Part 1

Chapter 2

Jennie Park

Jennie was the first to arrive at the Shillings Publishing Company building the next day. Coffee in hand she squared her shoulders, and evaluated her reflection critically in glass door on her approach. Just as she was about to reach for the handle it glided open, a young gentleman she recognised from the design team smiled brightly at her; arm extended as he held the door open.

“Bright and early as always Miss Park”

“You too Mr. Jones.What brings you in at such an hour?”

“Marketing screwed up the budget yesterday,” Jones replied following and still managing to press the elevator button before she could. “I’m gonna have to rejig everything we did to accommodate a huge loss of resources.”

“Sounds like the kind of challenge you’re up for,” Jennie smiled as the elevator appeared and they stepped inside.

“Huh, only you would say something like that. Nervous?” he asked grinning slyly at her.

Jennie kept her smile cemented in place, despite the turmoil of butterflies frantically trying to escape her stomach. If only Mr Jones knew that she’d been up all night, tossing and turning. Thinking of all the ways today could go wrong.

“Of course, it's an important step in anyone’s career,” she said instead.Wiping her sweaty palms subtly against her trench coat.

“Come now Miss Park, how could Director Reed not give it to you.” he dropped his voice to a whisper and something a little darker crossed his face. “I mean you are dating him, must have it’s perks.”

Despite this kind of conversation coming up regularly Jennie still froze.Mouth opening and closing like a gold fish under Mr Jones’s intense stare. What do you even say to something like that? She never knew. The thing was, she hadn't known they were in the same department, let alone he was her superior until they’d been dating for a month. She’d broken one of her rules, and her sister Izzy had refused to take the blame after setting up not only the first but her second with Samuel Reed. She’d intended to break it off with him the second she’d seen him behind the Director’s desk, but the man changed the subject in a heartbeat every time and refused to discuss it.

She couldn’t risk angering him as her boss, as much as she couldn’t stop the rumour mill from chewing her out every chance it got. So, she’d kept her mouth shut and trusted that the right time would come for them to break up.

The elevator pinged merrily despite the tension and she quickly excused herself, practically running from the metal box as fast as her heels could take her. Met by the silent office floor Jennie couldn’t help but sigh in relief.

She made for the kitchen first, popping her lunch for the day in the fridge and filling her water bottle before she made for her desk and got to work.

An hour later the office started to fill. Claire skipped in, Johnathon looking far sorrier for himself behind her. Jennie could easily guess where they’d ended up last night, the usual string of bars and clubs were always ticked off her friend's checklist.Which was why she’d made a speedy getaway sooner rather than later. Although it looked like they’d all gotten the same amount of sleep in the end. The three of them exchanged loaded looks when Sarah sauntered into the office moments later in the tightest dress Jennie had ever seen and an obvious collection of hickeys poorly hidden under a green scarf.

Despite their very ranging opinions on work ethic Jennie really did like her fellow teammates. Together their little cluster of desks mad up the Shillings best editors of fiction. They had published more than 150 books together and had stuck together through thick and thin.

“Have fun last night?” Jennie sniggered as Johnathon collapsed into his chair beside her with a loud groan. Usually she didn’t have to ask, since her apartment was also on the checklist, and in last place with its handy collection of inflatable mattresses and food.

Johnathon was, for lack of better wording, her polar opposite. The only thing they shared was a love of dim sum, urban fantasy and international lineage.

“In the moment yes, can’t say it was worth this headache”

“I distinctly remember you saying something similar last weekend”

“Get off that high horse Jen, it’s you in the hot seat today not me, I can do whatever I want”

Jennie laughed lightly to hide her discomfort.Swivelling back to her computer screen to the chorus of groans from her right as Johnathon mustered the energy to boot up his computer. If she managed to snag this role, she’d be his superior and might even have to implement a stricter dress code.

The same rule would have to be applied, most obviously to Sarah. Today’s little number was one of many scandalous outfits Jennie had seen to date. And she knew her baby sister dreamed of wearing one day.As if she’d let her. Like Jennie and Johnathon Sarah came from overseas, in fact she’d worked with Jennie the longest, snagging her elbow on their first day together and declaring to anyone who’d listen that they were thick as thieves. And while the thick part was still a work in progress, Sarah had the thief part down to an artform.

The gentle ding from the elevator rang through the office once more, and Jennie was the first amongst the masses to rise as Director Samuel Reed stepped onto the floor. At a glance he looked like any typical hardheaded boss. Always in a suit ranging from midnight blue to navy, a slight receding hairline and flawlessly shaved stubble that covered his permanent frown or grimace.

