Chapter 1

“Oh and Anna…don’t forget the coffee on your way back.” Said Angelica Mills.

Editor of ‘Celebrity Gossip Magazine’ and my boss.

“Of course Angelica.” I said as I leave.

I have been her personal assistant for 3 years and she still does not know my name.

It’s Hannah, not Anna.

I finished gathering all the clothing designs for the fall line, gathering gossip from our contacts.

I was standing in line at the coffee shop waiting for my order.

“I have one green tea; one mocha with a double shot and two black coffees.”

“That’s me.” I said walking up to the counter.

“I knew it was you Hannah. Always the same thing for you.”

“Hi Zach, nope it is always the same thing…my boss never changes. Thanks.” I said leaving him a tip and leaving.

I was almost to the office building when my phone rang.

“This is Hannah.”

“Anna, where are you?”

It Hannah!

“I’m a block away.”

“I need you to go to the new hotel that just opened up…Sunset something.”

“Sunlight Hotel?”

“Yes. You are going to meet with a new contact named…Quincy Brown. He has some photos and gossip for us. I expect you back in an hour.”

“But it’s on 32nd street on the other side of town?”

“Is that a problem?” she said with a ‘I’m your boss do what I say or your fired’ tone.

“No.”

“Good.” She said hanging up.

I was juggling stuff trying to put my phone back in my purse when…

“Look out!”

Someone pulled me out of the way right before I car almost runs me over.

“Are you okay?”

I turn around and see beautiful green eyes.

“Y…Yes.” I managed to say.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” I said getting a better look at his face.

“Have we met before?”

“Actually…”

“I am so sorry.”

At that moment the person that almost ran me over comes out of his car.

Holy shit…its Benjamin Scott!

“Yes.”

“I didn’t see you.”

“I am fine really.”

“Can I give you a ride somewhere?”

“No, I am fine.”

“Really? It can’t be too easy to walk in a broken heal.”

I looked down.

Sure enough the heal off my shoe was broken.

“Where are you headed?”

“Sunlight Hotel on 32nd street.”

“Alright.” He said grabbing the stuff out of my hands and putting it in his car. “Shall we?” He said opening the car door.

I turned to find the mystery man that saved me but he was already gone.

“Ms.…?”

“Murray.” I say taking his hand and getting in his car.

“Ms. Murray.” He repeats as he closes the door.

We drive and make it to the hotel.

“Thank you again for the ride.” I said taking off my heals and slipping some flats on.

I opened the door, grabbed my stuff and got out.

~ 45 minutes later ~

I walk out of the hotel and see Benjamin Scott waiting for me by his car.

“What are you still doing here?” I asked.

“Here.” He said handing me a box, “It’s to replace the pair with the broken heal.”

I open the box and there was a brand new pair of heals.

“You didn’t have to. I have plenty of pairs at home.”

“I wanted too, I hope they are the right size.”

I took them out of the box and tried them on.

“They are great, thank you.”

“Would you like to grab dinner?”

“That sounds great Mr. Scott. But I have to get back to my office.”

“Please call me Benjamin. At least let me give you a lift there as well.” He said opening the door.

I smiled and climbed in his car once again and rode to my office building.

We arrived at the office building 20 minutes later.

“Thank you again for the ride.” I said climbing out of the car as he opened the door.

“Of course.” He said smiling at me.

I smiled back and started into the building.

I was walking to the elevator when I noticed everyone whispering and looking at me.

Did they see me get out of his car?

Do they think that we are together?

I thought those things and more when the elevator doors closed.

When they opened again on the 20th floor I looked and everyone had scared looks on their faces.

It could only mean one thing.

Angelica was on a rampage again.

I walked up to her office door and could hear her yelling.

“This is not what I asked you to do! Are you Stupid?!”

I could not hear who she was yelling at.

“Get out, you’re fired!”

At the next moment the doors flung open and the new designer form the 8th floor ran out crying.

“Anna, you’re late!”

I walked into her office.

“I’m sorry, I…”

“I don’t care about your excuses. Do you have the information?”

I handed her an envelope.

“This is from out contact over and the newspaper, and this is all from Mr. Quincy Brown.” I said handing her another envelope.

“Good, good…,” she said looking through the information. “And the designs?”

I opened my bag and dug around…they were not there.

