Chapter 24

Friday was a hectic blur of me trying to organise everything I could for next week. My big idea was planned for Monday, and the launch for Bitten at Noah's bookshop was happening on Wednesday, Halloween night, so it would be a week of doing everything possible to get the word out about the special book. The bestseller list came out on Sunday but we'd know on Friday if we'd done enough to get the book on there.

I had an email from Noah's father asking for the publicity plan for the thriller he wanted us to focus on so I had to spend a couple of hours on that. It was most definitely not my best work but I said I would revise it after I'd read the book, so that bought me some more time and I ploughed on with my ideas for Bitten.

Friday afternoon, I called a meeting in the boardroom for all staff and Noah sat down while I stood at the front, which was pretty scary. I'd never been a public speaker but it helped that I was talking about books and one that I loved.

‘I know that not everyone thinks Bitten has the potential to be a bestseller,' I began, glancing at Paul who had his arms folded. I turned to Emily and Gita, who gave me supportive looks and smiles. ‘But I hope you'll get on board with my idea for Monday. I would love us to do it together as a team and make this work. We need to show New York that we can do great things with our books and we have a big chance next week to do that.' I told everyone the plan, trying not to rush.

Then my eyes fell on Noah. He had his hand propped on his chin as he listened to me. Every time I looked at him, it still felt incredible that he was there in front of me again. I was trying to focus on this campaign, on work, and not think about him, but each time our eyes met, it was becoming harder and harder.

I took a breath and continued. ‘Deborah Day is on board and will be outside the office at 9a.m. If you can please turn up a little earlier to grab a t-shirt, books to hand out or a sign, that would be great. And if you know anyone who would want to join in, bring them along. It really is the more the merrier! And thank you again to everyone who has helped us get ready. I am really excited to see what we can do with Bitten and I hope you are too!'

Emily and Gita cheered and a few others joined in and clapped. Paul still looked annoyed but he seemed to be the only one not willing to try this. And I couldn't care less what he thought after he'd told tales to Noah's father like we were back at school. I liked to support colleagues, not stab them in the back.

Noah stood up then and the room quickly fell silent.

‘Thank you, Stevie. I know that the past couple of weeks have been a real transition period. It's been all hands-on deck and we have a huge mountain still to climb, but I've seen some incredible team work this week and that goes a long way. I'm excited to see what we can do with Bitten. Together.' There were a few exchanges of looks at this, frankly, motivating speech for him. I bit back a smile. He was trying to turn around the opinion of him but I think everyone was unsure whether to trust it or not. ‘Okay, see you all on Monday!'

I gathered my things. ‘I'm off to the library with Emily and Gita,' I said to Noah as the room emptied around us. ‘Unless you need anything before I go?'

He shook his head. ‘No, you've got everything covered. I can't believe how much you've managed to organise.' There was that damn dimple again.

‘I really hope it will work,' I said, pulling my coat on. ‘Don't stay too late – it's Friday,' I said as I headed for the door.

‘I could say the same to you.'

‘Well, without a hot date, I might as well work,' I said. I met his gaze. ‘Um, I mean…'

Noah's eyes sent sparks across the room to me. ‘If you ever want to change that and have a hot date, I know someone who's available,' he said with a grin.

Shaking my head, I pulled my bag on my shoulder but my body had very much taken his suggestion on board. I thought about the nights I'd been pressed against him in bed and I realised it had been far too long since I'd had any experience you could describe as ‘hot'.

‘Right then, well, I'll just head off then,' I babbled, tripping a little bit as I fled the scene. I heard Noah laugh under his breath and I smiled because it had been a long time since I'd heard that sound.

‘I feel like I'm back at university when we used to protest about everything,' my mum said excitedly.

The evening had drawn in and we were at my old workplace. Liv had kept the library open for us and we were making placards for what I hoped was going to be a fabulous launch week for Bitten. Outside, night had fallen and there was a crisp October breeze blowing the orange leaves from the trees, scattering them everywhere like confetti. The moon was changing, promising a full one for Halloween next week.

‘I wish I'd had a protest at my uni,' Liv said wistfully.

‘This will make up for it,' I promised her.

‘What did Deborah Day say about all of this?' Emily asked. She and Gita sat opposite us using their artistic skills, their placards putting the rest of ours to shame. Georgina was struggling, as was Liv, and I had to admit it was proving harder than I had first thought. My mum was coming up with the slogans for the placards, and she was a genius at it.