He’d worn that exact suit on their first date, an almost invisible pinstripe that she’d found herself staring at for the entire evening, as she munched on lukewarm chips half listening to his rants. Little had she known that this would become a reoccurring scene. Samuel complaining to her about the very company they both worked while she tried to come up with a way to break up without breaking his ego.

She couldn't afford to lose this job.

Reed glanced around the room, before his eyes fell on her. Keeping still as a statue, Jennie tried not to squirm with nerves as his eyes roamed over her body. Relief came like a tidal wave at last when his gaze left her, and she could collapse back into her chair as he vanished into his private office.

“Jesus who shat in his coffee this morning?” Johnathon whispered.

“He always looks like that Jonno,” Claire’s blonde head poked over her desktop, warning in her glare that went unnoticed by Johnathon.

Claire was the newest addition to their team, not including intern Oliver. She reminded Jennie of Izzy, when they’d been 5 and 8 years old. She was the sunflower to Sarah’s rose and Jennie’s daisy, the personality of the team and picture girl. Claire drank daiquiri cocktails and used her London accent to her advantage usually scoring them entry to bars, if Sarah’s tits and arse weren't enough.

Jennie ignored their gossip, her eyes roaming over the latest email she had received from one of her clients. In the lead up to Christmas she had 13 clients under her wing, all of them at different stages of their novels and with a high range of experience. While Claire took the newbie authors, Jennie always scored the series.Making her bookshelf, or as Izzy liked to call it her bragging wall, rather full.

She was reading over her response when she felt three pairs of eyes burning into her face from all angles.

“Can I help you?” she asked without looking up, she already knew what expressions would meet her if she did.

“Well, does he always look like that?” Sarah called from Claire’s right, a distinct popping sound following as she applied red lipstick to her plump lips.

“You’ve got some on your teeth,” Jennie replied handing the woman a tissue.

“Oh, come on Jennie, you never tell us anything,” Johnathon whined.

“Maybe that’s because it’s none of your business,” she fired back.

“He’s our boss, how is this not our business?” Jennie clenched her jaw at Claire’s words, already feeling her palms begin to sweat against the keys.

“She’s Editor Royalty Claire, I’m sure whatever they have is...Banging,” Sarah sneered.

Miraculously, Jennie’s computer dinged, and she excused herself. Gathering her files before the axe could inch any closer to her neck.

The second she was free of their stares, concealed around a corner.She leant against the wall and released the breath she’d been furiously holding. She loved her friends, really, she did. But sometimes they could drain her without even trying.

“Hey Miss Park, you got the call too?”

Pushing herself off the wall, Jennie smiled as Mr. O’Connell strode down the hallway toward her, a gentle smile on his round face. Despite the friendly appearance, he had been her competitor tracing back to the day they’d first meet in the international exchange program.

“’Fraid so, Mr O’Connell”

“I guess we both know what it’s about then,” he winked at her, no sign of nerves as he walked past towards Reed’s office.

And why would he? She had to admit Mr O’Connell was far more qualified than her. His client list vast and calendar constantly filled with appointments and meetings. Despite what all her friends told her, he was clearly the more logical choice for this promotion, and they both knew it.

Tugging on her skirt and straightening her blouse Jennie tottered behind him, trying to keep her racing heart at bay as Mr O’Connell knocked on the glass door and they entered.

Director Reed sat behind his oakwood desk, a piece of furniture that had no right to be so large and equally imposing. Jennie could remember when six workers had carried the thing into the office, mutters of insurance and a number with far too many zeros circulating as it passed. If only they knew that it came from IKEA.

“Ah Mr O’Connell, good morning. I trust you received my message last night.” Reed wasted no time shaking O’Connell’s hand and gesturing to one of the seats opposite him, leaving Jennie to hover awkwardly by the door.

“Yes sir, and you received my reply?”

“Of course.”

Suddenly both men turned to look at her. Jennie froze and tried to smile bright as she shuffled towards the only available seat left.

“Then there is nothing left to discuss. You are excused.” with wide eyes Jennie watched as Mr O’Connell rose from his seat, shaking Reed’s hand one last time, and left with nothing but a reassuring thumbs up in her direction.

“Now, Jennie. You must be weak with curiosity”

Jennie with a lack of anything better to do, nodded rather than spoke. She felt as if her heart was halfway up her throat and rising with every inflection in Reed’s voice.

“Due to personal matters Mr O’Connell, while the best candidate for this role, informed me that he is unable to take the job. So...”

