Chapter 5

People broke out into conversations then, everyone talking over one another in shock. So, I had to put up with Noah and then I might lose my job in six months anyway! Bloody fantastic. And talk about pressure for us all! It did explain Noah's no-nonsense attitude a little bit more. He had to prove himself here. His job was on the line as well as ours. I reluctantly returned my eyes to him. He ran a hand through his hair. Maybe I was the only one who saw it shake slightly. I didn't feel sympathy but it made a little more sense out of everything that had happened in the past twenty-four hours.

Noah held up a hand. ‘Okay, I know it's a shock to hear that but like I said, we don't have time to whinge about it. We need to get on with saving the company. I will be meeting next with each team to talk about what projects take priority and what we can start doing to turn things around. I've emailed the meeting times to you all. For now, I'll be head of sales, marketing and publicity so I will lead that meeting next. If you are part of those teams, stay in the boardroom please. Thank you.' He sat down and waited for everyone to sort themselves.

With much grumbling and shuffling, people filed out of the room and my colleagues in sales, marketing and publicity stayed with me. I sat down opposite Noah and wondered whether he cared that everyone in the room hated him or whether he saw this as just all business, not personal. I was sure old Noah would have hated upsetting everyone but maybe five years in New York had changed him. That thought made it easier to see him now as just my boss.

‘I better redo my CV tonight,' the redhaired women muttered as she sat down next to me.

‘Okay,' Noah said then, looking at the six people left in the room. ‘As you can see, we lost a few people yesterday including Annie Leon who's been running this department. It was felt that things needed particularly shaking up in this area so we can increase our profits. Let's start with names and jobs and then what projects should be taking priority.'

He waited expectantly.

The woman beside me spoke up first. ‘I'm Emily. I'm the marketing executive.' She seemed about ten years older than me and her red hair fell thickly over her shoulders.

‘Paul, sales manager,' said a man in his late forties, the only one other than Noah wearing a suit. He had an accent that would make the King proud. I tried not to feel intimidated by that.

‘Lewis, sales executive,' a younger guy with spikey hair said quickly.

‘Aaliyah – marketing assistant,' the youngest in the room said. She wore a dress with books on – I'd have to ask her where she got it because I needed it.

Everyone looked at me expectantly. ‘Stevie, publicity executive,' I said.

‘Stevie is the only member of the publicity team for now. Until it's decided what we are going to do with the team, I will take on the role of publicity manager,' Noah said, avoiding my gaze. So, he wasn't going to be a hands-off boss like Liv and I had hoped for; I would be working in publicity with him? I wavered in my decision to stay. ‘Okay, what are your priorities at the moment?'

‘Well, the next title to come out is Deborah Day's new book, Bitten, and that's slotted in Halloween week,' Emily said. She sighed and the others looked down at the table. ‘She's not been very happy with how things are going,' she added, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.

‘Deborah Day?' Noah's eyes drifted to mine. I knew he knew she was one of my all-time favourite authors. I tried not to react to his gaze.

‘She writes romance,' Emily said.

‘Brilliant romance,' I said without thinking.

Paul looked across at me. ‘You're a fan?' The way he spoke made it sound like he was suggesting I had poor taste.

‘She was my gateway romance book.'

He raised an eyebrow. ‘Gateway?'

All eyes were on me now and I wished I'd kept my mouth shut but I ploughed on. ‘The first romance book I read,' I explained. ‘My mum loved her. Loves her. Her books are classics in the genre.'

Noah nodded. ‘I've read a couple.' There were a few shocked looks at that, me included. I didn't remember Noah ever reading romance when we were together. ‘She's a big name so why isn't she happy?'

‘She was a big name,' Paul corrected. ‘Her latest books haven't been doing that well. She has some dedicated fans but that's it. She keeps saying she should be on the bestseller list but her books aren't seen as fresh.'

‘And she's quite… demanding,' Emily said carefully. ‘Wanting a huge budget for publicity and advertising but her sales just aren't good enough to warrant it. So, at her last meeting with us…' She trailed off.

‘She got quite angry,' Aaliyah said. ‘Her agent too. They kind of stormed out.'

‘That's not good,' Noah said sharply. ‘We don't want her to create negative publicity for us, especially after all the news about the takeover.'

‘I don't understand why her books aren't doing well,' I said. ‘They are classics. Everyone who reads romance has read one. We always had them stocked in the libraries I worked in. I used to love her books.'

‘When was the last time you bought one though?' Emily asked me gently.

I thought that over. I had seen some of the classic ones in the university library, although they weren't taken out much, just sometimes for English Literature when they did a romance module, and my mum had some at home, but Emily was right – I hadn't paid much attention to her newer books actually.

‘Oh, I can't even remember,' I admitted. ‘I suppose I call her one of my favourite authors but then don't keep up to date with what she's writing now.'

Emily nodded. ‘Exactly. You're not alone in that. She's not seen as fashionable now. There are newer, fresher authors in the market that younger readers especially prefer. Her books would never be talked about on TikTok, for example. We can't change minds. She's just not trendy now.' Emily shrugged. ‘She won't accept it though and is threatening to leave us if the book doesn't hit the bestseller list. Which I really don't think it will.'

