Ask Jake (Book One of the Whisper Series)

Nine: Big Blizzard

As soon as Angela's office door is closed behind me, I see Monica running in my direction. She wraps her arms around me and says, "I couldn't tell you! She's so happy. Congratulations. You and Adam are the only two people in whole company she seems to like right now. Enjoy it while it lasts."

"I am in shock. I did not see that coming," I say.

"Well, how could you?" She is still hugging me.

"I feel so...alive." I laugh and she laughs with me.

I leave her office and go straight down to the Design Department. I am surprised when I open the door and the small team I was working with on the Ask Jake design look over at me and start to clap. After a few hugs, and compliments, we get to work going over the final design.

I've never been really proud of anything I've done at Whisper. Sure my first few articles to go to print were a really big deal, but by the time we got done with all the editing, they weren't really my articles. Even though Ask Jake is written from a man's perspective, or an asshole named Jake's perspective, and not entirely what I would say, I feel really good about it.

I leave Design and head straight up to finance. I stop myself.

Why am I going to see Adam, when I should be running over the Roxy's desk, my best friend?

I pull into a washroom, thinking about my question, and wait until I come up with a satisfying answer. It's because of Adam and Greg that I got my first article completed. He is my friend too. He could become one of my best friends, I think.

I text Roxy from the elevator:

ME: *She made NO changes. Can you believe it?*

ROXY: *Is this a joke? Who is this? Is hell freezing over?*

ME: *lol. I'll tell you later.*

ROXY: *Two day turn around, NO changes. Unheard of Gilli! Congratulations girl!*

The elevator stops on the 15th floor and I step out. Adam is standing there, waiting for an elevator.

"Hey!" He is, positively, glowing. "What are you doing up here? Or where you on your way down from Angela's and I just hijacked your elevator?" he questions, holding the door from closing.

"No, I just left design. I was coming to see you. Where are you going?" I ask.

"You were?" he says, and he lets to elevator door close. "I, um, I am...going to get some coffee down the street." He's stuttering and I have no idea why, but its cute. He clears his throat and starts again, "I know it's really weird, but New York blizzards are my favorite holiday. With everyone panicing, and running around trying to get stuff done. Like, if they don't get their dry cleaning before tonight, they will never see their clothes again. I like to go out there and just watch."

"Are you kidding me? I do the same thing! Here I thought I was weird!" I can't help but laugh.

He pushes the elevator call button again.

"Really, you do? Come on...come with me," he says as the elevator doors open. He holds out his arm and allows me to enter first. A natural gentleman.

Strolling through the lobby, I see Phil coming back into the building holding a coffee and newspaper. He see's Adam and I together and looks away. For some reason, Adam says, "Hey Phil!" really loud and I'm shocked. "Yeah, hi," I hear him say, as I scroll through my phone in an attempt to ignore him.

We walk to a coffeehouse down the street and sit outside. Together, we laugh and make fun of all the people scrambling around and acting crazy. He tells me about going to college at Columbia and asks about my college career. We talk about my time at NYU, but don't mention my undergrad.