Christopher’s POV
Chris paced around his living room; in twenty-four hours the life he’d gotten accustomed to had been turned upside down. Despite his racing thoughts, the CEO couldn’t help his thoughts as they drifted back to the writer who would very soon become his shadow. He was a huge fan of Jackson’s and had spent many sleepless nights with his nose buried between the pages of the man’s book, comforted by the enticing words.
After all that had happened, it seemed almost absurd that a man hired to write his biography was the only constant in his mind. Evie was gone; Chris thought he would feel sad and empty, but instead, he felt light and free. Having some time to look at their relationship, the man realized just how toxic it was. He always thought having her around, despite everything, was better than being alone, but now the rose-colored glasses were off and he could see her for what she was.
Chris let out a sigh that sounded more like a groan before flopping down onto the couch. His entire body felt drained, yet he couldn’t shake the slight vibrations that coursed through him. The man decided to chalk it up to the breakup and his nerves being on edge from Evie’s dramatic exit from his life. A sure-fire way he knew to relax sat on the end table just a few feet away from where he’d sunken into the plush furniture.
The CEO laid down towards the table and made himself comfortable, adjusting the pillow behind his head for a better position. He turned just slightly to grab the thick, hardback book, running his fingers along the tattered cover. The slightly raised words, “Beyond the Rivers, By Jackson North” bumped along his fingertips, alright bringing him a sense of peace. It was the writer’s first bestseller and Chris had read it at least twenty times. Much like people seek out comfort food when they’re upset, stressed, sad, or just had a rough day, Chris preferred to get lost in the pages of his well-loved book; the familiar words bringing him happiness even on his darkest days.
He wasn’t even sure what time it was when he opened the book, the worn spine having long since lost its ability to crack. The man allowed himself to fall into the warm scenery laid out in the text on the pages; it almost made him feel at home in the forest setting of the story. He could practically feel the breeze on his skin and smell the damp earth as he dove deeper into the tantalizing world his new acquaintance had created. All thoughts of the mess that was now his office and the woman who had caused all the chaos and destruction floated out of his mind as the adventures and romance of the pages played like a movie in his mind.
A few hours later, Chris felt someone tapping him, causing his eyes to crack open slightly. He wasn’t sure what time it was, or when he fell asleep, but the book that had been his savior was laid open across his chest. “Mr. Bloom,” his maid Sophie said, moving on from tapping to shaking him with a bit more urgency in her voice. “Mr. Bloom!”
Being ripped away from his dream world was not something Christopher was ready for, but at the instance of the woman who made his meals, he managed to open one eye and give her a lazy smile. “Ms. Sophie, you sure are a sight for sore eyes,” the man opened both eyes just to give her a wink which was met with a sight and an eyeroll. “Mr. Bloom, as much as I enjoy these moments we share, I thought you’d like to know that you’re late for work.” Chris caught the slight smirk on Sophie’s lips as she turned on her heels and walked toward the kitchen. The man stretched and let out a groan, seriously debating taking a sick day; but as he closed the book and set it on the table, he saw Jackson’s name and a sudden sense of urgency took over him.
The CEO shot up from the couch and started running like hell to his bathroom, “Sophie!” he called mid-sprint, “I already laid your clothes out and called the office,” she called back, “apparently your writer is late as well. It’s a shame that men who claim to be professionals are both late on their first day of work together.” By this point, Chris was already showering and Sophie was busying herself by straightening up the living room.
As she adjusted the pillows, she saw something sparkling between the cushion and the back of the couch; grabbing the object and lifting it out of its hiding spot, she saw that it was one of the vile girl’s cheap earrings. Sophie could never stand Evie and now that she was gone, the maid no longer had to hide her displeasure on the subject. Just as she had made her way back to the kitchen and thrown the gaudy piece of metal in the trash, Chris came tearing out of the bedroom, hair still wet and his face unshaven. “Mr. Bloom you cannot go into the office looking that haggard,” she said sternly.
“It’s fine, Sophie,” he said through a smile; one a mischievous boy would give to his mother. “I’ll drive with the windows down and get a wind-blown look. Plus the scruff makes me look a bit more interesting, don’t you think?” He grabbed the travel mug of coffee the woman had prepared for him and headed towards the door, grabbing his wallet, keys, and phone on the way. Before Sophie had time to give him a speech about how he was going to get sick driving with the windows down and his hair wet Chris was already out the door and getting in the car. He placed his phone on the mount and realized it was dead. Evie must’ve blown it up until it died which is why he didn’t hear his alarm; he forgot to block her yesterday after she left.
The CEO started the car, grabbed his charging cord, and plugged in the device. Greeted by the blinding start-up screen, he put the car in drive and pulled out of the gate at the bottom of his driveway. As his phone finally came back to life, Chris saw the number of missed calls, texts, and emails and wondered how the little electronic hadn’t exploded. With a loud groan that bordered on a growl, he turned the screen off and turned the radio on. A song he liked filled the car and the man turned the volume up loud enough to shake the glass; rolling the window down, Chris began to sing along as loud as he could.
Luckily, traffic was light and he’d made it to the office in no time at all. The man pulled down the visor to do a final check and he was happy to see his hair had achieved that perfect tousled look he was going for. Chris got out of the car, still humming along to the song, seemingly not having a care in the world, even though he was late for the first time in his life.
Christopher walked into the building greeting everyone with a smile and catching more than a few people by surprise. When he was with Evie, he would normally come rolling in exhausted, puffy-faced, and slightly sour in his mood, but this morning things were different. The sky seemed more blue, the breeze felt warmer, hell, even the coffee tasted better. In some ways, Jackson was already the best thing that had ever happened to him and he’d only just met the writer.
Not wanting to stress his poor secretary out any more than he already had, Chris noticed an elevator about to close. “Hold the elevator!” He called as he lightly jogged towards the big metal doors. At the last possible second, an arm caught the doors and the CEO was able to step in. “Thanks,” he said, only being met with a soft grunt of acknowledgment. He turned his back to the person who’d helped him out, not paying much attention to the man as his mind suddenly returned to his poor phone. The man pulled it out and began swiping away notification after notification when he was interrupted by the other body in the elevator, “excuse me, are you going to press your floor?” Chris turned to look at the man when his jaw dropped slightly; the person who had helped him out was none other than his new shadow, the man who had lulled him into the best sleep he’d had in years, Jackson North.
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