Shit!

Where are they? Did I leave them in his car?!

“Well?” she said getting inpatient.

“Umm…”

I started to say as her office assistant came in.

“Angelica, you have someone here. He says he has something for you.”

She turned and walked in was the mystery man with sea green eyes.

“Who are you?” Angelica asked annoyed.

“Issac Cole.” He said walking up to her desk.

Issac Cole…why does that name sound familiar?

He turned and smiled at me.

“What is it you have that is mine?”

He opened up his briefcase.

The designs!

“How did you get these?” she asked looking through the designs.

“I was walking back from my lunch when I saved Ms. Murray here from getting run over. I found these on the ground and went to give them back but she was already gone.”

“And how did you know to bring them here?”

“I know Ms. Murray from a long time ago. Just a little digging and followed the trail here.”

“You may go Anna; I will see you on Monday.”

I left her office and took the elevator back down.

I waited outside for Mr. Cole to come out.

He knows me from a long time ago?

After about 20 minutes he came out of the building.

“Mr. Cole.” I said as he walked out.

“Hanna, it is good to see you.”

“How do you know who I am?”

“You don’t recognize me?”

I looked at him confused.

“Maybe this will help…” he said pulling glasses out of his pocket and putting them on. “Do you recognize me now?”

“Issac Cole…O my god.” I said shocked. “You look….completely different. What happened to the braces?”

“Long gone.”

“Well you look amazing.”

“So do you.” He said smiling. “So you are working for Angelica Mills?”

“For 3 years.”

“And she still doesn’t know your name?”

“I think the only name she knows is her own.” I said laughing. “So what are you doing now?”

“I work at Levancois Law Firm.”

“A lawyer?”

“Yep.”

“That is great.”

“Listen,” he said looking at his watch. “I have to get back to the office. Here is my number, call me sometime and we can catch up.” He said handing me his card.

“Sounds like a plan.” I said taking it.

“See you soon.” He said walking off.

“Thank you for bringing the design back, you saved my job.”

He smiled at me with his amazing smile.

Those braces definitely did their job.

“See you later.” He said walking off.

2: Chapter 2
Chapter 2

I got back to my apartment and went to my room and started digging through my closet.

“What in the hell are you doing?” asked my roommate Elijah.

“I am trying to find a boxy. It has a blue husky drawing on it.”

“Does that involve making it look like a tornado hit your room?”

I turned around and realized I made a big mess.

I had thrown shoes and clothes all over the floor.

“Sorry.”

“What is so important about that box?”

“It has a bunch of my memorabilia from my school days in it.” I said continuing my search. “Aha!” I said pulling the box out of the back of my closet and sitting it on the bed.

I opened it up.

In it was my tassel, my yearbooks since 7th grade and pictures from throughout the years.

“Whoa, who is this?” Elijah said picking up a photo from my junior year.

“That is me and my ex at a beach party.”

“He is sexy.” He said practically drooling over the picture.

“Okay, stop drooling on the picture.” I said taking it back and putting it back in the box.

“Why didn’t it work out with Mr. Six-pack?”

“I caught him and an friend in bed together that weekend actually.” I said continuing to dig through the box.

“Ouch.”

“Yea…Here it is.” I said taking out a photo.

It was a picture of me and Issac.

“Who is that?”

“Issac Cole. An old friend.”

“Wow…he’s…yea.”

“He may not have been a looker but he was the most amazing friend.”

“Not the best looking? Hanna I didn’t know anyone could look so dorky.”

“Yea, well he doesn’t look that way now.” I said opening my laptop up and going to the law firm’s website. “Look.” I said turning it around and showing Elijah the picture of him.

“Holy…and a lawyer! Damn.”

“Yea.” I said turning the laptop back around.

“So what happened with him?”

“After freshman year we drifted apart. He had his click and I had mine.”

The next moment there was a knock at the door.

Elijah went and answered the door.

“Hannah…it is for you.”

For me?

I went out and standing there was Benjamin Scott.

“Mr. Scott, what can I do for you?” I asked walking up to the door.

“I told you, call me Benjamin. I went to your work and the said you had left to go home already. You left it in my car.” He said handing me back my coat.

“Thank you.” I said taking my coat.

“Ahem…”

“O, I’m sorry. Benjamin, this is my roommate Elijah Parker.”

