Jackson played his role with effortless charm, his hand resting lightly against the small of her back as he guided her through conversations with New York’s elite, introducing her as the brilliant editor who keeps Meridian’s bestseller list stacked. “You’re surprisingly good at this.” she murmured as they swayed on the dance floor, careful to maintain a respectable distance despite his hand warm against her waist.
“At dancing.” His eyes crinkled with amusement. “At pretending.” She studied his face, searching for cracks in the facade. “Most CEOs I’ve met couldn’t act their way out of a paper bag.” Jackson spun her gently, bringing her back a fraction closer than before. “Who says I’m pretending?” The question hung between them, loaded with implications Rebecca didn’t dare examine. She changed the subject.
“Your toast was beautiful. I didn’t realize you and Thomas were so close.” Something flickered in Jackson’s expression, a shadow of an emotion she couldn’t name. “We were once. Time and circumstances have a way of creating distance even between old friends.” “What changed?” He hesitated. “Success changes relationships.
People expect things from you, or they assume you’ve changed when you haven’t.” His voice lowered. “That’s why this is refreshing. You don’t treat me like I’m made of money.” Rebecca laughed softly. “That’s because I’ve seen you spill coffee all over yourself when the elevator jerked between floors last Christmas.
” His surprised laugh resonated through her. “You remember that?” “Hard to forget the CEO of Meridian Publishing cursing like a sailor while wearing a reindeer tie.” Jackson’s smile now softened into something genuine. “See? That’s exactly what I mean.” As the dance ended, Rebecca caught sight of Penny yawning widely by the dessert table.
“I should get her to bed. It’s well past her bedtime.” Jackson nodded, discreetly passing her a key card. “Suite 1217. Take your time. I’ll make excuses if anyone asks.” “Thank you.” She said, the words inadequate for the strange kindness he’d shown her and Penny throughout the evening.
30 minutes later, after settling an exhausted Penny in one of the suite’s two bedrooms, Rebecca stood in the opulent living area of Jackson’s hotel accommodation, feeling desperately out of place. The suite was larger than her entire Brooklyn apartment, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the glittering Manhattan skyline. She kicked off her heels and padded to the window, pressing her palm against the cool glass as she tried to process the bizarre turn her evening had taken.
A soft knock at the door startled her. She opened it to find Jackson, his bow tie undone and hanging loose around his neck. “Sorry to intrude,” he said, standing in the hallway rather than entering. “I forgot my overnight bag.” “Oh, of course.” She stepped aside to let him in, suddenly conscious of her bare feet and slightly disheveled appearance.
Jackson retrieved a leather duffel from the closet, then paused, seeming reluctant to leave. “How’s Penny?” “Out like a light. This place is nicer than anywhere she’s ever slept. She thinks we’re in a princess castle.” He smiled, but there was something guarded in his expression now, the easy camaraderie of their dance floor conversation fading.
“Jackson, why are you really doing this?” Rebecca asked, unable to contain the question any longer. “The pretending, the suite, it’s generous, but But you’re wondering what’s in it for me.” He set down his bag, his expression unreadable. “Would you believe me if I said I was just being kind?” “In my experience, men, especially powerful men, aren’t kind without reason.
” Something hardened in his eyes. “That says more about the men you’ve known than about me.” Rebecca crossed her arms defensively. “You can’t blame me for being cautious. You’re my boss, Jackson. This whole situation is complicated.” “Is that why you’ve turned down every promotion I’ve authorized for you over the past 2 years?” Rebecca stared at him, genuinely shocked.
“What are you talking about?” Jackson ran a hand through his dark hair, disheveling it further. “Three times, Rebecca. Three times I’ve approved moving you up to senior editor with a substantial raise, and three times you’ve declined without even discussing it with HR.” She felt as if the floor had tilted beneath her feet. “That’s impossible.
I never received any promotion offers.” Jackson went very still. “What did you just say?” “I’ve never been offered a promotion at Meridian, not once.” The silence between them thickened as understanding dawned on both their faces simultaneously. “Daniel Morgan.” They said in unison. Daniel Morgan, editorial director and the man directly above Rebecca in Meridian’s hierarchy.
A man who had made his resentment of her clear from day one, who had taken credit for her acquisitions more than once, and who happened to be Jackson’s oldest friend. “He told me you weren’t interested in advancement,” Jackson said slowly, a muscle twitching in his jaw. “That you preferred your current position because of Penny, because of the flexibility it offered.
” Rebecca felt a cold fury building inside her. “And you believed him without ever speaking to me directly?” “He’s been with Meridian since before I took over. We’ve known each other 20 years.” Jackson’s expression darkened. “But that ends Monday morning.” “What does?” “His career at Meridian.” Jackson’s voice was flat, brooking no argument.
“I’ve suspected for a while that Daniel’s been manipulating situations to his advantage, but this crosses a line.” Rebecca sank onto the edge of the sofa, overwhelmed. “This explains so much. The way he’s been undermining me, moving my projects to other editors.” She looked up at Jackson, her professional frustration momentarily overshadowing the strangeness of their situation.
“Do you know he reassigned the Montana Sky author to Brett in romance just last week, after I built that relationship for over a year?” Jackson’s expression shifted from anger to something more calculating. “Is that why you called in sick last Friday? The first sick day you’ve taken in 3 years?” Rebecca felt heat rise to her cheeks. “I needed time to process.