‘Ed emailed me to say she thought I was crazy but, in her words, "Crazy women change history".' I grinned. ‘She said she'll be there.'

Gita shook her head. ‘She really likes you. She'd never have done this if I'd asked her.'

‘Ed told her what Mr Matthews said about her book, and romances in general, so I think it's more about getting one over on him than liking me. But I'll take it.'

‘I still can't believe someone can be so narrow minded about romance books,' Liv said, shaking her head. ‘If he'd said that to my face, I think I would have thrown one at his head.'

I grinned. ‘I did consider it but I need to keep my job. For now. This is a better way to get revenge.'

‘Noah doesn't agree with his father, does he?' Liv asked.

‘I can't see Noah loving romance books,' Gita said.

‘You'd be surprised,' I told her, thinking about his bookshelf in his flat.

‘He's always ordering romance books into the shop,' Georgina said.

Gita and Emily exchanged surprised looks. ‘Well, maybe the boss has hidden depths then,' Emily said.

‘But he didn't stop Mr Matthews cutting your budget,' Gita added.

‘No. I think Mr Matthews is used to getting his own way so Noah didn't say much in the meeting. But he's on board with what we're doing and wants to help. He thinks this book can be more successful than his father does. Let's hope this does well otherwise Mr Matthews will think he's right and will probably replace us all with people from New York.' I saw their faces. ‘But no pressure.'

Emily tutted. ‘Yeah, right. I wish I could tell Mr Matthews to stuff his job.'

‘Is he like Noah?' my mum asked curiously.

‘No,' I said at the same time Emily and Gita said ‘Yes'.

‘Noah didn't back you up in that meeting, did he?' Emily challenged me.

‘No,' I agreed. ‘And I told him off about that. But things are more complicated than you know.' I wasn't sure it was my place to tell them about Noah's mother but then Georgina saved me.

‘Noah and his dad lost Noah's mum recently. They took it really hard,' she said.

My mum looked at me. ‘Is that why…?' She trailed off, but I knew what she meant.

I nodded. ‘She was sick when he left for New York,' I said.

‘Oh,' Mum replied. She had been furious like my dad had been that Noah had left me broken-hearted. They had both really liked him and thought we were a great match. My mum, in particular, had been confused as to why he had suddenly changed his mind about me, about us. She had told me she had been sure he loved me; she had seen it in his eyes. I told her she was mistaken like I was. Now though, I knew she had seen the truth.

‘I'm so sorry for Noah; he must have been heartbroken,' Mum continued. Then she lowered her voice so only I could hear. ‘Now it makes sense why he left like he did. I wish he had told you.'

I nodded. ‘He has said sorry for that, but it's hard to forget how much he hurt me.' Noah's mother's illness and passing had changed my view of our past. I knew now Noah hadn't left me because he hadn't loved me. And that meant more than I think he knew.

‘Well, of course, but it sounds like he realises he was wrong,' Mum said gently. She spoke louder then. ‘Noah must have been through a lot.'

Liv nodded. ‘I can't even imagine. I bet he really wants to make his father proud of him; that's why he's been so tough since he took over as your boss,' she said to me, Emily and Gita. ‘Maybe he isn't like his father really.'

‘He feels guilty too because he was here when his mum got ill,' I said. ‘His father encouraged that guilt.'

‘He really is terrible,' Gita said. ‘My opinion of Noah is improving. I can't believe it.'

‘Me neither,' Emily said. ‘Maybe he isn't the worst boss in the world after all.'

‘Or ex-boyfriend?' Georgina asked.

All eyes turned to me. I felt myself flush and my palms turned sweaty. I thought about Noah talking about a hot date earlier and how panicked that made me feel. But also how I hadn't been able to stop thinking about it.

‘You are never supposed to get back with an ex,' I said, more to remind myself than them.

‘There are no rules when it comes to love,' my mum said. ‘I met your father two years before we became a couple. I thought he was the last man I'd ever marry.' She smiled. ‘He changed my mind.'

‘Oh.' Liv clutched at her heart. She was more of a hopeless romantic than even me. ‘That's gorgeous. And what about me and Aiden. I hated him for years! Look at us now…'

I rolled my eyes. ‘Yes, you all have your happy ever afters, thanks for rubbing it in. Can we talk about something other than my ex-boyfriend, please?'

Emily nudged my foot with hers under the table but before I could ask her what she was doing, she and Gita stared in shock at something behind me.

Or someone, I realised, when they spoke.

‘Should I come back later?'