“Nice to meet you.” He said shaking Elijah’s hand.

“You have now idea.”

“Elijah.”

“I’ll just be in my room.” He said going to his room and closing the door.

Like that matters he is probably leaning against the door listening in.

“Would you like to come in?”

“Thank you.” He said walking in.

“Would you like a drink?”

“Sure.”

I grabbed two glasses down from the cabinet.

“Coffee okay?”

“Sounds great.”

I started the coffee and went to sit on the couch across from him.

“So, why did you really come all this way?”

“I told you. To bring you your coat.”

“That is not my coat…in fact I couldn’t afford that working for a year.”

“Alright, I wanted to see you again.”

At that moment the alarm for the coffee went off.

“Excuse me.” I said getting up and pouring us coffee.

“Thank you.” He said taking the glass from me.

“So, what were you doing before you almost ran me over?”

“Truthfully, I was on my phone…they don’t kid around with the texting.” He said laughing a little.

“I know right.”

“Says the one who was on the phone not paying attention to where she was going.”

“For your information I was putting it away not talking on it.” I said laughing with him.

“So, you work for Celebrity Gossip Magazine?”

“Yes, but I’m just a personal assistant to Angelica Mills.”

“That witch?” he said looking at me.

“That is the nicest thing anyone has ever said about her.”

“I would believe it, she is like the devil.”

“Why, what did she write about you?”

“What makes you think she wrote about me?”

I looked at him.

“Alright, she said that I was gay.”

I nearly choked on my coffee.

“Seriously?”

“Yes. There was a picture of me and a buddy from school playing basketball together. He hugged before we left.”

“Ah, the iconic ‘Secret Lovers’ article.”

“You read it?”

“Don’t hate me, but I was the one that brought that to her when I first started.”

“O wow, well thanks to that I was getting asked out by almost every guy in New York.”

“I could believe it.” I said taking a drink.

“Really?”

“Look at yourself. You are a very handsome man.”

“You think I am handsome huh?”

I blushed.

His phone rang.

“What...Ok, I will be right down.” He said hanging up the phone. “I’m sorry, I have to go.”

“Of course, you are a busy man.”

“A handsome one.” He said laughing.

“O, here.” I said handing him the coat.

“Keep it. I actually bought it for you.”

“Thank you.”

“Bye.” He said kissing my cheek and leaving.

I turned and closed the door.

“How in the hell do you know Benjamin Scott?!” Elijah said opening his door. “And did I just see him kiss you on the cheek?”

“Yu were watching us?”

“That is not the point. How?”

I told him what had happened.

“Wait, so you met your now sexy classmate and Benjamin Scott?”

“Yep.”

“Lucky bitch.”

“Hey, I was almost run over.”

“Who cares, you have met the sexiest men in New York.”

“I have a mess to clean up.” I said walking toward my room.

“If you need me to take one of your hands I would be willing to take one for the team.”

“To bad for you they are not gay.”

“I can be pretty persuasive.”

“Aren’t you dating Alex?”

“See, I am such a great friend, I would be willing to make a sacrifice to help you out.”

“You better not let Alex hear you say that.”

“Speak of the Devil.” He said answering his phone. “Hey sexy.”

I shake my head and roll my eyes at him.

I finished picking up my room and went out to the living room where Elijah and Alex were sitting watching a movie.

“Hi Alex, I didn’t know you were coming over.” I said walking into the conjoining kitchen.

“I got off work and came here. Not that it is any of your business.”

“Right…I am going back to my room.” I said walking back and closing the door.

Alex has never liked me.

Ever since I moved here six years ago. When I first moved to New York. I think he is worried I will make a move on Elijah.

Don’t get me wrong Elijah is a great friend and roommate but he is not my type. Not to mention he is gay.

I sat down on my bed and started going through the pictures in the box again.

The next say was Saturday and thankfully I have off. I don’t think I could handle another day of dealing with Angelica without a break.

I went out into the kitchen and made coffee, put an english muffin in the toaster before I started reading the paper.

I heard the door to Elijah’s room open and Alex walked out.

“Good morning.” I said.

He did not say a thing to me, he just took my english muffin and left.

That was my english muffin!

“Good morning!” Elijah said cheerfully.

