Notice Me (22 page)

Charlie laughed as he kissed my nose tenderly. “Am I staying at yours tonight?”

“Yeah,” I replied still looking around.

“You’re nervous about your job aren’t you?” Charlie whispered. How did he know me so well? “You will be fine Shan. The first day in a new job is always the worst. At least you know a few of them already.”

“I know. I can’t believe they are giving me my own office. I hope I don’t let them down.”

“Shannon, you are amazing at marketing. Will had always said you were better than him. You will blow them away. I just know it.” I could see in Charlie’s eyes he truly believed that.

“How did I ever manage to get you, Charlie? I can’t understand it.” I smiled up at him touching the side of his face with my hand. He leaned his head into my hand. “I never thought I could feel like this.” I was so taken back by my feelings for him. Every day they seemed to grow stronger.

“Shannon, you complete me. I can
never
be without you. I love you too much.” Charlie took my face in his hands sighing in contentment as he kissed me.

My apartment was in Manhattan. Only the Brooklyn Bridge stood between Charlie and me. Not that it mattered how far apart our apartments were since Charlie nearly always stayed at mine.

I was lucky to have two weeks to get used to New York before I started my job. Charlie had arrived a week before me making sure all his affairs were in order before I arrived. It also didn’t look suspicious to anyone. Megan had heard through the grapevine Charlie was moving to New York, but didn’t put anything together. New York was an obvious choice for any up and coming photographer.

On the plane to New York I could hardly control myself, but not with nerves. Being apart from Charlie for a week had been almost unbearable I didn’t have any room to be nervous.

Charlie was at my apartment when I arrived, with a full candlelit dinner for two. He knocked me breathless as he kissed me. I had the feeling the week had been long for him too.

 We knew how easy it would be to be together in this area. It was an everyday normal neighbourhood. No billionaires or paparazzi within a five mile radius.

Megan and Charlie’s breakup was slowly becoming yesterday’s news. It was a relief to Charlie not to have all the press after him. Megan was the celebrity not him. The only picture they wanted from Charlie was his new flame. How could he get better than Megan Field? Deep down I wondered that myself.

My apartment was small and basic, but it was all we needed. I sensed that Charlie preferred to be here, it was comfortable more like his flat in London.

In my time here so far with Charlie, as selfish as it was, I never thought about Megan once. This was our space where we could love one another freely.

The early morning sun streamed through my aged multi-coloured curtains. I still needed to change them they were so hideous. I groaned knowing today was the day. My first day working for Headcom International. I groaned again as my alarm sounded. My nerves began to react at full speed filling my stomach. I hoped I wasn’t going to be sick.

“Sweetheart it will be fine.” Charlie rolled over to put his arms around me. “Shannon, you are white as a sheet. Are you alright?” Charlie asked worried.

“I think I might be sick,” I replied getting up rushing to the bathroom. “Don’t watch me!” I almost screamed as I realised Charlie had followed me.

“The first time we met you were sick, Shannon. I have seen it all before,” Charlie laughed “Anyway, I wanted to make sure you were okay.” I just rolled my eyes. Luckily I wasn’t sick so Charlie had to leave me alone to try and have a relaxing shower.

It didn’t help at all. I kept thinking about the unknown. Who would I meet today? Would they like me or worse would I make a huge mistake on my first day?

I knew Headcom wasn’t like the Field Organisation. It was smaller in itself because it specialised in one area of business. Headcom was the marketing
front line
of Downing International Organisation. The biggest organisation in the world. They owned half of the oil distribution, much of the stock exchange as well as over one million smaller businesses. It was safe to say I really had my work cut out making a good impression here. This of course was the whole reason my nerves were reacting so bad.

Within an hour I was ready to go in my grey designer suit. My long brown hair was rolled into a tight bun. I even made an effort with my make-up by adding eye liner and a new green eye shadow to my usual routine. Charlie had been so fantastic helping me relax, but the butterflies in my stomach now felt like birds of prey trying to get out as I stepped to open my front door.

 “You look beautiful Shannon. You are going to knock them dead,” Charlie whispered in my ear. “I will be here when you get back later. I love you have a wonderful day.” I turned to kiss him before I opened the door and left.

I knew how to get to the Rockefeller Plaza. Charlie had taken me on the subway when I first arrived in New York. It was one less thing to worry about.

I stood up on the way heading for 49
^th
– 50
^th
Street so I could make a quick exit. I didn’t want to miss my stop. The birds in my stomach were still begging to be realised. I knew I wouldn’t be this nervous tomorrow once I knew what to expect.

When I arrived at 30 Rockefeller Plaza part of me wanted to run away and scream. Could I really do this?

If my six month work placement went well I could be offered a job with the largest company in the world.

“Name please,” asked the receptionist at the grey marble desk.

“Shannon Davis. I am the work placement for Headcom,” I replied with a shake in my voice. I looked around half expecting to see Megan come out of nowhere to help and protect me, but I knew this time I was on my own.

