What the Lightning Sees: Part One
Read What the Lightning Sees: Part One Online
Authors: Louise Bay
Tags: #What the Lightning Sees Part One
Published by Louise Bay 2015
Copyright © 2015 Louise Bay. All rights reserved
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owners.
ISBN - 978-1-910747-05-6
Haven
I loved my city but I didn’t love the traffic. I was
never
late. And with a promotion to Deputy Editor of Rallegra, the UK’s premier glossy weekly woman’s magazine, on the horizon I needed to be on time to the Monday morning staff meeting. I was currently Features Editor but I’d been working hard to position myself for the next step. Just thinking about the possibility made my heart skip.
My eyes kept flicking to the clock as I stripped off my coat, checked my make-up in my compact and smoothed down my hair. I scanned the tops of the cubicles. No one seemed to be making their way to the conference room yet, thank goodness.
I picked up my pad, pen and drink, and took a deep breath, releasing the muscles clenched in my stomach.
I filled my lungs again as I opened the door. I was always first to this meeting and it meant that I always got to sit in the same place, but today someone unfamiliar had beaten me to it. Equally unsettling was my boss Robert, sitting at the head of the table. He was normally ten minutes late to everything.
“Oh sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you,” I said as they turned toward me.
“No, come in. We were just catching up before the meeting. This is my good friend Harry who is going to join us. Harry, this is Haven, Features Editor. Prompt, as usual.”
The stranger in my seat uncrossed his legs, stood up and held out his hand. “Very nice to meet you, Haven.”
He was smooth and confident and the way his eyes locked on mine and crinkled at the corners made me think he assumed that everyone he introduced himself to was delighted to meet him. He was way too pleased with himself. But most of Robert’s so-called “friends” were way too pleased with themselves. Robert came from money and was one of those people who had been to school with the whole world. Or at least he knew the brother or dated the sister of every person that was worth knowing.
His family owned some huge estate in Scotland and I imagined he didn’t have to have a real job, but unlike most of his friends that he’d introduced me to, he worked hard and was good at what he did. He was everything I wasn’t: from a good family, well connected and wealthy. I wanted to resent him for it but he was so bloody charming I just couldn’t. I was sure he’d had a little help from Daddy’s cronies along the way, but I couldn’t deny he was a talented editor and a great boss. No doubt Harry was one of those friends who dabbled in various “projects” which was code for spending time holidaying and partying.
I shook Harry’s hand and managed a tight smile. “And you.”
I set my things down on the table opposite Harry as the rest of the office began to file through the door. All eyes were on our interloper.
Robert continued to chat with Harry as everyone settled down. I kept my head down, focusing on the to-do list in front of me but I was concentrating on Robert and Harry’s conversation. I was trying to work out who he was and what he was doing in this meeting, but they just seemed to be discussing mutual friends. No doubt they’d be comparing the size of their trust funds later. Did he have an accent? There was a trace of something mid-Atlantic in the way he spoke.
“Good morning,” Robert said. “I hope everyone had enjoyable weekends, your hang-overs have passed and everyone is ready for a busy week. We’ll go around the table in a minute, but I have a couple of pieces of good news that I want to share with you. First, Harry is going to take over for Brad and handle our photography until we find a replacement. He’s very talented and a great friend of mine, so I’m sure you’ll make him very welcome.”
A small wave of tittering came from the other end of the table and Robert turned to Jenny. “But not too welcome.”
“Don’t worry,” Marie said. “We’ll help settle him in.” The laughter started again. The guy was being picked over like fresh meat.
I rolled my eyes and locked gazes with Harry. Shit, no one was supposed to have seen that.
My cheeks burned. Harry cocked his head at me and I smoothed my hair, checking it was still tightly captured in its bun. I refocused on my to-do list.
“And that leads me to my second piece of good news, which is that we got the Sandy Fox interview and it’s going to be big.”