“What is Alex’s problem with me?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you like off is space whenever I try and talk to him?”

“Alright.” He said pouring some coffee. “He is jealous of you.”

“Jealous?”

“He hates that I spend more time with you than him.”

“We are roommates, besides you know I am totally fine with him moving in here.”

“I know you are.”

“But you’re not?”

“No. So what are your plans for today?”

“Nothing special.”

“Seriously? It is Saturday and you have the two hottest guys after you.”

“So.”

“You are going to call one of them.’

“Well, I do have Issac’s number.”

“Call him.”

“I don’t…”

“I will not let you spend another Saturday here alone.” He said grabbing a plate. “Call him.” He said going back to his room.

I went to get my breakfast from the toaster.

“Seriously! What is it with you two and stealing my breakfast!”

I could hear him laughing in his room.

“You owe me breakfast you muffin thief!” I yelled and went back to my room.

3: Chapter 3
Chapter 3

I took Elijah’s advice and called Issac and made a date for dinner.

I arrived at the restaurant to see him waiting for me outside.

“Hi.” I said walking up to him.

“Hi.” He said. “You look great.”

“You too.”

“You ready?” he said holding his hand out.

I smiled and nodded taking his hand.

We went in and were shown to a table.

“Would you like some wine?” he asked.

“Thank you.” I said handing him my glass.

“You really do look amazing.” He said smiling at me.

“Thank you. You looks great too Elijah.”

“So, how have you been?” he asked.

“Good. After high school I moved here and got a job at Celebrity Gossip about 6 years ago and made my way up to being Angelica’s personal assistant 3 years ago. What about you, what has the genius Issac Cole been up to?” I asked taking a drink.

“Genius, I haven’t been called that since I was 17.” He said taking a drink. “Let’s see, I graduated high school early and proceeded to get into law school. Then I passed the bar last year.”

“Like I said, Genius.” I said a little.

“So, how was your day yesterday, I mean besides almost getting run over?”

“Before that, I was running all over town for Angelica. After you saved my ass from being fired I went back home and found my old box that you made me.”

“Wait, the one with the blue husky? You still have that?”

“Of course, you made it for me. After we drifted apart, it was the only thing I had to remember you by.”

“Well, you will be happy to know that I still have that picture of us at our first day of high school.”

“Seriously? I hate that picture, looked like horrible.”

“I don’t think do. You looked very pretty in that neon green leggings and floral top.” He said laughing.

“Anyway, I was going through the box when Elijah, my roommate came in and started looking at it with me.”

“Elijah?”

“Yes, you will be happy to know that he think you look very sexy now.”

“Wait…he is gay?”

“Yes…why?

“No reason.” He said taking a drink.

We sat for a few hours before we left.

“I had fun.” He said as we left the restaurant.

“I did too. It has been nice catching up.” I said smiling at him.

“Listen, do you want to go somewhere else?”

“Excuse me?”

“No, that is not what I meant…I mean not that I wouldn’t like to…wait I mean….im just going to shut up now.” He said running his hand through his hair.

“Calm down.” I said laughing a little.

“What I mean was… do you want to go get a drink somewhere?”

“That sounds great; I am not ready for this night to end.”

“Shall we?” he said holding his arm out.

I linked my arm in his as we walked down the sidewalk.

We went into a small bar and ordered some drinks.

After a while they started playing an old song.

“O my god…Issac, do you remember this song?” I said turning to him.

“Long Goodbye by Dwight Yoakam.”

“Come on.” I said dragging him to the dance floor.

At this point it was pretty obvious that I was drunk.

This was the last song we danced to together at our graduation dance in 8th grade…before high school.

We dance to a few more songs before I realized it was almost 1 in the morning.

We left the bar and the cool air was so refreshing.

“I think I had a little too much to drink.”

“Just a bit.” He said taking my hand.

He walked me back to my apartment.

“Thanks for walking me back.” I said once we reached the door.

“It’s not a problem. I had fun tonight.”

“Me too.” I said smiling at him.

He leaned down and gave me a kiss.

“Have a good night.” He said walking off.

I watched him get into the elevator and the doors close.

I opened the front door and shutting it.

“Wow…that look on your face says it went really well.”

“It was great…” I said leaning against the door.

“Well?” he said looking at me.

“What?”

“Tell me?”

