Chapter 150

It takes a moment for his words to sink in, and then a moment longer for me to realize that he’s being genuine.

“My current campaign manager is having a baby soon,” Miles says. “She wants the time to spend with her new family. I’ve told her again and again that it’s fine. She’s helped me get this far, but I know who can help me cross the finish line.”

“You are serious about this?” I say, to confirm.

As a career move, this would be a big upgrade from my time as a reporter. I might even get a full office instead of just a cubicle. I could utilize my contacts more fully, and put all the charismatic lessons my father taught me growing up to better use.

I think that I could excel at a job like this.

“I’m dead serious,” he says. He dips his head to catch my gaze and then holds it. “Esther, you would be great for this job.”

This is the kind of career advancement that could open new doors for me and help fulfill all of my ambitions, or at least put me on the right path for them. The only problem that I can see is that I would have to be around Miles all the time.

Constantly seeing Miles might lead to me breaking my principles and agreeing to be with him again. The temptation would be so strong, I don’t know if I’d be able to resist it.

Even now, looking into his blue eyes, my heart races nearly out of control. It’s taking everything in me not to round this table and hold Miles, or kiss him.

I want him so much I feel dizzy from it, and this time Hugo isn’t here to save me from my own feelings.

“I won’t push you,” Miles says. “You can decide for yourself what you want to do, but the opportunity is open for you, if you want it.”

Swallowing down my desire, I try to focus on the matter at hand. “How long will I have to decide?”

“A couple weeks, maybe,” Miles says. “The sooner I know the better, though, especially if the answer is no. I don’t really have anyone else lined up.”

Is he so confident that I’ll agree to this? Or is this more a matter of wishful thinking?

“Perhaps we can discuss the duties of the position,” Esther says.

“I’d be happy to,” he says as he pours me a glass of wine.

As we drink and eat, we discuss the particulars of Miles’s campaign and what his current campaign manager has achieved so far. She sounds like a professional, making sure Miles is campaigning to all the big places, and that he’s always projected in the best light.

She has even kept most of the other workers of the campaign on track, divvying up responsibilities and tasks to the most efficient degree.

“It’s gotten harder for her lately,” Miles says. “I don’t blame her. She’s focusing on the baby. But the lines for the other workers aren’t as clear anymore. The campaign headquarters can at times feel… chaotic.”

“I see.”

It must be difficult for his current campaign manager to want to give up her power, especially when she is so good at her job. But family comes first, always. I can only commend her.

“I just want you to know what you’d be walking into, if you accept the job,” Miles says.

I thank him, and we continue talking. He tells me about some interviews he has lined up, including one with a controversial figure.

I stop him. “Are you certain about that last interview?”

“It’s an incredibly popular podcast,” Miles replies.

“It was,” I say, “before those accusations came out about the host. Now people tune in just to hate on it.”

Miles pulls his brows together. “What accusations?”

By the time, I finish explaining the recent allegations of the podcast host to Miles, he already has his phone out, sending a text to cancel the interview.

“Thank you, Esther. I mean it. I had no idea.”

Pride fills me, and I wonder if it would always be like this. As Miles’s campaign manager, I could help steer him away from situations and people who would only hurt him.

In a way, it would be like protect him as he has so often protected me.

When dinner is done, I’m even more conflicted than I was at the start. Before I was certain I would turn down this job. Now, I’m not so sure.

Miles escorts me to the elevator. I anticipate saying goodbye at the door, but he steps inside with me and presses the button for the ground floor.

As the elevator starts its trek downward, he stays at my side, with the both of us facing the door.

Then he glances at me. At the same time, I glance at him.

Before I know it, one of us slams the emergency stop button on the elevator, and at the same time, we throw our arms around each other. We seek out each other’s mouths and crash them together.

All of the tension that was building during our dinner comes bursting forth from both of us. I comb my fingers through his hair, tugging at the strands. He presses one palm flat to the middle of my back, pushing him fully against him. His other hand cups the curve of my ass.

His tongue licks into my mouth, and I feel like my entire brain is short-circuiting.

When we come up for air, I wheeze, “We can’t do this…”

“I know,” he replies.

We glance at each other, our chests heaving, our lips kiss-swollen and red.

In the next instant, we are kissing again, even more passionately than last time. Miles pushes me until my back hits the wall. Once I’m there, right where he wants me, he attacks my mouth his tongue. It’s all I can to do hold on, and try to give as good as I get.

Then, unbidden and unwelcome, I think of Hugo. Hugo, who, while I’m not exclusive with, I am still dating.

If he knew I was here, doing this with Miles, it might not surprise him, but it would likely hurt him.

That thought alone gives me the strength I need, to dip my head away from Miles, stopping our kiss.

“Esther?” Miles’s voice is deep and sexy. He’s also out of breath.

“Hugo,” I say, and that cools him faster than a bucket of ice water dunked over his head would. Immediately, he backs up a step, putting a foot of distance between us, then two, until he stands on the entire other side of the elevator.

“Shit,” Miles says, running his hand down his face.

I’m inclined to agree.

“Esther, I didn’t mean –”

“It’s fine,” I say. I’m ready to get out of here and never ever talk about this again as long as we both live.

This is the exact reason why, even if the job he’s offered would be a good career step forward for me, I cannot accept it. Every meeting, every moment alone risks turning into… this.

We have too much passion between us. Until we can find some way to cool it, we’d never be able to work together without issues.

With how hot I burn for Miles on a daily basis, I severely doubt that we’d be able to cool this thing between us anytime soon.

Miles stares at the floor between us, lost in thought. When he speaks, I don’t quite hear him at first.

“If I leave Selena…”

“What?” I ask.

He glances up at me, and suddenly I’m faced with the full depth of his determination shining in his eyes.

“I would break up with Selena, if it means I can be with you. All you have to do is say the word.”