Dear Heart, You Screwed Me(8)

“It’s so nice to finally meet you!” her French accent thick as she wrapped her arms around me.

I felt awkward. I wasn’t really a hugger.

“You too,” I smiled as I pulled from her embrace and sat down at the small table. She joined me but not before getting one of the waitress’ attention and spinning her finger over the table.

“Coffee, okay?” she asked.

I nodded. I didn’t want to tell her I preferred tea, I thought it would come across rude.

“Perfect.”

We sat silently for a moment until the coffees were in front of us.

“So firstly, welcome to the big apple! I have lived here for about five years, originally from Paris, hence the accent. We have an office over there, but I got offered a promotion and I couldn’t turn down the money,” I saw a small smile play on her lips. Her honey eyes glistened, her black ringlet hair sat neatly at her jaw and her cheek bones were chiselled and a prominent feature on her flawless face.

“Have you ever been to Paris?” she asked as she bought her cup to her lips and took a mouthful of her coffee.

I shook my head, wrapping my own fingers around my cup and mirroring her move. Wetting my lips as I placed the cup back on the table. Wow, it was bitter.

“Never left England until now.” I admit shyly.

I saw her eyes widen, “You’ll have to come to Paris with me someday, it truly is beautiful.” She chimed. “I’m not very well travelled either… My mother is from Paris, my father Jamaica. They split when I was younger, I used to go to Jamaica every school holiday,” she shrugs, “but now it’s once a year if I am lucky…” her smile slipped for a moment, her eyes falling to her cup as her fingertips drummed against the china cup.

“Have you been there this year?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking.

“Not yet, I am hoping to get over there before Christmas.”

“I bet you can’t wait.” I smiled at her now.

“I can’t.”

Silence fell over us for a moment. She took another mouthful of her coffee before reaching down into her bag and pulling out a pile of paperwork.

“Okay, now to the boring bit… updated contracts.” She smirked, “And I just want to say, I have got to say that Lordes Public Relations have had their eye on you for a while. We are all really excited to have you join the team.”

“I am excited to be here.”

It was the truth, but I was also terrified.

After the longest coffee date in the world, everything was signed and finalised. I was to meet her here on Monday and then she will take me to the offices to meet my team.

I felt out of depth, but I knew I could do this.

I had worked hard to get here, and I wasn’t going to give up now. Was I ready to work with brats and people who don’t like listening to you? Not really.

But I had to start somewhere.

Not all clients were bad, just the selected few so it wasn’t very fair of me to tar them all with the same brush.





I was back in the hotel room and after a cool shower to wash the sweaty city off me, I flopped down onto my bed. I could really do without going out tonight, but I felt rude on Connie. She had been kind enough to invite me out so I couldn’t turn her down.

I had no clue what to wear, I didn’t even know where we were going.

All I wanted to do was call Elijah. I missed him so much.

Reaching across for my phone I unlocked it and called his number, the pain in my heart never eases when I do this. And for a moment, I think he is going to answer. I debate cancelling the call because the pain is unbearable. But then I hear his voice.



Hey, it’s Elijah. You missed me, leave a message and I’ll call you back!



My eyes well as my throat tightened. Cutting the phone off I dropped it into the duvet as I felt the familiar sting behind my eyes.

Don’t cry.

Palming my eyes before the tears could escape, I sat up on the edge of the bed and closed my eyes to try and calm my breathing.

Deep breaths Reese. Deep breaths.

I didn’t lay moping for long, I had to get up and get dressed. I needed to be ready for six-thirty when Connie finished her shift. I felt like I could literally climb into bed and sleep until tomorrow morning. That’s how exhausted I was feeling. I didn’t even go down to the restaurant for dinner, I ordered junk food from room service and ate the entire thing within minutes. I binged a few episodes of Friends before pulling myself from the bed to shower. Padding towards my wardrobe, I scanned the clothes hanging up. Did I go smart casual with a pair of skinny jeans and a nice top? Or did I wear a dress and heels and go overboard? I much preferred wearing jeans and boots, or jeans and trainers. I have always been more of a tomboy, but I did own two dresses. I felt myself getting worked up over the night and it hadn’t even started yet. I couldn’t even remember the last time I went out; I was a bit of a hermit and a loner and much preferred staying home and curling up with a film or one of my smutty romance novels. But I have been so much worse since Elijah died.

I like my own company and I am okay with that.

Stepping back from the wardrobe, I looked from left to right, from right to left. Closing my eyes for a moment, I held my hand out, curled my fingers and pointed my index finger straight. Moving it side to side, I counted to five and stopped. My eyes pinged open and I saw it had landed on a black mini dress.