Chapter 14

Over the next couple of days, I didn't see much of Noah. I threw myself into work. I sent out hundreds of press releases about Bitten and contacted every social media influencer that reviewed books to see if they wanted a reading copy. I also asked Deborah to film a few videos for social media for the lead up to the release. And Emily designed some new graphics for the book.

So, it was full steam ahead trying to build a bigger buzz for Bitten than the team had so far, but I didn't want to admit to myself how many times Noah's words by the river echoed through my mind.

Especially alone in bed at night.

Do you know how hard it is for me to keep things professional with you?

That sentence haunted me. I was confused why he'd said it when he was the one who had decided we were over. I didn't know how I'd feel seeing him again so it was a relief that he rarely came into the office and when he did, he just walked straight through into his space and closed the door.

But then an email came through from him telling everyone who was working on Deborah Day's book to come in for a team meeting in the boardroom. I immediately felt nervous about facing him. I had no idea how he would act around me. I'd put an end to us discussing our past and whatever else Noah had wanted to say. Was he relieved I'd walked away? Disappointed? Angry?

So, that Thursday morning, I walked into the boardroom apprehensively.

‘Okay, thanks for coming in, everyone,' Noah said when we sat down. It was a chilly day and he had on a brown jumper that matched his glasses over his work trousers. The look was the most casual I'd seen him in save for our weekend meeting in the park. His gaze went straight to me and his brown eyes looked even deeper than usual, and when he smiled at me, I got the full dimple treatment. Not angry then. He looked pleased to see me. I willed my body not to react but the more he reminded me of the Noah I had loved, the harder that was proving to be.

In the boardroom were me and Noah, Emily and Gita, along with Paul, who headed up sales, and Aaliyah.

‘I have been talking to the team in New York the past couple of days and have found us more budget to work on the campaign for Deborah Day's book. We met with the author and she is on board with our new publicity plan, albeit sceptical about whether we can deliver better sales for her. I think this book has really big potential for us and we only have three weeks to get it on the bestseller list.'

A few looks were exchanged around the table.

Paul coughed. ‘Do you really think that's possible based on her previous sales? And the short time we have to increase advertising and promotion? Not to mention the fact retailers will have made buying decisions a long time ago. It won't be in enough shops to be that visible.'

‘I think Ms Day has slipped under the radar here. She was once this company's biggest author but after relying for too long on her backlist and fan base, you have lost the potential for new readers and bigger sales,' Noah said. ‘There is no reason Bitten shouldn't be a must-buy for romance readers. I want us to try. As I said before to you all, New York are watching. We have six months to make some increases in profits. My father is talking about bringing some of the team here and I want to make sure that's to add to our numbers, not replace.' There were nervous looks around the table. Noah put his hands up. ‘That's not a threat. I just want you all to be clear on the situation here. And what we need to do. If Bitten unexpectedly sells more copies than you planned then that helps us get where we need to be, right?'

‘There are so many better titles we could be pushing though,' Paul said, shaking his head.

‘Because this is a romance?' I cut in. ‘You don't think it's worth getting behind?' I looked over at him, annoyed again at his dismissive tone when it came to talking about this book.

‘I'm just giving my opinion,' he said, leaning back in his chair.

‘It does seem like a tall order,' Emily said, shooting me an apologetic look. ‘No matter the book, three weeks is a very short time to promote it.'

‘Well then, we will all have to work extra hard on it, won't we?' Noah raised an eyebrow. ‘I'll email you what I need you to do. Stevie, stay behind please. I have an idea I want to run past you. That's all.'

I saw Paul roll his eyes at Emily as they got up. Gita smiled at me but she looked worried as she followed them out. I sighed as the room emptied and the door closed behind them.

‘I think they hate me for wanting to push this book,' I said.

‘Do you really care what they think?'

‘I care a bit,' I said. ‘I want to get on with my colleagues. We're supposed to be a team. But now they resent me for changing their plans.'

‘So, you just have to prove to them you were right.' Noah looked across the table at me, a challenge in his eyes.

‘Be more shark?' I asked, trying not to laugh.

‘I can be a bit too tough as a boss. I suppose when I started in New York, I didn't want people to think I was there as a favour from my father, that I was going to take it easy and rest on my laurels, you know? I wanted to show them I meant business.' He shrugged. ‘I get why they call me that. I wanted to prove myself, and I did. And it got people's backs up. But I got results, Stevie, and my father demanded a lot from me. I had to prove that he'd made the right choice in hiring me. And I have to do that here too.'

‘That's a lot of pressure to put on yourself.'

‘And you're not putting pressure on yourself? You're not thinking this is your first campaign and the author wants it to be a bestseller so you're worried about what happens if it doesn't sell enough?'

I sighed. How did he know what I was thinking?

‘If it doesn't, they're all going to say they told me so.'

‘We've always learnt a lot from each other,' Noah said, his tone softening as I admitted my fear. ‘Maybe I could be more empathetic sometimes but maybe you could care less what people think.'

There it was again. A reminder of our past. Noah was killing me.

‘But you care a lot about what your father thinks?' I asked, wanting to know more about their seemingly complicated relationship.

‘He expects the best,' Noah said simply.

‘He made you CEO here though. He must have done that because you are the best.'

‘I like the way you see the good in people, Stevie. Maybe he did it so he could watch me fail.'

‘Bloody hell, Noah.' I was shocked that he thought his father capable of that, but another question was burning inside of me. ‘If your father is really that hard on you, why did you go to work for him in New York in the first place? Why join the family business?' I knew it was close to asking him why he left me but I was confused. His father didn't sound like the kind of guy you'd want to work for, so why was Noah still trying to prove himself to him?

Noah looked down at his watch. ‘As much as I love discussing my father,' he said, his New York lilt heavy as his sentence dripped with sarcasm, ‘we need to head off now or we'll be late.'

‘For what?'

‘My publicity idea for Bitten. Come on, I think you'll love this.' He jumped up and I had no choice but to gather my things and follow him out, no closer to understanding why he'd run off to New York five years ago. But maybe it was better not to know. It wouldn't change the outcome, would it?

I went to my desk and grabbed my coat and bag. Eyes watched curiously as Noah pulled his coat on and we walked out together. I knew everyone still pitied me for having to work so closely with him, even though they seemed to be warming to him gradually: I'd noticed fewer people rolling their eyes after leaving his office.

I wondered what the hell they would think if they knew he was my ex-boyfriend.