“Well first we…” I told him what we did.

“What? He kissed you.”

“Yes, right before he left.”

“He likes you.” Elijah said walking out of the room.

Does he?

I laid down in bed and fell asleep thinking about it.

The next morning I met with Zoey for our Sunday lunch date.

“Wait, Genius Issac?” she said looking at me like I was crazy.

“Yes.” I said.

“Does he still wear glasses and look dorky?”

I pulled out my phone and showed her a photo.

“Wow.” She said her eyes wide.

“I know.” I said smiling at the photo before I put my phone away.

“Hello again, Hannah.”

I looked up and saw Benjamin standing there.

“Benjamin.”

“How are you doing today?”

“I am doing fine. This is my good friend Zoey Green.”

“Nice to meet you Ms. Green.”

“Likewise.” She said shaking his hand.

“Would you like to get dinner this evening?” he asked looking at me.

“Uh…sure.” I said.

A man in a dark suit walked up and whispered something into his ear.

“Excuse me…I will pick you up at 8.” He said smiling.

“Okay.” I said smiling at him.

“It was nice meeting you.” He said looking at Zoey before he left.

I turned and Zoey was looking at me.

“What?”

“How do you know Benjamin Scott?”

I told her what had happened the day I met him.

“Wait, so Benjamin Scott almost ran you over except Issac saved you?”

“Yep.”

“That is…ok?’

“What?”

“Nothing, I just find it really funny that you met both of them at the same time.”

“Elijah is jealous.”

“Why, isn’t he dating Alex still?”

“Yes. O and apparently Alex is always an ass because he is jealous of me.”

“Jealous of you?”

“I spend more time with Elijah than he does.”

“That is ridiculous, why doesn’t he just move in.”

“Elijah doesn’t want him too.”

“Ohhh, I smell some drama there.”

“Seriously?” I said looking at her.

She just shrugged and continued eating.

After we finished Zoey insisted on taking me shopping for a new outfit.

I finally got home at 5.

“Whoa, what is all this?” Elijah asked as me and Zoey walked in with bags.

“She has a date….with Benjamin Scott.”

“What?!”

“It is not a big deal.”

“Girl…you better get ready because we are going to make sure you look sexy.”

“Wait what?” I said as they closed my bedroom door.

It was 7 by the time they finished.

“There.” Elijah said.

I turned around and looked in the mirror.

I had on this powder blue dress on with white heals.

My hair was wavy and came around and fell on my chest.

I had to admit, I do look hot.

The next moment there was a knock at the door.

Zoey went and answered it.

“Ummm, Hannah?” she said coming into the bedroom.

“Who is it?” I said walking out and seeing Issac standing there.

“Wow.” He said when he saw me. “You look amazing.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you going somewhere?”

“She…” Elijah started to say before Zoey covered his mouth, dragging him into my room and closing the door.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

4: Chapter 4
Chapter 4

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

I was getting ready for a date with Benjamin when Issac showed up.

“I brought you this.” He said handing me a book.

“Les Liaisons Dangereuses...” I said looking at it.

“I know it was important to you since your grandmother gave it to you.”

“You kept it?”

“I was hoping that someday I would see you again.” He said smiling.

“I thought I had lost it.” I said opening it and reading the inscription in it.

“My Hannah Banana,

                Les Liaisons Dangereuses is one of my favorite books. It has taught me so much and I hope it will teach you many things as well. Treasure this as I have.  Remember, don’t be something you don’t want to because people expect it of you. You can be whatever you want no matter what society or anyone said.

                                                                                                Love,                                    

                                                                                                Grandmother Louna (Lou Lou)

I sat on the couch and started to cry.

“Grandma LouLou is the one who taught me French.” I said running my hand over the inscription.

“I remember.” Issac said sitting next to me.

“Thank you.” I said leaning over and hugging him.

The next moment there was a knock at the door.

Shit…Benjamin.

“Excuse me.” I said getting up and wiping my tears.

I opened the door.

“Hannah…” he said looking at me. “Are you ok?”

“I am fine, just memories of my grandmother.” I said. “Listen, I know we had planned on going out tonight but, I have a dear friend over and…”

“It’s fine. We can schedule for another evening.” He said wiping a tear off my cheek. “Just smile.” He said before he left.

I closed the door and turned around.

