“Um.” I tuck my hair behind my ear. “I was thinking maybe we should keep that part under wraps.”
I’ve been thinking about this, and I don’t want all the attention it will bring me if people find out Jake and me grew up together. And there could be the chance that when the press is delving into mine and Jake’s history together, someone from our former years might just tell the story of what his dad did to him and his mum. I shudder to think. Somehow Jake’s managed to keep that part of his life out of the press, I don’t want to be the reason it comes out.
Obviously I’m not going to say any of that to Vicky. I’ve already quickly planned out what I’m going to say.
“I just think it will seem even better if they don’t know of my history with Jake. It might take the focus off the bio when they realise Jake and I have history, and I don’t want that to be the running feature. I want it to be about Jake and Etiquette.”
She grins at me. “Good thinking. Always the journalist. Have I told you how much I love you lately?”
“No.” I grin.
“Well I do, lots and lots and lots.”
“So the tour … Jake’s said he’s going to see me again today – assumedly to talk about the tour, but can you give me the heads up now?”
“You’re seeing him again – today?” she grins, sitting back down.
She’s like a teenager at times.
“Yes, about business. Brief me about the tour, please, boss?”
She leans back in her chair. “Seven weeks. Touring Europe for the first three, then America and Canada for the last four.”
“And I can come home in-between the dates?”
“There are a lot of dates in the tour. It’s pretty intensive – ten dates in Europe and thirteen in the US and Canada. There is a two week break between Europe and the US, and I can’t imagine you’ll be needed all the time – but check with Jake.”
“What about my column?”
“I was going to get Jane to cover what you couldn’t manage?”
“Sure. Sounds like a plan.”
I get out of my chair. “What did you think of the piece of the interview with Jake that I sent you?”
“Really good. I emailed back a few possible changes, have a look – let me know what your thoughts are. But there’s no rush on finishing it as I think we’re going to use it as the pre-cursor for the bio.”
I start to leave her office, then stop at the door. “Why do you think Jake never mentioned the bio to me last night?”
She shrugs. “You said last night was a catch up on old times, so maybe he didn’t want to talk business with you at that point.”
“Hmm, maybe… he could have called me first thing this morning … but I guess it doesn’t matter.”
She leans forward resting her elbows on her desk. “You want my honest opinion? I think he asked you out to dinner because he wanted to see you again. I think he hired you for the bio because you’re fabulous at your job – and also because he wants to have sex with you.”
“Vicky!” I screech, eyes wide.
I can’t believe she just said that.
“What?” she says innocently. “I’m merely pointing out the conclusive facts.”
“Which conclusive facts?”
“That Jake wants to have sex with you.”
“Will you stop saying that!” My face is flushing bright red. “And Jake could have sex with anyone he wants and trust me he wouldn’t want to have it with me.”
I think of the little brush off at my door last night. I don’t tell her of course.
She frowns at me and shakes her head. “Sometimes I don’t think you realise how gorgeous you are, Tru.”
I pull a face at her skewered compliment.
“And yes, you are right. Jake could bed any women he wants to … but currently I think he wants to bed you.”
I frown at her. “It’d be an awful lot of trouble for him to go through just to get laid, when he can have it so easily accessible elsewhere.”
“Easily accessible can get boring, my darling. And you are right, it certainly would be a lot of trouble to go to.” She raises her eyebrow. “So I guess that shows the worth of the person as to the level of trouble he’s willing to go to.”
“Or just the new challenge.”
“That too.” She leans back in her chair. “Just be careful, my darling, when mixing business and pleasure. Things can get awful messy sometimes.”
“I don’t intend on mixing anything. I’m with Will, remember.”
“You are.”
“And I don’t think Jake is like that, contrary to popular belief, I think he’s professional in business, I don’t think he screws the staff – just everyone else.”
“Of course. I can imagine Jake Wethers to be the upmost professional.”
She’s being snarky.
“He was actually a real gent at dinner last night.”
“He was?” She smiles, a real genuine smile. “Good. I’m glad.”
I ignore the little nag of disappointment, tugging away inside of me, that Jake Wethers, who is well known for screwing anything that moves, had no interest in me whatsoever last night.
Of course it stings. I would never have slept with him, of course, because of Will. But I would have kissed him for sure.
But then kissing is cheating too.