6 - Never is a long time

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As if Lilli didn't have enough to do, she received a call from Mr. Dwyer, who requested she plan a going away reception for Ann. Lilli knew these events were never small or uncomplicated, other authors and agents would be present, each of them with their own agenda. It would serve as the dual purpose of introducing Zach and it would be their first time working together as assistant and agent.

She was straight out and had to repeat to Chelsea she just didn't have time to review her submission. She planned to read it over the weekend. Maybe she'd let Ainsley see it first, so she'd be prepared.

Because their office was so small, Chelsea, Justin and Shania were invited to the cocktail party, even though none had a relationship with Ann. It was frustrating because they were guests while Lilli would be working.

She had finalized the hot and cold appetizers with the restaurant. It was to be held in a private section of the Public House on State Street a few blocks from the office. It felt more rushed than she would like, but Ann was leaving soon.

Lilli had never been happier for the weekend. Ainsley met her at the door with a glass of red. The liberal pour could get a bartender fired. It was at least three times the stingy amount at bars.

Lilli sunk onto the sofa with a hmph. "Where are the boys?"

"At Terry's. They love us, but we're too inclusive."

Lilli waved her hand. "Inclusive. Ah. Maybe we should let them hide in Rhys's room more." The girls insisted the couple stay downstairs like parents of teenagers.

"But they're so cute and fun to hang out with."

"We're bad friends." Lilli gulped her wine as punishment.

Ainsley snickered. "How's Mr. Dreamy?"

Lilli rolled her eyes. "I hardly see him. Ann's been meeting with him to transition, but in his office.

"How about you? Busy planning a party, coordinating her move? Can't she turn off her own damn cable? Who has cable anymore?"

Lilli laughed. "I'm too busy to handle her personal move. Still, I doubt she takes time away from work for TV." At least she wasn't cuddling up to a movie with Zach. "Plus, no one has cable." Lilli giggled. "I can see her unwind by watching Hallmark." Her other best friend's mother used to be addicted, not that Ann was the same age.

Ainsley laughed. "Can you imagine Kendall watching Hallmark?" Lilli didn't want to imagine Kendall at all. "Lill, what's up for the weekend?"

Lilli groaned. Too much. "I'm behind on writing, and I need a dress." She reached into her bag. "Read this and prepare me. It's Chelsea's submission. I have to get her off my back."

Ainsley took the folder and read the query letter. "How long is a synopsis supposed to be?"

"She's overeager. She sent chapters." Lilli once had the same eagerness but quickly wised up. Becoming an agent was a worthy replacement. She sighed and returned to her laptop and her fans.

Ainsley laughed, causing Lilli to look up. "She thinks she's the next Jennifer Probst or E. L. James?" As she kept reading, her eyes moving over each sentence. "Every other word is billionaire and controlling."

"I can't think, and I have to write, but first I need to eat something. You read Chelsea's masterpiece, and I'll write for my happy fans around the world." She felt less pressure writing Office Secrets because she had no fans.

Ainsley cackled. "There might be a master in this, but it's no masterpiece."

Lilli went to their kitchen and opened a can of soup. She couldn't deal with cooking or takeout or delivery. It was dark and cold. Winter lasted forever, but she should have been used to it. She grew up in Maine. Ainsley joined her but popped a Lean Cuisine in the microwave. They really were on their way to becoming old, as in old maids.

An hour later, after some verbal expressions from Ainsley, Lilli couldn't help herself. She needed to know. "Just tell me. Is Chelsea's story any good?"

"Does she edit for Mr. Hot Buns, because she has a lot of words that would be cut at first pass? I think I read about ten stories just like this on Novelpost."

Lilli rolled her eyes at Ainsley's varied use of nicknames for Zach. "I don't know what happens in that office. I'll find out a week from Monday what he expects."

"Well, if it's anything like chapter one, he expects a woman on her knees."

"Did she write about sex in the office?" That was Lilli's story. Lilli had Office Secrets and Zach had a secret he thought Lilli knew.

"Not the office. He's a twenty-one-year-old billionaire, and she's his maid."

Lilli sat up. "Did he inherit after a tragic accident?"

Ainsley laughed. "No, he's very successful in his career."

"For Christ's sake, no one can be that successful. I was still at St. Joe's, being critiqued by professors at twenty-one!"

"I know. We should buy lottery tickets."

"Why do these kids think at twenty-five, life is over?"

Ainsley held up her wineglass. "Because we're sitting at home on Friday night."

Lilli threw a pillow at Ainsley. "We aren't that bad. It's just winter."

"Lill, I was kidding."

Lilli hated going out on wintry nights. Winters were for hibernating and dreaming of warm summer evenings. Chelsea's story was only going to give her more stress. "Seriously, Ains. How trope is it?" Lilli rubbed her eyes. A headache was brewing.

"It's a Hallmark movie with lots of sex."

The cute movies had a formula to love. Lilli laughed. "Are they saving his business?"

"Just his house."

Lilli stood. She needed the wine bottle. "Please tell me there aren't ghosts."

