Desire | Shawn Mendes

FOUR

Song of the Chapter: Let Your Heart Hold Fast - Fort Atlantic

"So let your heart hold fast / For this soon shall pass."
- -

"Thank you!" I say to the cab driver as I exit after tipping and paying. The door closes at my touch and I walk into the restaurant and search for my coworkers, Elisa and Braden. I spot the two as they have an iPad and notepad out with them. I smirk, shaking my head as I walk over to them.

"What happened to no work on the weekends?" I ask as I place my brown purse on my chair.

"Sorry, we're workaholics." Braden says with his deep laugh. I walk over to him and exchange cheek kisses and then do the same with Elisa before I move my purse to the floor under the table and take a seat on the cushioned wicker chair. "How's your spread coming along?"

"I am in love with how it's coming along! I mean..." I begin.

"Oh, I thought you hated work talk?" Elisa asks sarcastically.

"Fine. You're right. I guess you'll have to wait until next month to read the exclusive and juicy breakup from Robin Cooper." I say as I pick up my menu.

"Shut. Up!" Braden says in a loud whisper.
"You did not! Jasmine, tell me you're lying!" Elisa says.

"I got it! You guys are going to flip the fuck out at this scoop! I mean, oh my god!" I say as I begin to reach into my purse and pull out my tape recorder and headphones. I slide it over to the two and take a sip of my water. "Skip to the nine minute mark."

While they listen to the tape, I reach into my purse and take out my phone and check my emails. There's an email for Robin Cooper herself, and for a second I'm worried she wants to scrap the breakup scoop. My heart rate eases when I see that she's thanked me for the wonderful interview, and even mentioned that she was personally gifting me with her new album, front row tickets and backstage access to any show. After emailing her a reply, I go to my messages and reply to important ones and then put my phone away back in my bag.

Braden and Elisa each share an earphone and listen to the tape. I watch them as they react to the tape until it finishes. Braden hands the two items back to me and sighs. "Damn, I hate you."

"How do you do it?" Elisa asks me. "How do you get them so comfortable around you? You just got the biggest scoop ever. I mean, this article alone will definitely increase next issues sales."

"Shut up. That could never happen." I say.

"Jasmine, you're one of the few best writers this magazine has seen." Braden compliments me.

"And you're so young, too. I mean, you've been here four years and already you're so close to getting bumped up to senior writer instead of staff writer." Elisa adds.

"I just know you're gonna get picked for the sports issue." Braden smiles at me.

"Oh they green lit that idea?" I ask.
"Yes! The office is gonna be filled with hot ass men!" Elisa adds.

"I'm praying that I get someone hot!" Braden says.
"They're all hot." Elisa replied to him.

"True, but you know who I want." He winks.