“Oh yes. I have your security cards here. Do you have your passport? I need to take a copy. Please sign here.”

My hands were still shaking as I signed the piece of paper and handed the receptionist my passport.

“If you take the lift to your left then push for the 48
^th
floor.” The receptionist replied smiling as she passed my passport back to me. “Mr Caldecott will be expecting you.”

“Thank you,” I replied looking for the lift. I was stunned by the magnificence of the reception area. The marble was so polished I could see the shadows of people rushing around off the floor. The grand fish tank in the middle of the space was constructed with real gold I was sure. The fish inside had to be worth over twenty thousand dollars. I was thankful that Headcom owned just two floors in this tremendous building.

I found the lift, also set in gold. I pushed for the 48
^th
floor, trying to settle my stomach and breathing. I smiled to myself thinking just how similar this was to when I first met Megan. This time I knew I was completely alone, but I deserved to feel this way considering what I had taken from her. I fought back the tears, now was not the time to regret the choices I had made. There had never really been a choice from the moment Charlie told me he loved me. Only after a month it was impossible to imagine not being with Charlie. My whole life would shatter without him.

I had reached my floor now. As the doors opened I took a deep breath. It suddenly dawned on me
I
had Charlie. The most gorgeous man in the world. I somehow had managed to gain his love, that in itself would have appeared impossible to me a year ago. Working here was nothing compared to that. At least with this job I knew what I was doing. If I had realised I loved Charlie before he told me I wouldn’t have had a clue what to do. The power that thought gave me was staggering as if I could take on the whole world. I lifted my head up high striding into the Headcom office with total confidence.

The day seemed to flow quite fast. The director of the company Mr Caldecott, a slightly overweight older man with short grey hair and beard, introduced me to his team. The Headcom team consisted of about thirty five people, who I was introduced to one by one. I finally met Bradley who Tim Scott had informed me about. Bradley seemed a bit of a joker, but very easy to get on with. He had lovely deep blue eyes. They reminded me of Will’s. He was of a rugby build with a shaven head. He was quite good looking, but if you compared him with Charlie – no contest.

I finally was shown my office which gave me a sense of relief to be able to start work. I had been given three new contracts ready for marketing in over thirty countries. I was glad to be thrown in the deep end. I knew I could handle it.

“Hi I’m Lorna.” A small red headed woman stood at my door. “I have only just come in so thought I would introduce myself.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Shannon.”

“I have heard a lot about you. I am Bradley’s girlfriend.” I looked up at her and smiled she must know Tim Scott as well. “It was all good I promise!”

“Was it from Tim?” I asked almost laughing.

“Yes, Bradley went to university with him. Every time Tim comes to New York he pops into see us. Mostly he talks about Megan Field.”

“That’s nice,” I said almost sarcastic.

“I know you weren’t happy about him and Megan. He told us about that last time he visited.”

“Oh no, Lorna. It’s fine. Megan was just as much to blame don’t worry.” I hoped I hadn’t offended her.

“What time are you having lunch? Do you want to join me?” Lorna smiled almost pleading with her deep brown eyes.

“Sure,” I smiled back. “Is about one okay with you? I have a few phone calls to make first.”

“Perfect. See you at one.”

Lunch was nice. Lorna was very bubbly and easy to talk to. We spoke mostly about Megan. Lorna was fascinated like everyone else about my life with Megan Field as my best friend.

“So how is Megan coping since her boyfriend dumped her? Tim said she was bad.”

“She is getting better. She has sort of thrown herself into her modelling career.” I laughed.

“To show him what he is missing? He was a photographer, is that right?” I was sure I was turning red because I felt guilty. I wasn’t planning for this sort of conversation. In America no one really knew who Megan Field was let alone Charlie.

“Yeah he was,” I replied looking away from Lorna’s brown eyes.

“I bet you must really hate him for doing that to her?”

“Well, Megan did mess up in the first place. I was the one who made him take her back. In the end the trust had just gone I think.” I realised I was defending Charlie way too much. “But if I saw him again, I would probably kill him.”

“Tim said you and Megan were that close. It must be nice to have a friend like that,” Lorna replied thoughtful. I just smiled and nodded.

By the end of my first day I was rather pleased with myself. I had made a friend in Lorna and set up two marketing strategies. The best part of my day however was going home to Charlie.

“So,” Charlie asked scooping me up in his arms as soon as I got through the door. “How did it go?”

“Good really good. They have given me three new contracts already.” I beamed at him.

“I told you it would be fine,” he whispered kissing me softly at first then with a more fierce edge as he pushed me against the bedroom door. I managed to undo the door handle. Charlie smirked as he pushed me into the bedroom.

Every touch was so powerful, as if each time we were together this way it became better. I couldn’t get close enough to him. I wanted this feeling to never end.

We lay breathless in each other’s arms in a comfortable silence for a while before Charlie spoke.