‘We've kind of run out of ideas,' Aaliyah admitted.

‘What a shame,' I said, feeling bad for Deborah and all the romance readers who had fallen in love with her books years ago. ‘What's her new book about?'

‘It's a vampire romance,' Emily said. ‘Like I said. Not trendy.'

‘But I love a vampire romance,' I said. All eyes turned to me again. I didn't think I was particularity endearing myself to my new colleagues but I was confused. ‘And we haven't had a big one for ages.'

‘Because there isn't any demand,' Paul told me shortly.

‘Twilight fans are now my age or older,' I said. ‘We deserve a new one.' Paul glared at me but I wasn't going to let a man stop me giving my opinion. I shrugged. ‘I'm just saying, I would buy a new one if I saw it in a bookshop.'

‘It's hard with romance,' Emily said. ‘We don't get much help in the press because they prefer other genres so we rely on social media and building a buzz with romance readers and they just don't see Deborah Day as someone they would want to read.'

‘Ugh,' I said, shaking my head. ‘Romance is never respected like it should be.'

Paul sighed. ‘I think we should focus on our other books,' he said to Noah, ignoring me.

This made me think about one of my other exes. He thought my reading taste was inferior to his because I exclusively read love stories. I hated the way the genre could be looked down on sometimes.

‘I'll do it,' I said, before Noah could speak.

‘Do what?' Noah enquired with an edge to his tone.

I got the sense the table were pissed off by me but I didn't care. I had loved romance my whole life and no one was going to make me feel guilty or ashamed about it. And poor Deborah Day clearly was at the end of her tether too.

‘I'll take over all the publicity for it, and I'll make the book a hit,' I declared.

I swore I heard Paul snort.

‘I'm not sure…' Emily began.

Noah turned to me. ‘You can handle that, Stevie?'

‘Of course,' I said, flinging him my fiercest look.

‘Okay.' He tapped his pen against the table. ‘It sounds like Deborah is dissatisfied with how we are handling her books and you guys aren't sure what to do with them,' he said, giving the group a piercing look. ‘But Stevie thinks she knows what will work. So, I'm moving you all off the campaign. Stevie will take over Deborah Day with my assistance and we will create a new publicity plan for the book. Everyone else, write a list of what you're currently working on and email it to me by the end of the day please and I'll get back to you as to what to focus on. Thank you.'

Noah got up without waiting for a response from us and swept out of the boardroom.

I watched him go, suddenly wondering what my big mouth had got me into. I'd be taking over the book and he'd be working with me on it? Oh, hell.

‘I'll be working on it with Noah?' I said out loud.

Paul sniggered. ‘That didn't go the way you planned, did it?'

‘You better join me in rewriting your CV,' Emily said.

I scooped up my things and trailed after the team but instead of joining them in the office, I detoured to Noah's room again. The door was open this time so I edged in. Noah was facing the window, seemingly lost in thought. I cleared my throat. ‘Uh, did you mean what you said about us working on Deborah's book campaign together?' I asked hesitantly.

Noah turned around. ‘Yes. I didn't say anything in there but Matthews Wood Publishing need a big result and fast. If you think Day is our best shot then let's go for it. But Stevie, this has to work.'

I swallowed. ‘Okay. Well, I think we can do it.'

Noah shook his head. ‘No thinking. We have to do it. So, are you okay with working with me on this even if you do think I'm a dick?'

His mouth twitched slightly and I got a glimpse of the dimple in his cheek. It was still cute, damn it.

‘If you're fine with it then I am,' I replied as breezily as I could manage.

‘Why wouldn't I be?' he said dismissively.

Was he baiting me? My eyes narrowed.

‘No reason at all,' I said slowly.

I couldn't believe he was acting like nothing had happened between us but there was no way I was going to break first. If this was a game Noah wanted to play then I was going to win it.

‘Just let me know when you want to start. Boss,' I said, adding the word with as much sarcasm as my voice could carry, then I left his office again. Honestly, I was exhausted and it was only just heading for lunch time. I wasn't sure if I'd make it through six months doing this dance with Noah.

‘Stevie, do you want to read over the current publicity plan for Deborah Day?' Emily called as I approached my desk. She sat in front of me.

‘Great idea,' I said, grateful for anything to take my mind off Noah and us now working together on this project. ‘Also, can I read Bitten?'

‘Sure. Noah's asked for a copy too. He wants it printed out.' She rolled her eyes.

‘I'll do it,' I said, happy to have tasks to fill the day. I supposed it didn't bother Noah as he was more than over me but the thought of having to work in close proximity to him was making my heart beat hard in my chest. Not because I was attracted to his new demanding and curt persona but because the memories of that year we spent together were always close to bubbling up, and seeing him again meant it was impossible to push them back down as I was usually able to. It was annoying, especially when I was determined my focus should be on my job. And now I'd given myself this huge project, I had to make sure Noah didn't distract me.

The problem was, we were now working on a romance book together.

I really should have thought that through.