From Rags to Riches

Making friends

Rebecca:

I wake up the next morning and I feel hot. Extremely hot. I force my eyes open and I see Jordan draped over me; his arm over my waist, his right leg trapping both of mine between his and his head nuzzled between my breasts. When did this happen? I crane my neck to look down at his face and it's so carefree. He looks so peaceful and I smile at the sight. I reach my left arm over and comb my fingers through his hair.
"Jordan" I whisper in his ear, only to be given a grunt as a response before he nuzzles his face further into my chest. I get that familiar feeling I get whenever he touches me and I lean down to kiss his temple.
"Baby, time to get up" I say a little louder and I feel his eyes flutter open.
"What time is it?" He asks.
"Seven" I say and I hear him gasp and sit up; removing all contact between us.
"What is it?" I ask as he stares bewildered into space. Is it me? Is it because he wrapped himself around me when he didn't want to? I put my hands in my lap and stare down at them. I feel him shift on the bed and I look up at him when I feel him tap my shoulder. He's now sitting up against the headrest holding his arms our for me. I smile shyly and lie back down; resting my head in the crook of his arm.
"Moving beautiful" he says and leans down to plant the softest kiss on my lips.
"Good morning, what happened just then?" I decide to broach the subject and he sighs.
"I- I didn't have a nightmare" he confesses and I frown.
"A nightmare?" I ask and he nods.
"I normally get them every night. They normally include the pimp hurting me in some way, but last night... Last night I dreamt nothing" I can see him trying to work out why that happened. I stroke his cheek with my hand and he looks down at me with his mesmerising grey eyes. I've never seen a colour like it.
"Do you want to tell me about them?" I suggest but he shakes his head.
"Not yet. Maybe one day" he tells me and I just nod. I don't want to push him. Just then a little voice comes over the baby monitor.

"Mumma? Mummy, I'm hun'ry" Jordan giggles as we both get out of bed.
"I'll get her, you get in the shower" he tells me and gives me a quick kiss before walking out the room. I follow him upstairs into the room Sienna is in and I grin at my little girl sitting in bed.
"Hey beautiful" I greet her and kiss her head. She frowns up at me with her powder blue eyes.
"You said not to go to Jordy's room" she scolds me and I can't help but giggle. I look at Jordan and for a split second he looks hurt, but soon composes himself and he's laughing with me. I make a mental note to ask him about that later. Jordan scoops Sienna up and she laughs as he tickles her stomach.
"Let's leave mummy to change and we'll get some food in this tummy" he whisks her off downstairs as I enter the bathroom and strip my clothes. The warm water feels amazing against my skin and I can't help but smile thinking about Jordan with Sienna. He's incredible with her, how has he not done the girlfriend thing? He seems to be an amazing person who has saved my life, why would he not want to date?

I enter the great room twenty minutes later wearing a red peplum dress and nude heels. Jordan grins as he sees me and stands up, making his way towards me.
"You look beautiful honey, but am I going to have to watch and make sure you don't run off with one of the many men that will be ogling you today?" He asks and laughs. I can't help but blush, what does he see in me?
"Breakfast is ready, I'm going to take a shower" he gives me a kiss before walking towards his bedroom. I sit down next to Sienna who is covered in syrup as she munches on her pancakes.
"You enjoying that baby?" I ask her as I wipe her face and she nods.
"Yummy!" She exclaims with a grin. I giggle and start eating a bowl of granola with yogurt and mixed berries.
Another fifteen minutes later and Jordan and I have left Sienna with Cara and are making our way to work. Mason drops me off first and Jordan squeezes my hand that he hasn't let go of since we got in the car.
"Have a good day, Mason or Reid will get you when you finish, call them if something changes ok?" He tells me and from his tone of voice I can tell I shouldn't question him. We don't live that far away from my work, can't I walk? But instead I just smile and thank him.
"See you tonight, have fun ruling the world" I say and lean over to kiss him. I get the same feeling every time I kiss him, the same spark. We're both breathless when we pull away and I get out the car when Mason opens my door. I thank him with a nod and make my way into the building.

As always, SIP, or Seattle Independent Publishing, is busy with people rushing around trying to meet deadlines and get to meetings and conferences on time. I make my way up to the sixth floor and set my bag down at my desk. Being an assistant to Commissioning Editor Mark Fielding means I have to help edit manuscripts and proof read his work before it gets sent off. It also means I'm the victim of the coffee and sandwich run every morning and lunchtime. Once I've logged in to my computer, Mark comes over and stands right behind me.
"I have a meeting with the Editor-in- Chief in an hour and she's asked for your presence" he tells me and I nod up at him with a smile.
"Anything else Mark?" I say and he shakes his head.
"No, I'll have a coffee after the meeting" he tells me and goes back into his office.

An hour later and I'm sitting in on a meeting with the editing board with Evelynn Jones at the head of the table. At only twenty- seven years of age, Evelynn has such a strong presence. She has striking red hair that comes down in thick waves with piercing green eyes. Her pale complexion makes her features stand out even more and most of my colleagues find her incredibly intimidating. But not me. She's the one that gave me my job. Mark was adamant he didn't want me; said the usual story about me not having the qualifications. But Evelynn saw my drive and passion; something she wants in a worker. We spoke for ages after my interview, and she has a little girl around Sienna's age. Elise will start kindergarten in the fall, and I seriously need to think about enrolling Sienna. She needs to have a social life, my little girl has no friends and it's all down to me.
Before I know it, the meeting is over and Evelynn calls me back to her office.
"Take a seat, Rebecca" she tells me as she walks around to sit behind her desk.
"What do you need me to do?" I ask her and she just smiles.
"Oh nothing, well I do, but nothing to do with work. This Friday I'm making you finish work at one o'clock. I need a shopping partner" she tells me and I stare at her.
"Me? Are you serious? I don't pick this stuff out" I say drawing attention to my outfit. She smirks at me and raises her eyebrow. Oh boy.
"Oh yes, and how is Jordan?" She asks. I blush immediately. Evelynn and I share emails and texts constantly, and they're almost never work related.
"We erm... We- may have advanced in our situation last night" I stutter and she gasps.
"You slept together?!"
"No! Well yes, but not like that! We literally slept together, in the same bed, fully clothed!" I ramble and she laughs.
"Oh Rebecca, you are a sweetheart. Ok that's it. I say you bring Sienna round my place, Duke can watch the kids and we will go shopping, go to the salon, the works!" She claps her hands with excitement and I can't help but feel the excitement too. A new look? A new me? Why not. I've started a new chapter in my life, why not pair it with a new look?
"Ok, you have yourself a deal. Are you sure Duke won't mind though, I mean he has work" Duke is Evelynn's husband. He's also a writer, but he works from home so he can watch Elise.
"No it's fine, that's why he works from home. Oh I'm so excited. Now go, I need those manuscripts on my desk by five" she orders and I giggle as I stand up.
"Yes boss"
"And also, tell Mark he's an arsehole"
"Anything for the top dog" I wink at her as I make my way to the elevator and back down to my desk.