I finally ask, after a shoot one afternoon, “When will I be allowed to assist with the lights? Or a shoot? Or tag along to a wedding?”
Sophia turns slowly and looks at me like I’ve said something funny. When I wait for an answer, she places her hand over her heart and says, “Oh my God, you’re serious. You think you’ll get to shoot. How sweet.”
“Of course I thought I’d get to shoot. You told me over the phone that I’d be doing all of these awesome things, and I’m not doing any of them. I’m not learning anything.” Sophia has me sorting extension cords and wrapping them with zip ties. A large orange cord dangles from my wrists as I speak.
“I told you about the things you would do if you were hired here. I wasn’t referring to the internship, dear.” When Sophia says “dear” she really means “idiot.”
Remembering the conversation, I shake my head. “No, I specifically recall you telling me to intern with you—that Cole couldn’t teach me the things you could. Then you went into detail about what those things were. Bundling extension cords wasn’t on the list.” I sound snitty, but I don’t care. I feel like this was the biggest bait and switch I’ve ever fallen for.
Sophia steps toward me, her stiletto heel clicking on the tiled floor. “Cole, is it? Not Mr. Stevens?” She arches a brow at me. When I say nothing, she smiles as if she knows how hard I’ve fallen for him. “Do yourself a favor and get over him.”
I hate the way she’s talking to me. I smirk, “I’ve never been under him and I don’t plan on it, so there’s nothing to get over. He was just more casual in how he conducted his business.”
Folding her slender arms across her chest she says, “I see. And tell me, Anna dear—did he keep you around? No. He fired you like all the rest. Every year it’s the same thing; interns calling up, crying their eyes out that Cole Stevens fired them. Please hire me, Ms. Sottero.” She tilts her head at me, “I would have thought you had more sense.”
I never told her that the university was the reason I didn’t finish with Cole. I can’t reply without making it known, so I just look away.
“Thought so,” she says, and saunters away, spewing verbal vomit at the next client.
CHAPTER 10
After two weeks of non-stop Sottero I want to rip my ears off and my nerves are shot to Hell. Jesse offers to meet me at the bar on the way home. Still wearing my work clothes, I see him standing outside waiting for me. He looks good, wearing dark washed blue jeans and a black blazer. When he turns his gaze in my direction, his eyes slip over my tight skirt and sheer blouse. My jacket is over my arm. I would have thrown the shoes away on the subway, but walking barefoot in the city was a surefire way to contract cooties.
“Thank God,” I say, when I get close enough. My entire body wants to fold in half.
Jesse grins and takes my jacket. “That bad?”
“Worse,” I say heading for the door. “Take the worst thing you can imagine and multiple it by a hundred. Then add the word idiot to the end and that sums it up. I plan on getting completely and totally drunk. I’m afraid you’ll be responsible for me for the rest of the evening.”
“Sure, but won’t Sophia go crazy on you if you show up with a hangover?” He holds the door for me. I look into my purse, trying to fish out my ID in the dim light. There are a few people in line in front of us.
I shake my head, “Nope. Tomorrow is Sottero-free. I have the day off. My only day off, so I plan on getting every annoying thought of her out of my head so I don’t accidentally claw her face off Tuesday morning.”
Jesse laughs. “Your eye is twitching again.”
I feel it flutter and press them closed, listening to Jesse chuckle. His arm wraps around my shoulders and pushes me forward. When I look up, I hand my ID to the guy at the door. He nods and let us pass.
The bar is dark and fairly crowded, but there are so many people in Manhattan that, at times, I go weeks without seeing a familiar face. I don’t expect to see him sitting there at the bar, hunched over a drink. When Cole looks up, his gaze makes my heart convulse. My feet don’t move. Whatever Jesse was saying is lost.
Cole’s gaze slides from me to Jesse, to Jesse’s arm at the small of my back pressing me toward the bar, and Cole. I stiffen and feel Jesse’s gaze on my face. He follows my stare across the room as he asks, “What’s wrong?”
I don’t answer. Instead I watch Cole get up and toss cash on the bar. He walks toward me and I’m caught in those sapphire eyes. There’s nothing else there. There’s no bar. There’s no Jesse. There’s no Sophia making my life hell. It’s the way it was last time we were together. It’s all tension and tingles. It’s all sweaty thoughts and scandalous surges of lust.
Cole stops in front of us. “Miss Lamore,” he says.
I don’t correct him. I try to steady my voice even though my heart is beating wildly. “This is Jesse.”
Cole turns his gaze to Jesse. “Mr. Oden.”