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“I wanted to thank you for helping us get Hilary Duff for the August cover. I saw her

photos from the shoot and they're beautiful.” She smiled brilliantly and leaned back in her chair.

“You’re welcome. When Keira Knightley canceled, I knew Warren would be pulling his

hair out and running around like a headless chicken trying to find a replacement. I had the

contact number for Hilary’s publicist, so I figured it was worth a shot.”

“When Farrah was injured and went on disability, you stepped in and took the lead on her

unfinished projects. The people from
Burberry
told me they were very impressed with you. I

wanted you to know I appreciated you coming through for us in times of desperation.” Her voice

lowered. “I know I don’t always thank you.” She leaned toward me and crossed her arms on the

desk. “I’ve noticed how hard you’ve been working.” She paused and sighed. “I know you’ve had

problems organizing, but you’ve improved tremendously. I think it’s time we recognize

everything you’ve accomplished here.”

I know my blue eyes were wide. The anticipation to hear the rest of her conversation was

killing me.

Thankfully, she didn’t disappoint me. With a smile, she said, “As you know, we’re doing

a shoot in three weeks for Vera Wang’s new
Princess
bridal line.”

Copyright © 2011 April Bostic

T H E H O W L I N G H E A R T

A p r i l B o s t i c P a g e |
14

I unconsciously leaned toward her and felt my BlackBerry about to slip out of my sweaty

hand. I clutched it tightly.

“I want
you
to lead the project. I’m giving you full creative control. This will be
your

photo shoot. Consult with me if you need anything that requires my approval.” I gasped, and her

lips shimmering with gloss spread into a wide grin. “You
do
know what this means, don’t you?”

I swallowed against a nervous lump in my throat and my voice was a pathetic croak.

“No…what?”

She leaned back again, but kept her hands on the desk. “I’m promoting you to Creative

Designer.” I squeezed the life out of my BlackBerry. I was so stunned that I gaped openly. “Yes,

yes, you’re excited. I know, I can tell,” she said dryly.

I smiled in relief, and this time could appropriately express my gratitude. “Thank you,

Nina.”

“You’re welcome.” She quickly went to work on her laptop. This abrupt change of action

meant she dismissed me. I stood slowly because my knees felt weak. As I turned to walk out of

her office, she called out to me. “Wait, I need you to get Marc Jacobs on the phone. I must speak

with him ASAP.”

“Right away.” I scurried toward the door.

I paused in the doorway because I heard her say, “Oh, and Paige…”

I turned around. “Yes?”

She gave me a hard look. “Don’t let me down.”

I hoped she could hear the earnest conviction in my voice. “I won’t…I promise.”

After I connected Nina with Marc, I went downstairs to the Advertising department to

share my promotion news with my boyfriend Travis who worked as a Junior Executive.

Relationships in the workplace were not encouraged, but we’ve successfully kept ours a secret

for the last six months.

I walked down the hallway toward his office. Excitement filled me and my steps were

swift. His office had a giant window facing the hall, and what I saw inside caused me to halt my

steps. He had a visitor and they seemed a little too close for my comfort. Heather, one of the

project leaders, looked like she was having an amazing time chatting with my man. With her legs

crossed, her short black skirt rode up her thigh as she sat casually on the arm of his loveseat.

Copyright © 2011 April Bostic

T H E H O W L I N G H E A R T

A p r i l B o s t i c P a g e |
15

I slowed my steps and proceeded with caution. I didn’t want to jump to conclusions, so I

continued to watch them. Travis has always been outgoing and friendly with everyone, but his

demeanor with Heather caused me concern, especially the way he hovered over her and his hand

rested on her thigh.

She flipped her long blonde hair over one shoulder and dipped her head back as she

laughed. I knew that move: expose more of your feminine neck so he thinks about putting his

mouth there. Her tangerine top, cut ridiculously low this afternoon, showed more cleavage than

was professionally necessary. The closer I came, the more details I noticed, like her black lace

bra peeking out from underneath her top and Travis’ fingers making small circles against her

bare skin.

When Heather put her hand on his chest, and he moved in closer, I entered his office

without knocking. I pushed the door so hard, it banged against the doorstopper. Travis jumped

away from her and his hand went to his chestnut hair in a nervous gesture.

He stammered, “Oh hey, Paige. What’s up?” Then he cleared his throat and glanced

warily at Heather.

Busted
.

I stood there with a fake smile plastered on my face. “Hi Travis, got a minute?”

He smiled back. Then his blue-gray eyes turned their attention back to Heather. “Could

you excuse us?”

Heather sucked in her cheeks and threw me a superior look.

I lifted an eyebrow and put a hand on my hip.
I DARE you to say something to me, bitch
.

She took her time getting up, almost reluctantly. Rolling her blue eyes, she sighed in

annoyance. “Yeah, whatever.” Her black high heels clicked on the floor as she walked past me

and I was tempted to extend my foot. I heard her voice behind me sounding like a seductive purr.

“Talk to you later, Trav.”

Travis gave her a dismissive wave. “Okay, yeah.”

I heard Heather's footsteps until they faded around the corner. I waited for Travis to

explain, but he just looked at me with a blank expression. I guess my hard stare was making him

uncomfortable because he moved to sit behind his desk.

“So, what’s up?”

Copyright © 2011 April Bostic

T H E H O W L I N G H E A R T

A p r i l B o s t i c P a g e |
16

I marched up to his desk. “What’s
up
? I should be asking
you
that question. What’s up

with you and Heather? What was
that
about? You guys were awfully chummy, don’t you think?

Your hand was on her thigh and you looked like you were going to kiss her.” My jealousy

bubbled below the surface now.

