Chapter 80

Joseph’s POV

“Tessa. You can call me Tessa,” she said into the phone before hanging up.

I heard her downstairs on the phone from my room even before I was fully awake. I could have tuned her out, but I wanted to be aware of when she returned so I knew she got back safely.

I spent most of the night going through each apartment and making sure it had everything Tessa would need. I spent a lot of time talking to that realtor Claire and preparing everything for today to make it a smooth transition. I didn’t want Tessa to have to deal with a lot of stuff so I figured her only job would be to pick the one she liked best.

I had a few favorites of my own but when it came down to it, it was completely Tessa’s choice.

As soon as I heard her returning home and her phone ringing, I tuned into her conversation. I didn’t hear what the person on the other end of the line said, but I could hear Tessa as if she was right next to me.

She sounded a mix of excitement and nervousness. It was a strange reaction to have regardless of who was on the phone that piqued my interest that much more.

I slid out of bed and made my way out of my room and down the stairs, just as her conversation with this person was seemingly over.

I saw her standing in the living room, holding her phone in her hand and staring at it like she was in disbelief.

I leaned against the doorframe, staring at her for a moment longer before finally making my presence known to her.

“Who were you on the phone with?”

She turned around quickly, her eyes large.

I scared. I had to fight to keep from laughing at her shocked face.

“Joseph,” she breathed, staring at me with her wide eyes still. “I didn’t hear you coming. Did I wake you?”

“I was already awake,” I half lied “Who were you on the phone with?” I asked again.

“You’ll never believe it when I tell you,” she said, excitement all over her face.

This time I couldn’t fight the smile, but I managed to turn it into a smirk.

“Try me,” I responded, waiting for her to continue.

“Kimberly Allen. A publisher for Fable Magazine!”

I rose my brows at her words.

Fable Magazine was a very famous online magazine. A lot of young people enjoy that magazine, but they have something for everyone, so the older generation dabbles with it as well.

I take a look at it once in a while as well mainly for inspiration. Their writers are talented and very creative.

“That’s quite an offer,” I said, a nod of improvement in her direction. “Have they sent you the contract yet?”

“She said she was going to send it to my email,” she answered, glancing at her phone. After a moment I saw a pleased smile spreading across her face. It was nice seeing her smile. It did something to my heart that was unfamiliar. But it was a nice feeling. “There it is,” she said, showing me the phone screen with the contract on display.

“Come to my office and we can take a look at the contract,” I said, motioning for her to follow me.

It was probably a bad idea being alone and close to her like this. I’ll struggle to keep myself under control if we stay in my office together for too long. But there was a part of me that wanted her nearness. It wouldn’t be long now before she moved out, which meant I wasn’t going to have much longer with her.

Admittedly, I will miss her.

Tessa followed me to my office, and I had her log into her email so we could view the contract on the computer screen.

I read through the contract, silently, with Tessa sitting in one of the chairs in front of my desk. She was tugging at her fingers nervously and biting her bottom lip.

I had an impulsive thought of grabbing her from across the desk and biting her bottom lip myself. But I refrained from doing that.

I sat back in my chair, staring at the contract.

I wasn’t thrilled with it, and she could see that on my face.

“What’s wrong?” She asked.

“Fable Magazine is a multi-million-dollar publication, and they can’t pay you a dime for your hard work?” I asked, raising my brows. “And you agreed to that?”

“They said I might make money eventually. But for right now, their focus is to get my name out there.”

“No, their focus is to save a buck,” I said bluntly. “Tessa, if you want to be a professional writer, you need to establish a backbone and don’t get yourself taken advantage of.”

“What do you think I should do?”

“Their publication isn’t anything without their writers. The fact that they are the ones that seek you out proves that they want you. Which means you have some wiggle room to adjust this contract to fit your financial needs,” I explained, keeping my eyes locked on hers.

I could see the wheels turning in her mind as she thought about what I had said.

“What if they reject my requests and I lose this opportunity?” She asked, her voice growing smaller as she tugged at her fingers.

“Then it’s not a publication you want to be a part of,” I answered simply. “Tessa, you can’t go through life being afraid of taking risks. When you are in the writing business, you need to familiarize yourself with risks and be okay with them. Or else you won’t get anywhere besides taken advantage of.”

“I don’t want that,” she said slowly. “I don’t want to get taken advantage of.”

“That’s why I’m telling you,” I told her. “I’m not trying to be an asshole… I’m trying to be—”

“A friend,” she said quickly, and her gaze shifted downward when she said that.

But I nodded.

“Yes, I’m trying to be a friend.”

“I appreciate your help,” she said softly. “Honestly, I don’t know what I would do without you.”

I stifled a smile.

“You’d figure it out like you always have.”

She blushed, but she nodded.

I made some adjustments to her contract, highlighting some important clauses and making some side notes.

Tessa sat in the chair in front of me, saying nothing. I could hear her heart beating rapidly in her chest and it only made her blood smell stronger. My office was consumed by her scent and I was starting to have trouble concentrating.

I glanced at her periodically while making adjustments to her contract and her eyes never left my face. I wondered if she knew what she was doing to me.

Once I was done with the contract, I sent her the changed form.

“Okay. It should be all set now Send this back to that publisher and tell her you aren’t accepting anything less,” I instructed.

She read the new contract on her phone and her lips formed a worried frown.

“Are you sure about this?” She asked, meeting my eyes.

“Do you trust me?” I asked in return. I was aware that it was a strange question to ask given the circumstances. But given the facts and recent events, I haven’t steered her wrong. She had to have known that.

After slight hesitation, she nodded and then proceeded to send the new contract to the publisher.

“What now?” She asked.

“Now we wait.”

The wait did not take long. It was maybe 20 minutes before she was rushing into my office once again with large eyes and breathlessness. She left to make dinner after she sent the revised contract. Neither of us expected a response until at least tomorrow, but the publisher responded within the hour.

“She agreed to the new terms!” She exclaimed excitedly.

I stood up, pleased to hear that news.

“That’s amazing news,” I said in return.

“I signed the contract and resent it to her. I get to start right away!” She said with a large smile decorating her features.

Before I could say anything in return, she ran into my arms, and I caught her with ease. She wrapped her arms around my neck and held her face in my chest as I wrapped my arms around her body and held her close to me.

“Thank you so much for your help,” she breathed.

I said nothing, which caused her to lift her gaze to mine. Her scent was so incredible that I felt myself being drawn into her.

“Honestly, Joseph. Thank you.”

I was frozen, staring into her eyes and unable to look away from her. How was she so beautiful?

I managed to nod, but I didn’t take my eyes away from hers and my arms remained around her body. Her breathing became heavy and stared at my lips with this lust in her eyes. I couldn’t help but look at her lips as well.

They were plump and beautiful, and they were begging to be kissed, bitten, and sucked on.

I just needed to lean in… a little bit more.