No Kissing Allowed (No Kissing Allowed #1)(59)

I shrugged. “Same. Gayle brought in some new furniture company. Everyone’s excited. Alexa quit.”

“Quit?”

“Yeah, apparently the guys in creative were being mean to her.”

Aidan smiled and settled further in his bed. “They always liked you.”

I laughed. “Oh, I think this has more to do with loyalty to you. Your replacement starts tomorrow. Ellen Price. They say she’s cutthroat.”

The call grew silent for a moment, the sounds of New York calling from outside, reminding me that I loved this city. I loved the constant feel that I was never alone. It was never quiet. The city was awake no matter what. But the comfort I’d always felt here didn’t warm me like it should, and it occurred to me that everyone who mattered to me, beyond Lauren and Grace, was a plane ride away. Miles and miles and miles away. All for what? A job? A title? Suddenly those things no longer seemed like enough. Like Julia Roberts in the movie, I wanted it all. I wanted the fairy tale.

It took me a moment to realize I’d zoned out, that Aidan was talking, then I heard him say Ellen’s name and noticed his tone had changed. “Sorry, what did you say?”

“Let me know how things go tomorrow with Ellen. Let me know if you have any problems.”

“Why would I have problems?”

“Just…let me know.”

I nodded. Great. If Aidan was worried, she must know our story.

Sighing, I tucked myself into my covers and closed my eyes. “I miss you.”

He cleared his throat, and I opened my eyes, curious what emotion I would find, some hint at what he was truly thinking, but he just looked…sad. “Every day,” he said, repeating what he’d said at the airport. “Cameron, I…” My eyebrows lifted, my heart speeding up as I waited for him to finish the phrase I longed to hear. The words I longed to say. But then he released a breath and said, “Sleep well.”

I bit down on my bottom lip to keep it steady. “You, too.”





Chapter Thirty-Two


I hadn’t even set my bag down at my desk before a voice from behind me said, “Cameron, right?”

I spun around to a sharply dressed woman just outside my cube, her red hair pulled back into a tight bun, her expression unreadable. “Yes. Cameron Lawson. I’m an account manager.”

The woman studied me, as though she expected someone else. Was she a client? Was she lost? Then she held out her hand. “I’m Ellen Price. I would love to speak with you for a moment if your schedule is open.”

I straightened, remembering Aidan’s warning from the night before. Ellen Price might think she knew my story, but I earned my place here, and I was damn good at my job. My relationship with Aidan didn’t change that fact.

She closed the door behind her and sat down at her desk. “Cameron, I wanted to speak to you about Aidan.”

Before she could say another word, I started in, anger building in my chest. “Ms. Price, I have no doubt that you have an opinion, and I understand your hesitation, but I assure you, I am a dedicated employee. I will work hard. My relationship with Aidan doesn’t impact my job. It never has.”

Ellen smiled. “I can see why he’s attached to you.”

I froze. “I’m sorry, what?”

She leaned forward, her hands threaded on the desk in front of her—Aidan’s desk. The thought made my heart tighten. One more week, seven little days. I could do this. “Aidan and I went to Columbia together. He recommended me for this position. He and my husband are old friends. We’re happy that he’s found you.”

“Oh.” Wow. This was not at all the conversation I expected. “Um, thank you. I’m sorry.”

Ellen laughed. “No, I appreciate your drive. Don’t worry, your relationship doesn’t impact your role here. It doesn’t define you.”

I smiled at her, relief pouring over me.

We left her office for the morning meeting, and I forced myself to keep my head high, my face indifferent as Ellen called Aidan into a conference call for the meeting. One of our new clients was a large international food chain, which would require a unified campaign.

“Good morning,” he said, the sound of his voice causing goose bumps to spread over my skin, my heart to become heavy. Even now, after all these months together, I was still captivated by his control in a meeting. No one oozed confidence and control like Aidan. He launched into the London office’s role in the campaign, and then the call was over as quickly as it had begun. I fought the urge to ask him to stay on the line, to talk to us just a little longer. The room felt so empty without him there.

“Okay,” Ellen said once Aidan was off the line. “Cameron, you’ll be assisting Gayle and me with this campaign.”

“Absolutely,” I said, hoping my voice sounded more even than I felt. The last major campaign I’d worked on had been with Aidan. My mind drifted back to those first few weeks. We did make a great team.

The meeting ended shortly after, and Ellen patted my back. “It gets easier.”

I glanced up. “What does?”

“The distance. My husband’s a marine, so I know firsthand how lonely it can get. Let me know if you need anything.” And then she disappeared out of the conference room, back to her office.

My phone buzzed with a new text just as I returned to my desk.