People started clapping and my heart began thumping in my chest. I didn’t do celebrity, but I wanted this and Robert knew it. It would be really high profile and whoever pulled it off would be well placed for any promotion. Robert hadn’t told me we had managed to secure it, so perhaps he’d given it to Emily. She was our celebrity editor and Sandy Fox was as A-list as it got. I couldn’t look at Emily for a clue, I couldn’t bear to see her face if she knew she had it. She had made it clear after I joined Rallegra that we’d never be anything but competitors, and she had been true to her word. I caught myself chewing the inside of my cheek and reached for my Diet Coke as a distraction.
“It’s going to be a huge feature. We have access to her on set for the new movie she’s in. It’s going to be shooting mainly at Pinewood Studios. She’s keen we see the real her. She’s also agreed that Harry goes along and takes some candids.”
What? It’s Harry’s first fucking day and already he’s on the story of the year? What kind of celebrity agrees to candids? Her representation must suck.
“The feature will run across a number of issues, so it’s going to take a lot of work.”
I want it, I want it, I want it.
The interview, if I managed to pull it off, would land me the promotion. My brother would be so proud and I hoped I would finally feel safe and established.
“We still have some wrinkles to iron out, but we hope the first session will happen this week while she’s still in rehearsals. Right, let’s go round the table. Haven, what do you have on?”
“The piece on our Top Ten Speakeasies had turned out well and then today we’re finishing up the first in our Summer Detox plan. I’m working up a proposal for a feature on dating that will run across a number of issues.” I heard a number of people groan when I mentioned my plan. Robert didn’t look impressed. Articles on how to meet your match weren’t uncommon. “I’ve been looking at a number of agencies where your net worth has to be over a certain amount. Basically Match for Millionaires. I think it could be good.”
“Okay. Well, I’ll take a look at your proposal when it’s done,” Robert said. It had potential but I’d have to convince him.
The rest of the meeting seemed to pass in a blur. All I could focus on was what I was going to say to Robert to convince him to give me the Sandy Fox feature.
Finally, things wrapped up and I got up and gathered my notebook.
“Haven, can you stick around? I’d like a quick word,” Robert said.
Shit, this was where he was going to tell me that he’d given the Fox piece to Emily. I always tried to prepare for bad news
.
I forced a tight smile and sat back down as everyone else filed out. Harry stayed seated too, and I watched him as he leaned back, put his hands behind his head and observed people leaving. As if he knew I was watching, he turned his head toward me and looked me in the eye.
His eyebrows lifted and his eyes widened like he was asking me if I was done looking at him. I got the feeling he was used to being looked at. I could imagine if I was one of
those
girls, I might be distracted by that strong jaw and those sparkling eyes. The difference was, I wasn’t ogling him as I imagined most people would be. I wasn’t interested in his long fingers that periodically swept through his dirty-blond hair or the way his shirt seemed to skim over his tight body. I simply wanted to figure him out.
I took a deep breath and refocused as the door closed. I resisted every instinct that told me I should make a last minute plea to Robert for this feature. I wasn’t sure I would have been able to stop myself if Harry hadn’t been there, I couldn’t imagine Harry had ever been desperate for anything in his life. In that moment my pride overruled my ambition.
“Haven, I want you to work on the Fox piece with Harry.”
Shit. The. Bed.
I had not been expecting that. I wanted to jump up and hug Robert, but I restrained myself and checked my hair for stray strands, smoothing it into my bun.
I nodded. “That’s great. Thank you. I hope Emily’s not too disappointed.” I meant it. Although Emily and I were competitors, I didn’t wish her ill.
“She understands and she’s completely supportive. I think you’ll be the best . . . shall we say, fit, with Sandy.”
What did that mean?
Robert was looking at Harry, avoiding my unspoken question.
I glanced at Harry but he was focused on Robert, nodding.
“Yes, these celebrity interviews are so much about the chemistry between the interviewer and interviewee, and from what we know of Sandy, we think you’re more likely to get on with her. You know she’s got quite the reputation,” Robert said.
I nodded and the muscles in my stomach clenched. There was a lot riding on this.
“I understand. I’ve seen some of the research, but I’ll immerse myself in it today. Do you need help making the final arrangements? Shall I speak to legal?” I offered.
“No, I’m almost there with everything. I need to ensure you’re free Thursday and Friday anytime of the day or night so if we get the green light, you can get your ass over there.”
Of course, I’d drop everything.