“If you had plans, I can go.” Issac said.

“It’s fine.” I said walking over to me bedroom and opening the door only to have Zoey and Elijah fall.

“You two can stop ease dropping.”

They both stood up.

I turned back around and looked at Issac.

“Let me get changed.” I said closing my bedroom door and getting changed.

When I came back out I was wearing jeans and a button up top.

They were all sitting on the couch.

“Well, I don’t know about you Zoe but I am getting hungry.” Elijah said.

“Me two, why don’t we go out.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Elijah said and they left.

“Could they be any more obvious?” I said laughing.

“I know… he said looking at me. “You ok?”

“Yea, to be honest I feel guilty.” I said sitting down.

“Why?”

“Because ever since I was moved here I have not thought about Grandma LouLou once except for when I got a call from mom that she passed.”

“I remember. I didn’t see you at the funeral.”

“I had to work with Angelica that day.”

“Well, now you have the book back to remember her by.”

“Thank you.”

“Of course. I loved your Grandma LouLou too you know.”

“Yea because she gave you free cookies whenever we went to her house.”

“Hey, those were damn good cookies.” He said laughing.

“Are you hungry?”

“Actually I am.” He said.

“How about I order us a pizza?”

“Sounds good to me.”

I smiled and got up to order a pizza.

After we ate dinner we were sitting on the couch.

“So, what is your favorite line from Les Liaisons Dangereuses?”

“Here.” He said taking the book and opening it up.

“L'humanité n'est pas parfaite dans n'importe quel mode ; pas plus dans le cas de mal que dans celui du bien ; Le criminel a ses vertus, tout comme l'honnête homme a ses faiblesses.” He said in fluent French.

“Humanity is not perfect in any fashion; no more in the case of evil than in that of good; The Criminal has his virtues, just as the honest man has his weaknesses.”

“I see you have not forgotten everything Grandma LouLou has taught you.” He said smiling.

“I like speaking French. It is easy to curse people out and not have them know what I said.”

“Very true.” He said laughing.

“It’s been great seeing you again.” I said looking at him.

“It has been great seeing you again too.”

I was looking at him when he leaned in for a kiss.

It was a light peck at first then became more passionate as he leaned me on the couch.

At that moment Elijah and Zoey decided to walk back in the front door.

“Whoa, sorry.”

Issac and I got up.

“I better get going anyway.” He said walking to the door as I followed him. “I’ll see you soon.” He said kissing me as he left.

I watched him walk down the hall then closed the door.

I turned and saw the two of them gawking at me.

“What?” is asked walking over and picking up our plates.

“Hello… we walk in and see you and Issac in make out mode on our sofa.” Elijah said.

“What happened?” Zoey asked.

“Nothing. We were talking about our lives and then he said it was great seeing me. I told him the same thing and then you two came home.”

“What would have happened if we didn’t?”

“I don’t know.” I said putting the left over pizza in the fridge.

“What do you mean you don’t know?”

“I mean I Don’t Know.”

“What about Benjamin?” asked Zoey.

“I think Benjamin is out of the picture Zoe.” Said Elijah.

“Does that mean that I can go after him then?”

We both turned and looked at her.

“What, he is sexy as hell and you know it.”

I just rolled my eyes at her and walked to my room.

“Good night you two.”

“Huh, Wait!” I heard them both say as I shut the door and plopped on my bed.

I opened the book and started to read it for the first time in 13 years.

I woke up the next morning to the alarm.

Crap…it was Monday.

Back to work again for Angelica the evil witch.

I got showered and dressed and went out to get coffee.

“Morning.” I said as Elijah came out of his room.

“You seem cheerful.” He said looking at me “Could it be because of last night with Issac?”

I told you nothing happened.” I said drinking my coffee.

“You can have an amazing time with someone without something happening.” He said walking over and pouring his coffee.

“I have to go. See you tonight.” I said walking out the door.

I got to work and got everything ready to Angelica before she came in.

“Anna, in my office.”  She said as she walked in.

I followed her into her office.

“Why is it that when I asked you to get the designs last week that someone that I did not know ended up with them?”

“I believe he told you that…”

“I know what he said. I am asking you.”

“Well, I was putting my phone away when he pulled me out of the way before a car hit me and I must have dropped them.”

