29 - Team

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Ainsley stared at her laptop. Her cheeks warmed, as she remembered Ian when he came home from his gym. She took a bite of her sandwich, as she went through the last minute tasks before Nancy's book launch. Lilli had planned a little party to celebrate. Ainsley was only invited because she was Lilli's best friend. Her work was done behind the scenes. As Henry pointed out, they didn't work directly with editors, agents, or authors. Eric, the director of marketing was the face which took the credit for the promotions and advertising. Still she took pride in her work.

Henry came back from his long lunch smiling. "Ready for another list of releases?"

She shrugged. It was the nature of her job. Some months were busier than others. They worked on a cycle like retail and would discuss books to be released in the new year.

"If I can help, you know for the team."

Ainsley scoffed. "When did you join the team?"

"What? I've always been a team player, ask Nina."

"What was in your drink at lunch?"

He put his hands on his hips. "You make it hard to be nice to you."

Contritely, she whispered, "Sorry."

He cracked a smile. The guy could pull off modeling underwear. If only he moved on to a new career. "So still seeing the invisible man?"

Ainsley laughed. "He wasn't invisible last night." She fanned herself with a piece of paper.

She had learned a thing or two from the help desk deal. It was inappropriate to describe her sex life to a coworker, unless she was with Nina whispering near the stalls. Nina gave tons of details when she first met her fiance. Ainsley wasn't the kiss and tell type which was how her rating system stated, because it wasn't specific. Ian had broken the system. She kept fanning herself as Henry walked away muttering.

Catrina asked her and Henry to meet with her before the meeting. Ainsley tensed and ran through her defense. She wouldn't let Henry bring down the career she spent ten years building.

When she saw Catrina smile and looked at her dress, it hit her like a ton of bricks. It all made sense, especially when Catrina frequently left early for appointments.

Henry looked shocked when Catrina told them about her pregnancy. Ainsley calmly said, "I was wondering when you would make an announcement."

Catrina smiled as Ainsley proved herself trustworthy. "I want you to know, I'm not ready to name my interim yet, but one of you will earn the honor."

Ainsley wanted to argue why she deserved it. Catrina put her hand up. Ainsley sat back as her face fell. "I'll keep in mind the years you've worked hard. And Henry, you brought experience with you. You are both valuable." She looked at her watch. "Open the door, Henry. It's time for the others.

Ainsley smiled to block the screaming inside. "When are you due?"

"Early March."

That was months of proving herself. Why had Henry been so nice earlier? Did he already know?

Just as others walked in she added. "It won't be my decision alone. Eric will meet with you."

Eric was Catrina's boss. He had commended Ainsley's efforts before. Maybe Oliver could put a good word in for her. The problem was she wanted to win based on her merits, not on her sister's husband.

The meeting went well. Thankfully, there were no joint assignments. It was a busy schedule. There were some groans as the titles kept coming, but Ainsley didn't mind. Not all warranted maximum effort. She felt sorry for the authors and hoped she didn't know their agents. Ainsley intended to execute her assignments well. It was her time to shine.

At the end of the meeting, Catrina announced her pregnancy. The response was a lot of oohs and ahhs. "Plans for my leave are still being determined."

Ainsley looked at the clock, it was almost five. If she wasn't competing to be recognized, she would leave early. Although Ian wouldn't be on the sidewalk if she packed up right away. They met at five-fifteen after the mass exodus.

Henry stepped over to her desk. "Do you want to get a drink and talk about it?"

"I can't." She shook her head.

"I'll walk out with you then."

She nodded and held up her finger before taking out her phone. She texted Ian to meet her on the platform.

When they stepped on to the sidewalk, Ian was not around. She pointed towards the station. They walked together, but she didn't know where Henry lived. At the entrance, he said, "I'm not going down. I wanted to say let the best person win. I brought a ton of experience with me. Catrina said so. Don't worry I'll be nice to you when I'm in charge."

"Thanks." Her voice sounded meek, but she wasn't throwing in the towel. Her emotions had overcome her, and she'd rather die than cry in front of Henry. "I have to go." She ran down the stairs for the blue line. A train was coming but Ian hadn't arrived.

She took out her phone and called him. "Where are you?"

"Waiting for you."

"Where?" She looked around.

"Your orange line."

"Not blue." The train screeched in. "Just meet at Park Street. Outside."

When she walked out into the cold, dusk air Ian wasn't there. Shifting her feet, she waited as a homeless man walked past. She shouldn't judge but drugs made people violent.

Ian appeared. "What happened?"

She frowned. "The jerk wanted to walk with me. It's a long story. I need a drink."

"Good thing we have wine." Ian grasped her hand as they walked home together.

Ainsley's lifestyle had changed since the days she lived with Lilli. Wine was every night and sometimes their dinner. One point in her favor was her maturity. Henry lacked it. He was the age Ainsley was when she and Lilli drank wine and ate frozen pizza.

Once inside, Ian let go of her hand. "I don't care where but I have to feed Felix before he hates me.

Ainsley forced a laugh. "You have the food. I'll change and come up."

She fed her own cat. It was true, one kitty was always being neglected. She wiped a stray tear. Henry didn't know what he was talking about. She had just as much chance of winning as he did.

Ian had two glasses poured and looked sexy in his jeans and bare feet. "Bad day?"

"Urgh. The good news is my boss is pregnant." Ian raised an eyebrow. "It's good news for her. I mean if that's what she wants."

"So?"

"She is going to decide between me and the jerk to see who gets to fill in on her leave. I've work so damn hard for ten years to have an outsider steal my chance. Did I tell you he used connections to get his foot in the door?"

"You have connections."

"But I have never used them."

"My advice is bosses like team players. Just be you and you'll be noticed." She shrugged. All her confidence zapped away. "Food. You need food. What should we eat?"

"Wine."

Ian laughed. "Not for dinner."

"Where's the fun in that?"

He pulled her into him. "I'll distract you later."

True to his word he made her feel better. "Stay tonight." He whispered into her ear. When his breathing grew deep, she laid quietly wondering how she would have handled her problems if she didn't have Ian, if she was still alone. Maybe Lilli or Rhys would talk her down, but she trusted Ian. She snuggled close and let his breathing lull her under.

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