He eyed me as if to say, Where else would I go, and I quickly rushed out. I pulled open the top drawer of my desk, spotted the gift box my mom had given me at my birthday lunch last week, and grimaced. It was a lovely tie, really it was, but this was an emergency, and I could get another one. It wasn’t like she would ever know.
I grabbed the box and stepped back into the office. Alexander was rounding his desk and pointing to the door. “Walk with me. I need everyone in the war room.”
With the box in hand, I followed him back out to the newsroom and scooped up my notepad and pen. It was just after lunch, and the lineup had already been set for the night’s program, so I wasn’t sure why we were all being called in. But if Alexander wanted to see us, everyone showed up.
As he pulled open the door to the war room, the chatter around the table came to a halt. Alexander stopped at the head of it, and I stood off to the side and flipped open my notebook, ready to take down information.
“Sorry to call this meeting so last minute, but I’ve run into a slight scheduling issue.”
My ears pricked up. A scheduling issue? Not on my watch. But before I could voice my concern, Alexander glanced over his shoulder and mouthed, It wasn’t your fault.
Oh, thank God.
“As you all know, I have an interview to record in”—he glanced at his watch—“fifteen minutes for tonight’s show. But I just got an email that our camera crew was approved to go down to the local fire station this afternoon for the ride-along shots and stills for the upcoming special we’re doing on Chicago’s first responders.”
Well, shit. There went my opportunity to check out some of our sexy local firefighter heroes. I’d been looking forward to that all week.
After Friday night’s blatant rejection, I’d decided to leave Jameson firmly in my rearview mirror—or myself in his, as it had been. I’d mulled over the idea of tracking him down again this weekend, but that just seemed a little desperate, so I’d been looking forward to this: replacing his image with a whole slew of sexy men in uniform. It ticked every box on my fantasy checklist.
But now Alexander couldn’t go? That was just my luck.
“Is anyone free to go and get footage for now, and I’ll organize with their lieutenant a time when I can get back there for the interviews?”
“I would, boss, but I’m still waiting on a couple of callbacks,” Daniel said.
“And I have a meeting with SunCorp in an hour.”
What was wrong with these people? We were talking hot firemen here. If it wasn’t completely undignified, I would’ve started chanting, Pick me! Pick me!
Actually… Alexander was about to go into the studio, where Angela would be watching over him like a hawk before edits all afternoon, so technically I was free. I all but jumped in the air in an effort to get Alexander’s attention.
When everyone turned in my direction, I gave the boss my most winning smile. “I can go.”
Alexander’s lips twitched. “I’m sorry, did I give you the afternoon off and forget?”
“Well, no…” A loud laugh rang out from the other end of the room, and I narrowed my eyes on my friend Stephanie. When she bit down on her lip, I refocused my attention back on Alexander. “But you’re going to be in the studio all afternoon, and then edits, so…”
“So, you will be sitting at your desk with nothing to do? Is that what happens when I’m not around?”
“No, it’s just everyone else here is researching and getting your show ready and—”
“Ryan?” Alexander smirked as I reminded myself to breathe. “I’m just messing with you. I think it’s a great idea for you to head down there.”
“You do?” It took everything I had not to twirl around on the spot. Instead, I did my best to act like the professional Alexander assumed he had hired.
“I do. It works out perfectly. This way, no one has to rearrange any meetings.”
“Exactly.”
“And Ryan gets to fulfill one of his biggest fantasies of all time, sliding down a fireman’s pole.”
I cast a glare in Stephanie’s direction, but she just laughed. It was no secret around here that I had a penchant for the heroes of our great city. After Alexander’s whole stalker case and Sean—his now husband—acting as his bodyguard, the idea of having someone there to save and protect me had become even more appealing.
I mean, I’d had a thing for heroes—whether they be superheroes or local ones—since I was a boy, and that had manifested into a serious crush on all men who went above and beyond for those in need.
I wasn’t ashamed of that, and everyone here knew it.
“Okay, okay,” Alexander said, and headed for the door. “How about we all get back to work so I can send Ryan on his way?”
“Yes, get back to work.” I threw a final grin at everyone smiling and shaking their heads at me and then followed Alexander out of the room. Phones rang and the familiar sound of keyboards click-clacked as we headed back to my desk and his office.
As he went to step inside, Alexander stopped by his door. “Before you go, my tie?”
“Oh, right.” I handed him the gift box I still held. It was black with a cream top and satin black bow, and Alexander frowned.
“Is this a gift?”
“Uh, well, kind of, but it’s okay, really. I can get another one, and—”
“Ryan? Is this yours?”
I could tell by the deep frown now etched between Alexander’s brows that he didn’t want the answer to be yes. “It’s okay, really. I have so many ties, and that one will go perfectly with your suit and hair on TV tonight. It’s navy blue, trust me.”
“I can’t take this. It was a gift.”
“It’s fine, I promise. Plus”—I walked around my desk to grab my messenger bag—“I don’t have time to go and get you a new one.” Alexander arched a brow, and I grinned and waggled my notebook in the air. “I’m on the trail of a hot new story.”
“Calm down there, Jimmy Olsen. You’re going with the camera crew and a list of instructions that you are to follow to the letter.”
“Same thing.”
“Not really, but I trust you will get it done, and that’s all that matters.” Alexander looked at the box again. “Is this from your mom?”
My mouth fell open. “How could you possibly know that?”
“I spoke to her when she visited for your birthday last week.” He handed me back the box. “I’m not wearing this.”
“But you need—”
“What about the one you’re wearing?”
I looked down at the crumpled black paisley tie. It had looked good five hours ago, but there was no way I was letting him wear this on air.
“No, this thing is a mess.”
“Did you buy it? Or did your mom?”
“Uh, I did.”
“Then hand it over. Someone will work their magic with it.” He held the gift box out to me.
“But—”
“I appreciate the thought, but I’m not taking your mom’s birthday gift, Ryan.”
“Okay.” I popped the box back in my top drawer and then loosened my tie. I pulled it over my head and grimaced at the state it was in. It was my job to make sure Alexander looked his best, and here I was handing him…this?