Page 107 of Madden
“Thank you.” I smile. “I’m so glad to hear you liked it.”
“Liked it? Girl, I loved it. You blew me away, and I have to say it’s drawn some attention around here.”
I swallow hard. “Really?”
She nods enthusiastically. “Absolutely. I planned on having this conversation with you tomorrow after we hit our deadlines, but since we’re sitting down together, I might as well talk to you about it now. As you know, we’ve recently made some changes, and I was offered the position as editor-in-chief. I wanted to know how you felt about taking over my role as managing editor.”
I sit up in my seat and attempt to smooth over the surprise I know is written all over my face. This is the last thing I expected to hear when I walked in here.
Hell, I only started my job at Limelight a few months ago. How have I been offered this opportunity in such a short time?
“Wow, I have to admit I hadn’t expected this. Thank you for the opportunity and for believing in me.”
The smile on her face is beaming. How is it someone I’ve only recently met seems to be prouder of me than my own parents?
Something about that thought seems to make the weight of what I’m about to say even harder.
“Does that mean you’ll take it?”
I fold my hands in my lap, squeezing them together before forcing myself to say the words.
“I truly do appreciate the opportunity and am so grateful to have worked with you. It honestly makes what I’m about to say more difficult, but I’ve made the decision to resign from Limelight. This will be my two-week notice.”
Her face falls, and I think she’s as shocked now as she had me a few minutes ago.
When she follows it up by asking me if something happened, I don’t know where to even start. So I start from the beginning, from my first interview with A Rebels Havoc all the way up to the end.
By the time we wrapped up our conversation, I’m even more mentally drained.
It’s been weighing on my mind knowing A Rebels Havoc’s tour starts this weekend, which means Madden will be in the city.
I pack up my things and debate canceling my plans when I enter the elevator, before reminding myself why I agreed to join Davis in the first place. I need to get out and keep my mind occupied on things besides how much I miss Madden.
I don’t notice Kyla and Ivy when I step out the doors of Limelight until I hear them shout my name down the sidewalk. I stop, turning around in search of where the sound came from, when I spot them standing near a black SUV with Abel.
Kyla yells for me to wait, before taking off running toward me. Ivy is hot on her heels, and Abel follows them.
What the hell are they doing here?
Kyla presses her hand against her chest to try and catch her breath when she reaches me.
“Jesus, I should know better than to try and run in four-inch Jimmy Choos,” she snickers.
I notice the change in her demeanor from the last time I saw her, and I wonder if it has anything to do with the audio file I emailed her a couple weeks ago.
I force a smile and twist the ring on my hand, trying to avoid showing how anxious I am over why they’re here.
“Is something wrong? Is Madden okay?”
They glance between each other and shake their heads. My face falls, and Kyla darts her hand out to stop my line of thought.
“No, no, he’s okay, in the physical sense, but he’s not my brother.”
The familiar ache in my chest is back at her admission.
“He hasn’t been handling things well. Hell, with the drama with Hanna, the break-in, and all the damages, it’s been a lot for him to deal with, but I think the part he’s handling the worst is losing you.”
I wince, flicking my gaze to the concrete. “That makes two of us.”