Jennie watched dumbstruck as Reed offered her his hand, a miniscule smile breaking through the ever-present frown. It reminded her of when they’d parted after the first date, it had been the silver lining that had been Izzy’s main weapon to convince her on several more dates.

“Sir, I don’t quite understand.” she didn’t want to believe it. Couldn’t believe it.

“What exactly confuses you? I’m congratulating you Jennie, you’ve got the job.” Reed pressed his hand into one of hers and shook it firmly.“I’m expecting great things from you Miss Park”

Jennie accepted the sandwich and coffee from the cashier on autopilot.

It was midday, and her mind was still reeling. Had that really just happened?! Her heels clicked against the pavement as she made her way to a park bench and sat down.

Promoted. She was just promoted! All the extra hours, the late nights and the endless pile of emails, all had boiled down to an exchange that had lasted less than 3 minutes. She’d been ready to congratulate Mr O’Connell the second he’d shaken Reed’s hand. But he had walked out, and she’d gotten the job instead.

“Yes!” she yelled punching the air and not caring that several passers-by jumped at her sudden outburst for a millisecond.

Tilting her face to the sky, Jennie closed her eyes and let the sounds of the bustling city accompany her racing heart. The steady thump, joined by the insistent honks of cars, voices overlapping each other and shoes clicking against the road. Lady luck was truly shining down upon her, and Jennie sent a silent prayer of thanks to whatever gods above had graced her with such a gift.

“Hey Jennie!”

Her eyes snapped open and she lowered her head to see Oliver running towards her, almost tripping on the uneven stone and knocking several people as he passed.

“I just heard, congratulations!” The man skidded to a halt before her, both hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath and grin at the same time.

Despite only transferring to their team a couple of weeks ago, Oliver had thrown himself into work in the same way she did. And thank God. Several times he had caught her working late at the office, the blue glow of her computer screen reflecting off unblinking eyes, fingers a blur over the keyboard. After the third jump scare in a week, he had loudly declared himself her temporary assistant, and made himself a home at her elbow.

“Thank you, Oliver, I still can’t believe it,” she admitted laughing with him.

“Well, I can. Come on there’s a sweet little pastry shop down the road, my treat,” he insisted already shoving her sorry sandwich and cold coffee under his arm before taking her hand and practically dragging her down the street.

“You really don’t have to do that,” Jennie said muttering several apologies to the people Oliver kept bumping into as they darted into the street.

“I want to Miss Team Leader, now tell me do you prefer strawberry or-”

Oliver’s voice was cut off by a loud honk, the sound causing Jennie to wench her hand from his grip and cover her ears.

Looking up, the world seemed to slow. The oncoming truck’s tires skidding across the tarmac, smoke everywhere and distant shouts ringing in her ears. With adrenaline spiked speed Jennie moved on instinct, wrapping her arms around Oliver and throwing them backwards. Too slow, too late? The inky black tires of the truck looming over them. But in a screech of metal on metal they skidded to a stop, inches from her and Oliver's feet engulfing them in smoke and the smell of burning rubber.

“Holy shit!” Oliver staggered away from the truck, accepting the help of multiple hands as he was pulled to his feet by the surrounding crowd.

Jennie felt as if her lungs had stopped working, every one of her muscles felt stiff as if she’d just been electrocuted. And she couldn’t take her eyes off the still smoking tires mere inches from crushing her toes.

“—iss,.Ma’am, can you hear me?”

Jennie blinked, feeling returning to her limbs and she scrambled to her feet.

“Um yes sorry, what did you say?” she muttered to the person stood beside her, her eyes still latched onto the spot she had been seconds ago.

“I asked you for your name.” the voice was deep a welcome change to the screams and shouts surrounding them. She tried to hone in on that voice, the unfamiliar, almost alien accent that reminded her of the black and white films she’d watched with her Grandmother the two of them curled around each other, transfixed and giddy.

“Um, right, its Park, Ji-Yoon Park.” whether it was the adrenaline or nerves Jennie said her old name on instinct.

A loud caw from above made her look up. A magpie, swooped overhead cawing loud enough to be heard over all the commotion, its beady eyes flickering across the scene below and Jennie rooted to the spot.

“How very unusual,” the man was speaking again and Jennie at last turned to put a face to the voice.

She had to tilt her head up significantly to meet his eye, Jesus how tall was this guy? Easily over 6 foot dressed entirely in black from his leather boots, long coat and long hair tied back messily. But what irked her the most were his eyes, now staring down to meet hers, they were so dark light seemed to vanish within them and even her reflection couldn’t be seen.

“I’ve finally found you”