“Was it really that hard for you to keep track of everything you had?”

“Angelica…”

“And then you were late getting back as well.”

“With all due respect I was…”

“You don’t have any respect for me. If you did you would do everything I ask without any problems.”

“I know but…”

“I am sorry Anna. You are fired.”

What?

I have worked for her for 3 years!

“You may go Anna.” She said shooing me out of her office like I was no one.

That did it, something in me snapped.

“It’s Hannah.”

“What?” she asked looking up from her work.

“My name is Hannah not Anna. I have worked for you for three years and you still don’t know my name. I have done everything you have asked for the past three years and now you are firing me?!” I said getting even more pissed walking toward her desk. “I have been running around at all hours of the day or night I even missed my grandmother’s funeral because of you! I have missed family holidays and even almost run over Friday and you don’t care! Not that it surprises me; you don’t care about anyone but yourself. I am glade that you fired me because now I can say this to you. You are the most Self-centered, careless person I have ever had to work for and the only reason no one else has said anything is because they don’t want to lose their job. Even people on the street call you a crazy psychotic bitch. That is the nicest thing I have heard them say. So let me tell you this. You are going to die all alone because you only care about yourself and no one else. Good luck finding someone who will put up with you as long as I have.” I said walking out.

As I was walking toward the elevator everyone was staring at me in shock.

Some people giving me thumbs up.

As the elevator doors close I collapse against the wall.

Holly shit, what did I just do?

Shit, I don’t have a job!

5: Chapter 5
Chapter 5

I walked down the street to the coffee shop and walked in.

"Hey Hannah," Said Zach, "The usual?"

"No, I'll just have a plain coffee." I said walking up to the counter.

"What, you are not getting 5 different drink for work?" he said pouring me a coffee and walking back.

"From now on they can get their own coffee." I said paying.

"What happened?"

"I got fired because I was late and didn't have the designs."

"Late...you are never late. You have came here at 2 in the afternoon every weekday for the past 3 years."

"I was late because I was almost ran over. Then she decided that I needed to go over to 32nd street and still be back in an hour."

"Are you ok?" 

"Yea i am fine. Just scared me." I said taking a sip. "Thanks Zach."

"See you later." he said waving at me as we wiped down the counter.

I walked around for a few hours trying to  find a new job.

I finally stopped at a cafe and got a quick lunch.

They sat me at a table outside in the sun. I was looking at the menu trying to figure out what I could get for cheap.

"Mind if I sit with you?"

I lowered the menu and looked up.

"Benjamin?"

"Hello again Hannah." He said smiling. "May I?"

"Please." i said gesturing for him to sit.

"How have you been?" He said waving over a waitress and whispering something in her ear.

"What brings you here?" I asked picking up the menu again.

"I was just walking out of the store across the street and saw you sitting here.

"So you walked all the way over her and sat down just to see me?"

"Would that be a bad thing?"

"I just hate to see you waist your time when you could be doing something useful with it."

"True, but I find seeing you brightens my day."

"Wow," I said sarcastically. I was not in the mood to hear his cheap lines.

"Is everything ok? You seem a little upset?"

"I'm fine, just have been looking for a job and have not had any luck."

"I thought that you worked for that magazine?"

"I got fired this morning after what happened on friday."

"What, did you tell her her what happened?"

"Yes. me and Issac both did."

"Issac?"

"Yes. He came to my work and brought a design back and explained it her before i even left on Friday."

"Ah." He said taking a drink. "Do you know him well?"

"We use to be friends back in school until we drifted apart in high school. I actually just met back up with him Friday."

"Is he the friend that was over yesterday?"

"Yes, but that is my business."

"You're right."

"I am sorry about yesterday. When he came over he brought me an old book that I thought I had lost years ago."

"Must have been a really important book to have you crying."

"It was very important to me. It was the only thing i had left of my grandmother before she passed."

"What is the book?"

"Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Do you know it?"

"I can't say that I have."

"It is an amazing book."

"Maybe I should come by and borrow it sometime."

"Only if you read french."

"What?"

"They whole book is in french."

"You know french."

"Yes, my grandmother taught me when I was younger."

"That is amazing. Say something in french."

"Ok...La serveuse prend jamais de venir prendre notre commande."

"Wow," he said looking at me. "What did you say?"