Travis wouldn’t meet my gaze and I felt my anger rising. To think, I came here excited to

share my good news.
Thanks for bursting my happy bubble with your playboy tendencies, Trav
.

“I was bribing her,” he said nonchalantly. “I need her help with something. She’s

attracted to me, and I know she’ll give into me if I pretend to flirt with her.”

I scoffed in disbelief. “Really? You expect me to believe that bullshit?”

He finally met my gaze. “Yes, I do, Paige.” He stood abruptly and came around to the

other side of the desk. His six-foot-two stature towered over my five-foot-seven frame. “I expect

you to trust me.”

I sighed. “Yeah, well, it’s difficult when I see you in compromising positions like that.”

His arm encircled my waist. “I’m sorry, Paige.” His expression softened. “It was

nothing…really. I’m just using my natural, God given gift of charm to get what I want from her.”

He winked and gave me a roguish look.

I was about to put my arms around his neck, but then remembered people could see us.

My arms remained at my sides.

“What if she wants something
else
in return like a jump in the sack?”

He laughed lightly. “No way. I told her I had a girlfriend.” My eyes widened in surprise.

“Don’t worry. I didn’t mention your name.”

Deep down I wished he had.

I sat on one of the chairs in front of his desk. “I came here to tell you some good news.”

Travis smiled and perched himself on the edge of the desk. “Nina promoted me to Creative

Designer.”

His eyes widened in shock. “Really? That’s great, babe.” He put a gentle hand on my

shoulder. “Hey, you deserve it,” he said tenderly. “I hear you’re always helping people get out of

tight situations and still meet their deadlines. It’s about time Nina recognized it too.”

“Thanks, baby,” I replied fondly.

He moved from his spot to stand behind me. “Do you know what we should do?”

Copyright © 2011 April Bostic

T H E H O W L I N G H E A R T

A p r i l B o s t i c P a g e |
17

I felt his hands on my shoulders, and closed my eyes when he massaged them. “No,

what?”

“We should celebrate.”

“Really? How?”

He moved in front of me, his expression joyous. “What about a get-together at your

apartment? You could invite some friends and co-workers, serve finger food, and break out the

champagne. It’ll be awesome!”

I smiled at his enthusiasm and agreed with his idea.

* * * * *

That night, I invited some close friends and a few co-workers to my apartment. Travis

was there, but we couldn’t act like a couple. It really sucked I couldn’t express my feelings for

him in my own home.

My best friend Jules was at the party and decided to help our situation. While I chatted

with a few guests, she approached me and whispered in my ear. “Take Travis into the bedroom

for a few minutes and make out with him.” I almost spit out my champagne. She laughed and her

olive green eyes blinked innocently. “You know you want to. Just look at him over there.”

I turned to see Travis leaning against a wall with his champagne glass in one hand. He

looked delectable and handsome in his black t-shirt and denim jeans. He had been hitting the

gym extra hard lately and it was definitely paying off. The short sleeves showed off his muscular

arms.

I took another sip of my champagne and mumbled, “Um, maybe later.”

Jules shrugged before she walked away. “Suit yourself.”

Later became sooner when I finally decided I wanted a private moment alone with my

boyfriend. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find him. I decided to ask Jules, but ironically, she seemed

to be anxious to tell me something.

She approached me with a worried look on her face. “Go outside,” she said urgently.

In less than a second, my expression changed from concern to confusion. “What?”

“Go outside. I would come with you, but you need to see it for yourself.”

Copyright © 2011 April Bostic

T H E H O W L I N G H E A R T

A p r i l B o s t i c P a g e |
18

“See what, Jules?” I felt uneasy by her insistence and swallowed hard. I wasn’t sure I

wanted to see this.

“Just go, Paige! Hurry!”

She took my glass and I walked swiftly out the front door of my apartment and down the

hall. I had almost made it outside, but didn’t need to take another step because I saw what Jules

wanted me to see: Travis and Heather in a romantic lip-lock.

Rage boiled inside me and quickly bubbled over when I screamed, “TRAVIS!” I was

surprised my voice didn’t break the glass on the entrance door.

Still in a lover’s embrace, Travis and Heather unsealed their lips from one another and

looked at me standing in the hall. When my eyes---blurred with tears of betrayal---met Travis’

wide eyes, I ran out the entrance door and attacked him. My fists were flying but he managed to

push me off his body.

He grabbed my arms in a vice grip and yelled, “Paige! Calm down!”

I struggled against his grip until he released me. Then I slapped his face as hard as I could.

He doubled-over, and I heard Heather’s shrill voice. “You crazy bitch!”

I think I blacked out after that because the next thing I remember, Jules pulled me off

Heather and she ran down the street crying.

Travis leaned against a parked car, his left cheek bright red from my hand. I approached

him slowly and his whole body stiffened in caution. I felt tears on my cheeks and my vision was

still blurry.

I spoke calmly because the boil inside me had cooled to a simmer. “You were just using

her, right? That meant nothing?”

He took a deep breath and lied right to my face. “Yeah.”

I scoffed because I felt insulted he thought I was stupid and blind. “Right.”

I turned to walk back into my apartment building. That’s when he said, “I swear, Paige.

You have to trust me.”

I wanted to keep walking, but I like to have the last word. I turned around and shook my

head. I even smiled, but it wasn’t friendly. “Fuck you, Travis. Get out of here and don’t ever

come back. Don’t talk to me at work. Our relationship is over.”

Luckily, he didn’t argue with me or else I would’ve had to kick him in the balls.

Copyright © 2011 April Bostic

T H E H O W L I N G H E A R T

A p r i l B o s t i c P a g e |
19

When I got back inside my apartment, I put on a mask of indifference. I didn’t want