have done something,”Theo says, reaching over to grab the copy ofEnchantémagazine someone had left lying on the table. I turn away, fighting the urge to seize it and tear it into pieces. “I mean, listen to this: ‘While Brandon Stawarski remains blissfully ignorant in his smug tower of self-righteousness, believing that it is anything less than hypocrisy to head a media company while being closely affiliated with a political candidate, more discerning people are beginning to wonder if this middle-aged billionaire does not understand the importance of separation between the media and the government.’”He closes the magazine and looks at me, a half-frown on his face. “I mean, she attacksyouway more than she attacks me and my campaign together. What the hell did you do to her?”
