Diving Into You

Chapter Nine

Riley

“Congratulations.”

I blinked up in surprise at the sarcastic greeting as I dumped my bag in my tiny cubicle.

“Um thanks.” I didn’t know the person who was talking to me, had never seen them before let alone had a conversation but that wasn’t surprising. I was a lowly worker bee and there were plenty of workers above me who didn’t even think it necessary to learn my name. But that congratulations was definitely sarcastic. I was sure of it.

I flicked the little bobble head sunflower on my desk. Taking a few seconds to gather my thoughts and my nerves before entering the lions den.

“Marilyn wants to see you.” The woman spoke again, and I jolted in surprise to find her still standing at my shoulder. Why was she hovering?

Why was she staring at me like I had spat in her cereal and kicked her puppy for good measure?

“Yeah thanks.” Reluctantly I got to my feet moving past her as I walked fast towards my bosses office with my head down. And I could feel her eyes every step of the way.

Sighing I knocked on the frosted glass door. The hair on the back of my neck standing to attention , my back burning under dozens of eyes. Sarcastic woman wasn’t the only one staring at me.

Looked like I was about to be fired in front of an audience.

“Come in.”

Taking a shaky breath I straightened my shoulders before pushing my way into the office. It wasn’t plush by any stretch of the imagination. It was a journalists office but compared to my tiny cubicle it looked positively lavish. Not of course as lavish as the woman who had half risen from her seat of course.

Marilyn was another level glamorous. She motioned one perfectly manicured hand to the chair before settling herself back down into her leather chair. “Take a seat Riley.” She laced her long fingers together on the stack of papers in front of her as I slid into the seat.

“You wanted to see me Marilyn?” My voice shook. Damn it. I had wanted to be strong , I was young and talented. News Centre wasn’t her only option. And yet this was the job she wanted. Not to mention she had never been fired from any job before. She always strived to do her best and that was usually more than good enough.

Usually.

“So you have seen the news today?”Marilyn didn’t bother waiting for a reply. “The whole world is talking about your relationship with Elliot Davis. But you didn’t think to mention it to me? Even in private?”

“Marilyn I don’t have a relationship with anyone , least of all Elliot Davis.” I paused. “Yesterday was the first time we met.” Met wasn’t even the right word. I had pulled his trunks down in a stadium full of people and the worlds press and he had hissed at me. His blue eyes narrowed.

His oddly familiar deep blue eyes.

The feel of rock hard abs under a white shirt. I shook the image away.

“Please do not insult my intelligence Riley. But keep your secrets it’s fine. I…” She stressed the word I. “Understand the need for privacy but I must say I underestimated you.” She gave a chuckle. “Stroke of genius putting yourself forward for that assignment, knowing full well you could get the exclusive any time you wanted.”

I could do nothing but stare at her. My hands clasped in my lap.

“It’s the kind of thinking that we want here at News Centre….”

Her words trailed off to nothing. She may have even have kept on talking I wasn’t sure.

They wanted me?

I suppressed the need to do a little happy dance. Trying to keep some form of professional composure even if inside I was doing the conga.

“You mean?”

“Welcome aboard Riley.” Marilyn’s face broke into a smile. “It’s good to have you on the team.”

“Thank you Marilyn.” I rose to my feet. I had so many people I needed to call with my good news. A whole list of people.

“Sit down Riley, we aren’t quite finished.”

Oh.

“We have to discuss your first assignment.” Marilyn’s eyes were bright. Like a predators. And my heart thudded in my chest again. First assignment? I had always thought I would be starting at the bottom of the pile. Given the jobs no one wanted. I hadn’t expected to be given an assignment by my editor on my very first day.

“Ok.” I kept my voice light and airy. I had the job and nothing anyone threw my way today would dampen my good mood.

Nothing.

“I would like you to go to Tokyo assigned to Elliot Davis. I was going to send someone more experienced but.” She waved a hand dismissively as I opened my mouth to speak. And I snapped it shut. “With you having a personal relationship with him it makes more sense to send you. He will talk to you. Plus wouldn’t it be nice to spend some time with your secret love? Cheer him off? And in Tokyo no less?”

Tokyo? She wanted me to cover the olympics. The actual olympics.

It was a dream assignment. The perfect start to my career. “Ok.”

“Brilliant, you are expected at the Swimmers association after lunch to meet with Elliot and his team to go over rules and the logistics.” She made quotation marks with her fingers. “And I’ll have your company expense account ready by the morning.” She rose to her feet, her arm out stretched. This meeting was over. I was being dismissed.

“Thank you for this chance Marilyn, I won’t let you down.”

“Just don’t make me regret it.”

I grinned. No pressure then.