"I said that the waitress is taking forever to come take our order." i said smiling.

"It soundy sexier in french."

"Everything sounds sexier in french." i said laughing a little.

After we finished lunch he left and I headed back to the apartment.

I walked in the door and I saw Elijah yelling on the phone.

"No...Are you kidding me? Call me back when you calm down." he said hanging up.

He turned around and saw me.

"Hannah, what are you doing here?"

"Is everything ok?"

"Why are you not at work?"

"Don't change the subject, what happened?"

"That as Alex, he is mad that I wont go with him out of town to meet some of his family."

"Why won't you?"

"Because I...I don't know. Now tell me why you are home?"

"Angelica fired me for what happened last Friday."

"Seriously?"

"Yes, i have been going around all morning and looking for a new job but i have not had any luck."

"What happened?"

"Well, when she told me i was fired I lost it."

"O my god...what did you do?"

"Don't look at me like that, i didn't kill her."

"What did you do."

"I just said a few choice words for her."

"Like?"

I told him what I had said to her. As I did his eyes widened.

"Are you crazy?!" he said

"What?"

"After saying all that to her how do you expect to get a job? There is no way she will give peopl a good reference after you saying all that to her."

"You are right..." I said putting my face in my hands. "What am I going to do?"

"Don't worry, you will find something."

"What about the rent? I can't pay if i dont have a job."

"I got it covered."

"What?"

"I have been prepared for you to quit that job for a long time so i have money saved up to cover your half og the rent."

"But..."

"Dont, you are my best friend Hannah. You think i am just going to throw you out on the street?"

"No, but."

"Stop it, I..."

That moment my phone started to ring.

"Hello?"

"Hannah Murray?"

"This is her."

"This is Patricia Esparza at Celebrity Gossip Magazine."

"What can I do for you?"

"We need you to come back to the office tomorrow morning at nine."

"Of course."

"Alright we will see you then." I said hanging my cell phone up.

I turned to look at Elijah who was talking on the phone again. I went into my room and picked out an outfit for tomorrow. Maybe if i begged they will give me my job back? Who am I kidding, after the display I put on I wouldn't hire me. I pulled out a purple skirt with a white top. Added a long necklace and my black heals. That should be good I think. I took it and hung it up on the back of my door right as Elijah opened it.

"Hey, who was that?" he asked.

"The CEO of Celebrity Gossip."

"What did she say?"

"That they needed me to come in tomorrow at nine."

"Well I hope it works out for you."

"What about you, was that Alex on the phone?"

"Yea." he said falling back onto my bed. "He said that he was going away if I was going or not. He said if I didn't go it says a lot about how I feel about him."

"well, how do you feel about him Elijah?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well from the way you have been treating him lately it seems like you don't really want to be in a relationship with him."

"That is not true. I love him."

"Then what is going on?"

"I am just afraid."

"Of what?"

"I just...sometimes i feel like I am not good enough for him. I am afraid if he moves in that he will see that and I am afraid that his family will see that."

"Elijah, you two have been together for more than 6 years. If thought that in anyway he would not have stayed with you this long."

"But..."

"Have you told Alex any of this?"

"No, he hasn't

We both turned around and saw Alex standing in the doorway.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to talk to you. Why haven't you talked to me about any of this?"

"I was afraid."

"Elijah, I don't think that at all, in fact most days I think you are to good for me."

"Really. Other people can think what they want but I know how i feel about you no matter what anyone else says. I love you Elijah." he said walking up to Elijah.

"I love you too Alex." he said kissing him.

I smiled looking at them. I am glad that they have worked things out.

They continued to kiss in the middle of my room.

I wish they would continue working things out in another room though.

I left them alone...with the door open... and went into the kitchen to get a drink.

Later that evening they came out of Elijah's room carrying bags.

"I take it you are going?" i asked smiling.

"Yes, I hope that is ok?"

"I don't need you staying her to babysit me Elijah." 

"Okay, I will be back in a few weeks." He said as they headed out the door.

"Have fun." i said closing the door. 

Now what was I going to do. Elijah was gone for a week and Zoey didn't get off for another 4 hours. I could call Issac, no I don't want to bother him. Benjamin? No, I rather not call him. He is a little to...I don't know. I leaned against the counter while i waited for my dinner to finish cooking.