"No mention of the supernatural in the summary. Just secrets."

"Secrets can be good. I'm going to have to read it to give her feedback. If the characters were older, would it be salvageable?"

Ainsley laughed. "Maybe if you rewrote it."

Lilli facepalmed herself.

On Monday morning, Lilli made it to Dunkin in record time. She smiled because for once her morning went smoothly - the sun was out, so the pavement wasn't slushy or frozen, and the train was on time. Even good Mondays were chocolate croissant days.

Lilli was checking her email having already eaten her croissant when Zach breezed in to see Ann. "It's sad. This time next week she'll be gone."

"And this will be your office." Lilli didn't look up from the email she was reading. She was only flustered when she looked at him. "Um, can I talk to you when you're done with her?"

"Sure thing, Lilli." His deep voice beckoned her to look.

She sipped her coffee, trying to be strong and not look, but imagined his alluring smile. She focused on her work and jumped when he said, "What's up?"

She handed him a piece of paper. "This is my feedback on Chelsea's work."

He read aloud. "One. Needs professional editing. Two. Character's age is unrealistic to be a billionaire at twenty-one. Three." Zach coughed.

Lilli had no choice but to look up to make sure he wasn't choking. His cough was triggered in a failed attempt not to laugh.

"Three." He tried to compose himself. "Rushed the physical relationship, for example, oral sex in the first chapter."

Lilli glared at him. "It's not funny. I ruined my Saturday night reading it."

"Sorry Lilli, you were in on Saturday night. I can't say I agree about three. Sometimes, it works." He winked.

Lilli looked down, hoping he didn't see her blush. Was he referring to books or relationships? She wanted to slide under her desk and hide.

"I'm sorry. I was having some fun. Email me this document." He held up the sheet of paper. "I'll take a look at it after I've read some of it."

"It's already in your inbox." Lilli took a deep breath and called to his retreating back. "Have a good day." She needed to practice talking to him.

He turned and smiled with his sparkling eyes. It was a good thing Lilli owned nothing of value, because she didn't have a will and was certain she would drop dead of heart failure within a week of working for Mr. Dreamy Hot Buns.

True to his word, Zach followed up with feedback on Chelsea's novel. He highlighted things Lilli missed, which impressed her. The last thing she needed was to think even more highly of the man. The interesting thing was the timestamp on his email back to Lilli was almost midnight. Lilli didn't want to, but she tried to imagine him working all night on his laptop. Was Olivia next to him in bed? Was Olivia his secret? Maybe he had a daughter. She knew nothing about the object of her lust.

He laughed at her for being home on Saturday night. Lilli admitted it was no comparison, since he worked on Monday night. She could have told him she was exhausted Saturday night from shopping all day for a totally hot dress. She found a sophisticated black dress which was short enough to show lots of leg and hugged her curves without flaunting them. Ainsley, who had been to more cocktail parties than Lilli, convinced her it was perfect. The price tag wasn't perfect, but she could wear it again.

She wasn't sure if she wanted to thank Zach or yell at him. She was out of reasons not to confront Chelsea. Mid morning, she walked into Chelsea's office. "Hey, do you want to sit down with me at lunchtime?"

"Tell me what you thought?"

Lilli froze. She didn't have the feedback sheet with her. Could she stall? It was much easier giving rejections in writing. "I thought we could sit down and go over it."

"It's not your opinion that matters. You're just an assistant."

"Chelsea, Lilli's right," Zach said, startling them both.

Both women turned to Zach standing in his office door. Once again, he leaned against the doorjamb, looking too damn sexy.

"Zach, hi." Chelsea turned sweet. Chelsea's head went side to side, looking from Lilli to Zach and back again as she sputtered. "Huh?"

"Lilli passed it on to me, since I needed to see her editing style. And I've had a look."

Zach stepped into his office and came out with a sheet of paper.

As Chelsea read it, she made sounds which reminded Lilli of when a child didn't get her way. Lilli even saw the young girl stamp her foot.

Zach's voice was soft. "We can discuss any item you would like. Never is a long time, so I won't say you'll never be a writer."

Lilli saw the tears in the young girl's eyes. "You two have it in for me."

Lilli pleaded. "I don't. You have a lot to learn about being a writer and being an assistant. I can give you pointers on being an assistant, but I learned the hard way I'm not a writer."

Not the kind anyone in this office would consider real. Lilli didn't have it in her to have publishers like Kendall rip apart her hard work. Her focus was on becoming a Literary Agent and making other people famous.

She became aware Zach had moved and was standing beside her. Both were facing Chelsea, but she had never been so close to him. If she stretched her pinky, she'd touch his hand. His scent swirled under her nose. Her legs were weak and her pinky ached.

Lilli gently made her excuse. "I have to go back to work. Ann will be wondering where I went. Lunch. See me then if you want to talk."

Her long legs took full strides. She escaped without running away.

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🤣🤣🤣 I didn't plan it but Jack was on his knees it the first chapter of this book.


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