Tied Together (The Cade Siblings Duology #1)

41. Alana

CHAPTER 41

Alana

I’m reeling. It feels like I’ve been floating on a cloud since last night and I never want to come down. I woke up this morning and felt around for Alex, but found his space in the bed empty. For a moment I thought maybe I dreamed it, maybe he slept on the couch and I stayed in the bedroom and nothing happened. But then I heard the sizzle and snap of bacon and smelled the coffee and I knew exactly where he was and what he was doing.

I’ve come to really enjoy my morning lattes made specifically for me by Alex. I don’t have one of these fancy espresso machines at home, but it’s at the top of my to-buy list so I can force him to come make me one every morning when we get home.

Home. It’s exciting to think about going home, because I miss the city and I miss Charlie and Cami so much, but I also get a nervous pit in my stomach. What will happen when we go home? Will things change once we’re no longer in the City of Love, or will we jump right into a serious relationship and move in together? It almost feels like the right step, since that’s essentially what we’re doing now, but it also feels way too fast. We just got started.

“I can see you overthinking. Relax, Lanie.” He reaches out and squeezes my hand three times before letting go. “Whatever it is, we’ll work it out together.” My blood heats at the pet name and my heart calms at the reassurance. I don’t know how he always knows when I’m in my head about something, but he does.

We’re walking through the door of Impress Europe and I feel my body react to the environment. While Amélie and most of the staff are kind and welcoming, the people we work with day in and day out are not. I’ve grown to feel quite frustrated while in this building, and I don’t think Alex feels the same stress because he spends a lot of his time with Amélie interviewing, while my whole day is spent with Genevieve and Luis.

I say a hello in their direction as I walk to my station and set my things down. Neither of them responds, like always, and I let it roll off my back, like always. I have pretty thick skin, but a person can only take so much. After dealing with their nastiness over and over, I’m almost at my breaking point.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself and remember why I’m here. I haven’t had a panic attack since our first day in the office and that’s progress, because ever since Brad’s resurfacing and the changes with work, they were becoming more frequent. Thankfully, I haven’t heard from him after his phone call with Alex, and I’m hoping it stays that way.

I’m working on a spread for an upcoming issue when Luis approaches and I brace myself. It’s a good day when neither of them speak to me, so it looks like we’re off to a bad start.

“Bonjour,” he says in the most unenthusiastic tone. Sometimes Alex will be here in the mornings to shield me, but they had an early interview this morning so he went straight back to Amélie’s office.

“Bonjour, Luis. How was your weekend?”

“Fine. Do you have the article for the beauty spread on winter makeup trends?” My hands start to shake. I do have the article for the beauty spread, but it’s not on winter makeup trends, it’s on winter skincare routines. I could have sworn that is what Genevieve told me to write about.

“I have the skincare routines article. I believe that’s what Genevieve asked me to write.” I glance in her direction and catch the smirk on her face. I immediately feel hot, the anger, frustration and embarrassment rising by the second.

“I’m sure she did not. The section is about winter makeup trends.” He has the nerve to look angry with me, which is ridiculous because I know he’s in on this little scheme. Neither of them know I worked myself into the ground, literally, these last two weeks for them. I’m trying to help them and pick up their slack and instead of showing appreciation, they make me do twice the work by giving me incorrect information.

I take a cleansing breath and steady my hands, roll my shoulders back, look into the eyes of one of my least favorite people on earth, and smile.

“Absolutely. I was mistaken, she did ask me to write about winter makeup trends. I have the article, it’s currently being edited.” He startles at my save, but recovers quickly.

“Can I see it?”

“Of course.” I reach into my bag and pull out an article on winter makeup trends. The funny thing is, this is something I expected. I obviously couldn’t predict what exactly they’d do to trip me up, but I could sense it coming. I figured it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have something in my back pocket just in case I needed it. Winter makeup trends is probably the most predictable and easy article to write and do a spread on, so I wrote one up just in case.

I hand the article over to him and I wish I was recording the surprise on his face so I could show it to Alex later. It feels good to beat someone at their own game, and seeing Luis and Genevieve look like they do right now is reward enough. It almost makes the whole passing out thing worth it, except not really because that wasn’t smart, but you know what I mean.

“Well, um…thanks.” He takes it from me hesitantly and turns to walk back to Genevieve. She looks upset and I would be too if my plans for sabotage blew up in my face. I turn back to what I was working on and ignore them. I have a great job, an incredible brother, best friend, and…boyfriend? Is that what Alex is to me now? I pull out my phone and type up a text, then press send.

Me

Are you my boyfriend?

Ashford

Are we really having this conversation over text? I’m in an interview, sunshine.

Me

You told me to ask the questions.

Ashford

Okay, then yes. I’m your boyfriend. Are you my girlfriend?

Me

I’d like to be.

Ashford

Then it’s settled.

I wish I could kiss you right now.

Me

Oh, shut up. I’m working, stop distracting me.

Ashford

You texted me!

I giggle to myself and lock my phone, putting it back into my bag. I really do need to focus on this if I want to stop taking work home.

We ordered in from a nearby restaurant and are all gathered in the small sitting area in the office. Luis and Genevieve are off in the corner having their own conversation, as always, and Alex, Amélie, and I are sitting around a table in the center of the room.

“How have the interviews been today?” I ask.

“They’ve been pretty great. It’s one wonderful candidate after another, which makes our job pretty easy. This one over here,” she nods in Alex’s direction, “is a rockstar. He reads people so well, it’s impressive.”

I smile over at him in adoration and hope Amélie can’t see it on my face that things have changed between us. We chatter on about work and positions being filled, and then I hear Genevieve speak from the corner of the room.

“Alex, Alana, has Amélie told you about the company holiday party?”

I want to say ‘why are you asking?’ because I know she would prefer if we weren’t there, but maybe she’s trying to turn over a new leaf after the incident this morning.

I turn to Alex and he shakes his head. “This is the first I’m hearing of it.”

“Ah, oui, how could I forget?” Amélie presses her hand to her head as if to say what a dummy . “We have a holiday party each year and of course you’re both invited. You can bring a plus one if you like, although I know neither of you have family here so that most likely won’t be needed. The party is next Friday.”

“We’d love to come,” I say with a genuine smile, because I really have enjoyed my time here apart from my two editor buddies in the back.

“Absolutely,” Alex agrees and we continue on eating and talking. I don’t hear a peep from Genevieve or Luis again, but at least they tried to make an effort.