Chapter 30

‘Oh my God,' Emily said, erupting into giggles again at the scene she was watching on the TV. ‘You actually said you were protesting the lack of respect given to romance books.'

We were all crowded in the boardroom with replays of the lunchtime news rolling on the large TV hanging on the wall. Someone had brought in wine and beer and there was a celebratory mood in the air even though we didn't yet know what this morning's event would do for Bitten. But the publicity we had got was priceless.

I took a bow. ‘I mean, too right. Romance books should be respected! And look at how many people agreed.' I gestured to the crowd behind me and Noah on the TV as the BBC reporter interviewed us. The shares on social media had gone crazy. We had a few trolls coming out saying romance books were crap and a few mocking articles from the press diminishing something that was beloved by so many, but mostly everyone had jumped on board and were sharing their love for love stories.

On screen, I was telling the reporter that part of the reason romance was overlooked was because it was written and read mainly by women and when male books came out with a strong romance theme, they were generally called ‘fiction', not ‘romance'. Beside me, Noah was shaking his head and then told the reporter that he was a proud romance fan and always would be.

‘I just got a message calling me a traitor to manhood,' Noah said, looking up from his phone. ‘So, that's fun.'

‘Have another drink.' One of the sales team pushed a paper cup into his hands. There had been an unofficial let's stop working mandate since the BBC news aired but Noah hadn't said anything. He was smiling more than he had for the past month.

‘I remember being embarrassed taking romance books out of my local library,' Deborah said, suddenly by my elbow. ‘And when I started writing, I told friends and family I was writing ‘women's fiction' because I didn't want them to assume I was writing smut. But you know what? I love writing smut,' she said, a twinkle in her eye. I chuckled. ‘I don't know what this will do for my book but I'm glad to have you on my team, Stevie,' she added.

I tried not to gape at her. ‘The best team.' I held out my paper cup and, shaking her head at me, she tapped it with hers.

Ed joined us then. ‘You actually pulled today off. I'm impressed, Stevie.'

‘Thank you.'

‘The proof will be in the pudding though,' he said.

‘I know,' I agreed. This was all amazing but we couldn't know for sure if it was enough to make Bitten into a bestseller. I felt excited though. Possibility hung in the air. ‘I really hope people will pick it up; I know they will fall in love with it if they do – just like I did.'

My phone rang and Deborah and Ed gestured for me to take it.

I stepped away and answered my mum's call. ‘Did you see it?'

‘Yes! I came home for lunch and me and your father both watched it. My little girl on the actual news! And campaigning for romance books. You've made your mum very proud.'

I smiled. ‘Well, you gave me the love of romance books so this is for you too.'

‘Everyone I know is messaging me about it. And everyone is ordering Bitten. My book club are going to do it next month. And your aunt Pat has ordered copies for everyone at her bridge club.'

I chuckled. ‘Well, thank everyone for their support. I'll be sure to tell Deborah.'

‘You will?'

‘No, Mum, she already thinks I'm slightly mad; I don't think she can take my family as well. I better go but I'll see you for dinner on Friday?'

‘Keep us updated with how the book's doing!'

I promised I would and Mum hung up. It was followed by a message from Liv inviting me round tonight to watch the news segment again with her and Aiden.

Before I could reply, Gita and Emily drew me back into the group and we looked at the company's social media accounts, which were growing by hundreds of followers each hour as our romance ‘protest' started to go viral. The Bitten hashtag was trending too.

Then Paul came over. ‘Stevie, I am sorry for talking to Mr Matthews behind your back,' he said stiffly. ‘It was uncalled for.'

I nodded. ‘It's okay.'

He gestured to the TV. ‘It's not the book I would have chosen for us to focus on, you know that, but you followed your gut. I have to respect that. I don't know if it will work but this is great publicity.'

‘Thanks, Paul,' I replied. He gave me a formal nod then walked away. I watched him go, really hoping that this was going to work.

‘What are you talking about?' Noah said angrily from behind me.

Turning around, I saw him storm out of the boardroom and head towards his office. He was on the phone to someone. My stomach sunk and I quickly followed him out.

‘Yes, I know you did,' Noah said with an exasperated sigh as I watched him pace around his office from the doorway. ‘But we didn't spend any more money. We saw an opportunity to create a social media campaign and—' Noah was forced to stop. I could hear how loud his father was speaking from where I stood. Anger rose up inside me. It was like he didn't want this book to be successful. ‘How can you say it's embarrassing?' Noah turned then and saw me. He shook his head. ‘I have to go, Dad, we'll talk later.'

‘Mr Matthews is pissed?' I asked when Noah had put the phone down, walking into his office and closing the door behind me.

‘You could say that,' he replied. ‘He's just annoyed that we didn't do what he said and switch our focus to the thriller. I told him this is launch week, we might as well go for it, but he disagreed. Said us talking about how great romance books are isn't good for the company as we should be moving to more of a thriller and upmarket fiction market, not such commercial titles. He thinks that's where the trends are right now.'

‘Or he just hates anything to do with love after losing your mum,' I said. I quickly moved forward and touched Noah's arm. ‘I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be flippant about that.'

