“Yes, well, darling, there’s this absurd rumor that’s spread like wildfire that a VIP would be making an appearance.” Alicia rolled her eyes. “I mean, it’s silly. Why would a media mogul and fashion-editing icon of Elena Bartell’s international standing bother with a…” She faded out, realizing her mistake.
“A weird set of blogs like mine?” Maddie replied dryly.
“I was going to say a small, esoteric book of blogs, darling.”
Maddie grinned. “Nice save.”
“Well.” Alicia looked flummoxed. “I didn’t mean anything by it. Your book is fabulous; of course it is. I loved it!”
Uh-huh.
“But Ms. Bartell is insanely busy,” Alicia rushed on. “She spends most of her time in Sydney these days. It’s likely that she’s not even in town!”
Maddie grinned. “I heard she was.” And she’d seen her, felt her, kissed her, and a few other things that would doubtlessly scandalize Alicia Keen and the greater population of New York if they knew.
Maddie’s secret relationship with Elena had led to some awkward moments at times, especially lately when it came to Maddie’s book. There had been much confusion from her publishing house when Bartell Corp had, out of the blue, offered to host the launch of the Aliens of New York blog collection at its popular Hudson Shard Bookstore. Then there had been utter bewilderment when the media corporation had told Maddie’s publisher it would be promoting Aliens of New York in all its newspapers and magazines globally.
Privately, between kisses and mumbles about nepotism, Maddie had protested Elena’s decision, only to be cut off by Elena’s fierce declaration that it was a business decision.
“Excellence deserves to be celebrated, Madeleine,” Elena had said, her breath hot against Maddie’s ear. “And I won’t debate this. It’s done.”
It might have been done, but no one at the publishing house could make sense of it.
Alicia shook her head, causing a dramatic bounce of hoop earrings. “Look, just don’t expect to see Ms. Bartell today. I know you once worked for her, and that’s probably what’s fueling the rumors, but you were her assistant for barely five minutes; am I right, darling?”
“Yep.” Maddie hid her smile.
“Exactly! Would she even be able to pick you out of a lineup given how many assistants she goes through? Pfft. It would be lovely of course, if she did drop by. What a boost that would be! But, I mean, really, why would she? Trust me: I deal with that type a lot. The Tiger Shark and her sharp little teeth wouldn’t be caught dead in here.”
Alicia leaned over and tucked the tag down in the back of Maddie’s blouse. “There, all set.” She patted Maddie’s shoulder. “I’m glad you went with this. So much better than that grunge T-shirt you threatened to wear. You weren’t serious, were you, darling? No, don’t answer that. Now, I’ll just head back downstairs and make sure everything’s shipshape. I’ll come and get you when we’re due to start.”
At the door, she hesitated. “And just in case the rumor is true, could I please ask that you don’t act so…Australian? You can be a bit overfamiliar at times. Very…down-to-earth. Oh, it’s refreshing—I mean that in a good way—but I doubt a woman of Elena Bartell’s reputation and status would appreciate someone who…” Alicia paused. “Well, you know.”
“Right.” Maddie bit the inside of her cheek. “I’ll do my best.”
“Lovely.” Alicia beamed. “Okay, I must finalize things. Back soon, darling.” She disappeared in a rustle of skirts and a clinking homage to seventies jewelry.
Maddie finally released the laugh she’d been desperately holding in. Oh, the Tiger Shark was indeed the possessor of a fine set of teeth. They’d gently nibbled along Maddie’s thigh at five this morning to take her mind off her nerves about today. By the end of it, Maddie couldn’t even remember her own name, let alone that of her book.
“Madeleine?” The door clicked open and shut behind Maddie before a familiar warmth pressed itself into her back. “It’s only me.”
Funny how she said that. There was no “only” about Elena Bartell.
Maddie leaned back against Elena, inhaling the scent that was distinctly her. “Do you recognize where we are?” Maddie asked after a few moments of basking in Elena’s presence.
Elena peered over Maddie’s shoulder into the street below. “Should I? Beyond being in the same location where your old newspaper used to be?”
“Remember when you moved into Hudson Metro’s office for a month? This was your view from your window. I should know; I gazed into your office often enough. For reasons.” Maddie gave a small laugh.
“Ah. You know, I don’t think I ever looked outside even once. My attention was fixed on my redesign plans…and, occasionally, on this maddening junior crime reporter who sat outside my office at crazy hours.”
“Oh, her.” It still surprised Maddie that Elena had noticed her at all in those days.
Threading her arms tighter around Maddie’s waist, Elena asked, “So what do you see out there?”
“Memories. How alone I felt. Me failing in a city everyone dreams of being in. It was hard, feeling too far from home and being unable to make friends when I worked crazy late hours. I craved connection.”
“Feeling isolated in a city of millions?” Elena murmured. “Mm. I think that’s why I loved your blog, why I was drawn to you. Your words resonated.”
“Plus I bribed you with treats so you’d talk to me.” Maddie grinned.
“Ah, now all those late-night food drops make sense.” Elena’s voice became amused. “So I was just…there? A warm body to talk to and take your mind off things?”
“Oh, no. You were also all kinds of fascinating.”
“You didn’t always think so.” Elena’s voice was a soft purr. “Once you called me a calculating, icy, money-hungry bitch of a shark.”
“For good reason!” Maddie frowned.
Elena’s tone turned cautious. “The decisions I made were necessary, Madeleine.”
“I know. I get it. Hudson Metro was a crappy newspaper parked on prime real estate. What you did made business sense. It just…” Maddie breathed in. “It was hard being in the middle of it, feeling so…disposable. And it’s odd feeling those emotions all rushing back again. I can’t help it.” She pointed at the window. “Because it looks exactly the same.”
“I suppose it does.”
Maddie turned from the view and met Elena’s gaze. “You’ve created an iconic building out of those old bones of a paper, Elena. We could argue for days about the value of keeping or killing old newspapers, but from an architectural point of view, it’s beautiful.”
“Well, I do appreciate beautiful things, Madeleine.” Elena’s blue eyes darkened as her gaze slid over Maddie’s form.
