Tied Together (The Cade Siblings Duology #1)

2. Alex

CHAPTER 2

Alex

I turn back to my desk and try to busy myself with work, but I can’t help but dwell on the conversation between Alana and Cami.

Alana Cade.

The woman I haven’t been able to get out of my head, no matter how hard I try. And believe me, I’ve tried.

We have worked together for a little over a year now, and she continues to surprise me. I remember the first staff meeting she was in when she got hired. I already noticed her because she was beautiful, but the addiction began when I saw the way she intently listened to everything each person shared.

Our staff meetings were made up of a lot of idea sharing and that can become draining really easily, but the way she paid attention was mind boggling to me. Her clear blue eyes and sweeping lashes held eye contact, she nodded her head at all the right moments and asked all the right follow up questions.

I figured this intense attention to those around her was a one off, something she made special care to do at her first meeting in order to look good, but this continued for all of the meetings after. It endeared me to her more than anything else about her.

I made it a goal of mine to get closer with her and get to know her, and our jobs have made that possible. As two of the section editors, we work closely together daily. Over the last year a humble friendship has blossomed between us.

She is fierce and determined and doesn’t let anyone do anything for her, in fact she is almost always off doing something for someone else. She throws herself into her work and is more dedicated than anyone I’ve met.

She’s let me in, but barely. It’s a special kind of torture to be friend-zoned as harshly as I’ve been friend-zoned. I have tried to get to know her deeper, but she’s a vault that only opens to her closest people. Cami, her best friend from childhood, and Charlie, her brother.

I have this irritating desire to protect her, which isn’t rational, because she has proven time and time again she can take care of herself. She hasn’t ever asked for—or quite frankly allowed—my help and rarely does she ever let Cami or Charlie help her either. She’s extremely stubborn and fiercely independent. Nevertheless, I find myself wanting to fix her problems.

I draw my attention back to the screen and look closer at the ideas I have brainstormed for the next few issues. I think our ideas are solid. I’m still struggling with the reasoning behind this unusual meeting with Ian, but whatever. He switches things up sometimes just for the hell of it. Keeps us on our toes, I guess.

I’m adjusting the wording on our presentation when I hear Cami whisper to Alana.

“You’re not going to meet up with him, are you?” she asks cautiously.

“Cam, you aren’t serious? Of course not. I’m done with him,” Alana replies in a terse tone.

This is the first I’m hearing of a relationship from Alana. The whole time I’ve known her, she’s never even mentioned a man. They’re whispering, clearly trying to keep the conversation private, so I lean a bit more to the right in my chair, attempting to get closer to them and hear through the walls of the cubicle.

“Okay, good. I just wanted to make sure you were still sticking to the b?—”

Cami’s words are cut off by my desk chair, which betrays me by sliding out from underneath me, throwing it and me down in a loud crash.

I lay still for a few seconds with my eyes closed, silently cursing myself for my amateur eavesdropping capabilities.

I slowly peel open my eyes to find Cami and Alana staring down at me. I focus my gaze on the vintage baseball cards lining the wall above my desktop in an effort to not look too closely at the beautiful woman leaning over me.

“Alex, are you okay?” Alana gasps, bending down and softly touching my arm. “How did you fall like that?”

I hesitate for a moment, the heat of her hand on my arm sending an electric current through me. I look down, my gaze frozen on her small hand against my not so small bicep and realize I’ve been staring instead of answering.

“You both know how clumsy I am.”

Because what else would I say? The truth? Oh I was just desperate to know any detail about you so I was eavesdropping and my chair decided to give me away . Yeah, real smooth.

I stand slowly, wincing at the pain in my right leg. “It must have a loose wheel or something, but I’m fine.”

Alana looks from me, to the perfectly attached wheels of my chair and back again. She doesn’t seem convinced, but thankfully she lets me off the hook.

“Well, good. Wouldn’t want to have to complete any extra paperwork, Ashford,” she says with a giggle. “I also would hate to do this presentation alone. Grab your stuff and let’s go set up. We only have like twenty minutes before Heather and Ian show up.”

I grab my laptop, notebook, and pen and we head to the conference room. I veer off to the break room as we walk and grab a Diet Coke for Alana and a sparkling water for me. She doesn’t ask where I’m going or wait for me, because this is part of our routine. We meet each morning in this conference room to go over our day and start it the same way each time.

Diet Coke.

Sparkling water.

Chocolate.

I catch myself daydreaming about a future of starting our mornings like this in my apartment after spending the night together, but quickly remind myself of reality.

Alana Cade is not available.

I meet her back in the conference room and crack open her soda with a satisfying pop. I place it at her spot, then I reach into my pocket and pull out today’s chocolate—dark chocolate caramel and sea salt.

I hand it to her and she reads the label before tearing the packaging and placing it between her soft pink lips and taking a bite.

A satisfied hum lets me know that she likes it and I turn, smiling to myself for a job well done. Anything with caramel seems to be her favorite, so I try to bring those more often.

If you saw the stash of various chocolates strewn around my apartment you would probably think I’m addicted, and I am, just not to the chocolates but to the girl who consumes them. I have tried many different brands and flavors, taking notes of the ones she loves and throwing out the ones she hates.

At this point I should be buying stock in Ghirardelli and HERSHEY.

Alana floats around the room setting things up and pulling documents up on her computer. Neither of us really know what this meeting is for, and I think it has us both feeling a bit off kilter.

We are section editors within the fashion and beauty sections of the magazine. There are a few other editors that are in charge of other sections like lifestyle and health, but after observing the two of us working together Ian has shared many times that he thinks we’re two of the best the magazine has.

We normally present our ideas to Ian and he takes them to Heather, but it’s very informal. Alana and I sync up briefly each week before we meet with Ian and pinpoint a few thoughts. After that, we share them with him and then take them to our team once we’ve nailed them down. Today, however, he’s asked us to come up with more formal proposals on a few ideas for the next couple of months. We have been working on trying to nail down the best ideas for a few weeks now.

Ian walks in about ten minutes later and addresses us with a nod.

“Alana, Alex, good to see you both. Thank you for brainstorming several concepts for us to review. I know this differed from our normal routine, but there’s a reason for that.”

His words cause a storm of nausea to build inside of me. Even though I know Ian likes us, my brain automatically goes to the worst case scenario.

Are they firing us? Do they want a batch of ideas so they have something to work through while they hire to backfill our spots?

“Heather will explain more when she gets here. For now, just settle in. We will begin shortly.”

I can feel the nervous energy radiating off of Alana and everything within me desires to soothe it. I wish I could reach over and take her hand, but I can’t. We aren’t that good of friends.

Instead, I do what I always do.

I lean over and whisper in her ear, “Want another chocolate?”

She shivers and I ignore it, but I can’t ignore the gorgeous smile she sends my way.

“Two in one day? Ashford, you’re breaking the rules.” Her eyes are teasing and the uncertainty of moments ago is gone. Mission accomplished.

“There are no rules when it comes to chocolate.”

“Well, if you insist.” She puts her hand out and I reach into my pocket and hand her the wrapped square. Sparks ignite where our skin brushes, but I ignore it.

She opens it and takes a bite, then holds the other half out to me.

“I think we could both use something to take the edge off.”

I take the chocolate from her fingers and pop it into my mouth. At least if I get fired I can say I had a good last day. Any day spent with Alana is a good day.