‘It's okay,' Noah said. ‘You might be right about there being a personal angle to him not wanting to focus on romance books. But I know that business wise, he's under a lot of pressure. He needs this company to show improvement within six months for the Board. It was a real gamble taking over Turn the Pages. But listen, don't let what he said take away from what we did today. This was a great idea.'

I shook my head. ‘I just looked at Amazon. There's been a small shift but nothing crazy,' I said. I bit my lip. ‘What if it doesn't do anything for Bitten?'

Noah took my hand in his. ‘The official release day isn't until Thursday and we have the launch night on Wednesday. It's nowhere near over. We can still do it.'

‘Will your father let us though?' I looked down at our hands. ‘Thank you for joining in and calling the press, even though it has made things difficult with your dad.'

‘What can he do?' Noah smiled and I gave him a weak one back because I was worried now. It felt like we'd poked the bear and I didn't think any bears would let you get away with that.

That evening, I curled up on the sofa in Aiden's flat.

‘Dare I ask how things are with Noah?' Liv asked while Aiden made us drinks in the kitchen. The TV was on to replay the news segment and I had my phone in my lap, obsessively checking the charts on all the book retailers, hoping to see Bitten shoot up. It was yet to happen and I was starting to worry that Noah's father might be right after all.

‘I'm not sure,' I admitted. ‘He really helped with Bitten but his father is pissed off about it. I just hate that Noah thinks his father is right and that he's somehow to blame for what happened with his mother. I worry his father might tell him he has to go back to New York. And he'll leave me again.'

‘But he regretted that so much,' Liv said, handing me a bowl of popcorn. ‘He wouldn't do that again. Not after everything he told you in those emails.'

I'd told Liv all about them and I had read her a few lines from my favourite ones. She, like me, had swooned at Noah's words. But words were just words.

‘I don't know if I can risk it.' I saw Liv's face. ‘Don't give me that sad look! I wanted to focus on my career, right? Noah was a complete surprise. And it's not like I don't know what being without him feels like.'

‘But you wish you could be with him?'

I shrugged helplessly.

Liv patted my knee. ‘Don't stress. If it's meant to be, it will be. You found each other after five years. That has to mean something. And he totally got behind your love romance campaign. Even though his father hates it. He's on your team. And I think Bitten is going to be huge. It takes time to get the word out, that's all. Then his father will have to eat his words.'

‘Here we go.' Aiden carried in drinks for us all. ‘Can we watch Stevie on the TV now? I'll be honest, I thought if you were ever going to be on the news it would be because you're getting arrested for something.'

I rolled my eyes, knowing Aiden's favourite pastime was teasing Liv, and me by extension.

‘For your murder?' I asked cheerfully, taking my wine from him. ‘There's still time.'

Aiden grinned. ‘I'll wear a bulletproof vest just in case.'

He played the news segment and the three of us lapsed into silence to listen. The report introduced the romance ‘protest' outside our office and then interviewed Noah and me about what we were doing. After we spoke about our love for romance, the camera cut to the last shot of the segment, showing the cover of Bitten in all its glory.

‘Okay, I have to admit,' Aiden said once our interview had finished, ‘you won even me over about romance books.'

Liv nudged him. ‘I've seen you cry at The Notebook, don't forget.' She beamed at me. ‘You were amazing, Stevie. And Noah was very swoon-worthy telling the world how much he loves love stories. I bet his favourite trope is second-chance romance.'

I saw her suggestive smile. ‘Subtle!' I tutted, but I couldn't help smile back because I wondered if he had thought of me when he read a book that used that trope. I knew I had thought of him when I had. ‘I really don't know,' I said, then shook my head. ‘But thank you both. I do think it went well and everyone has got behind it. We just need it to turn it into book sales now otherwise Mr Matthews is going to flip.' I leant back against Aiden's sofa with a sigh. Bitten officially came out on Thursday and then it would be in the shops. Until then, we needed all the pre-orders online that we could get. ‘Dan just tagged me on TikTok,' I told Liv, showing her my phone. ‘Your brother is the best.'

Dan had created a video montage of the romance protest with clips of my interview.

‘He is,' she agreed. ‘We all love a grand gesture around here.'

She looked fondly at Aiden and I tried to ignore the gut punch to my stomach. I really wanted someone to look at me like that.

My phone buzzed and I saw there was a message from Noah. My stomach flipped.

I have to speak to the Board on Zoom tomorrow so go to the bookshop without me in the morning. And I'll meet you there as soon as I can.

Disappointment flowed through me at the business-like message.

‘A message from Noah?' Liv asked, eagerly trying to see.

I showed Liv the message. ‘So romantic,' I said sarcastically.

‘Maybe grumpy is his default setting when he's stressed,' she suggested. ‘It doesn't mean he's not buzzed about today or seeing you tomorrow.'

I took a gulp of wine. ‘Aiden, why are men so hard to work out?'

‘Stevie, he's a fool if he thinks he can do any better than you,' Aiden replied.

‘Aww,' Liv said, smiling over at him like he'd just melted her heart.

‘God, Aiden,' I tutted. ‘Now I feel bad about wanting to murder you.'

‘I forgive you,' Aiden said with a grin.

I went to reply to Noah but decided against it. That was very much a message from my boss. So, I'd be a good employee and do what he asked. And not obsess about the fact that my ex hadn't added any kisses to the message.