Burning Desire

Chapter 2

I typed out a quick response to an email I'd received from Joseph. With it being Friday and most of the writers at Satisfaction calling it a day early, I was usually one of the last people in the office. The majority of my coworkers left shortly after lunch. Mandy didn't even stay as long as I did. I was dedicated to my work, though, and I didn't mind staying late. Although, it wasn't really late, considering work ended at five and it was just after three.

"You're still here?" Nicole asked from my doorway.

Ugh. Her.

I nodded. "I usually stay later than everyone. Why are you here?"

Okay, maybe that sounded a little bitchier than I meant for it to.

"Amanda is looking to promote a writer," she said, calling Mandy by her real name.

If Mandy had been within earshot, she probably would have snapped at her. No one was allowed to call her Amanda.

She continued, "I'm staying late everyday so she'll see that I'm serious about my job and I want the promotion."

"Mandy's not even here to see you stay late," I frowned. "She left two hours ago."

I was annoyed by the idea that she thought she deserved this promotion more than Selena or I did. Or anyone else for that matter. Nicole, though she looked sweet and innocent, was a bitch in disguise. She had been stealing article ideas from Joseph for weeks, but he hadn't told Mandy because he thought Nicole was hot, and that letting her use his ideas would get her in bed with him. I disagreed, but it wasn't up to me. Since they weren't my ideas she was using, it wasn't my place to say anything to Mandy. I hoped Joseph would tell her sooner or later, though.

"And you haven't been here very long," I pointed out, staring a hole through my computer screen.

It didn't seem fair that we'd all been at Satisfaction a lot longer than Nicole, yet she might still get this promotion. The job was a position right under Mandy, writing the Featured Story, which got two full pages in the magazine.

Raquel, our current Featured Story author, was taking a new job with Blush Magazine in Los Angeles, and Mandy needed to fill that spot within the next couple weeks. For the past three years, Raquel had written the literal biggest story in every issue of the magazine. The Featured Story was whatever the most important news of the week or month was, along with whatever additional subject the author wanted to write about, which included everything from political races to the next baby birthed by a Kardashian. If I got that promotion, I could write about anything I wanted. No more How to Please Your Man in Bed or The Top 10 Sexiest Lingerie Trends.

Nicole raised a perfectly drawn on eyebrow and placed her hands on her hips, staring daggers at me. "But I am very competitive."

Yeah, that was definitely true.

I didn't care to start an argument with her, so I didn't respond. I continued looking through my emails.

Not getting the reaction she'd hoped for, Nicole turned on her stiletto heel and dramatically exited my office.

"Isn't she delightful?" Selena rolled her eyes, leaning in the doorway in a shiny silver dress.

Every Friday she liked to dress up to work. She said it helped her confidence level.

I laughed inwardly. "A peach."

"I'm sorry I've been so busy today," she apologized, sitting down across from me. "I'm about to head out, but I wanted to come find out about how your coffee date with that guy went."