Chapter 4 : The Exclusive

*Lila’s POV*

“I’ll eagerly await your interview.’

The hell kind of a line was that?! My heart was still pounding and I wasn’t able to calm my blush even after I stepped off of the elevator and returned to the office.

Rafe Silvius was smooth as silk, and his voice was like velvet. Neither were good for my heart. No wonder people kept wanting to know more about his personal and romantic life, if he could drop lines like that in a casual conversation.

I needed to get it together. I was not some lovesick girl who’d moon over a man way out of my league. I was a professional. But even I could admit he was very handsome. I just had to remind myself that I had a job to do.

When I got back to the office and told Mr. Gilbert the news, he was ecstatic. I was much the same.

An interview with Rafe Silvius was rare; he didn’t often do private interviews and already, the press conference would boost our sales alone. This interview might even double it.

“I’m proud of you, Wrenn. I know the past couple of months were rough for you, but you’ve really shown that a few mistakes aren’t going to stop you or knock you down. If the interview goes well and the article gets published, I’ll give you that promotion we were talking about last year.”

I could barely contain myself after that. I was so happy. Every dime I could afford was going toward pay off my ever-increasing debt and it got to the point that I was even dipping into my life savings. With that promotion though, I would be making enough that within a few more months and some penny pinching, I could pay it all off and get my life back on track.

The only thing I had to do was make sure the interview would go great. I managed to put all my energy into writing about the press conference before all of my manic energy was thrown into preparing myself for Thursday.

Once Thursday rolled around, I was in another two-piece suit. This time it was pale pink, very spring colored. I left my hair down with only the bangs pinned back. It took me an hour to get my makeup just right before hailing a cab to take me to the Silvius building.

As soon as I stepped out and into the lobby though, the sight of trash so casually sitting in one of their expensive leather seats stopped me dead in my tracks.

Who could do such a thing? Then, my attention easy diverted by someone calling my name.

“Lila, it’s been too long!”

The warm greeting did nothing to soothe my sudden rage and my anxiety quickly turned to irritation.

“Mr. Thompson,” I greeted back coldly.

How Max got in without an appointment and why he was even here in the first place was beyond me, but the last thing I needed was him messing up another thing in my life. Especially something this big.

“Come on, don’t be like that,” Max smirked before sobering up. “Look, I know what I did was wrong—”

I snorted, that was an understatement.

“—and I still feel terrible for it, but you gotta understand that I never meant to hurt you like that. I got desperate when I borrowed your work, and then I got scared that I wouldn’t be able to make it up to you and fix things between us, so I left. I never should’ve done that to you, Lila…”

“No, you shouldn’t have,” I snarled.

The apology felt hollow, not like I was expecting anything less from a manufactured meeting like this.

“So—”

“Whatever you are about to suggest, the answer is no,” I cut off, taking a bit of vindictive pleasure when that ‘hope’ in his eyes left. “No, you cannot make it up to me, no you cannot fix things between us. There’s nothing left between us to fix. And even if there was, I wouldn't want to. So, Mr. Thompson, if you would excuse me, you are making me late.”

I tried to brush past him but he got in my way. I sucked in a breath through my gritted teeth, trying not to cause a scene. I wasn’t lying about being late. While I had gotten here on time, there’d been a bit of traffic that left me behind schedule and now, it was 10:05 with the clock ticking.

Max was doing best to screw me over yet again, and I’d love nothing more than to deck him straight in the face.

“Wait, Lila, please. Can’t we talk about this?”

“No, because I know why you’re here. It’s the same reason you dated and left me. The same reason you ghosted me and left me with your debt, when here you are, claiming you’re ‘oh so sorry’ for what you’ve done. I had something you wanted that you could use to better yourself, so you came up to me acting all nice and sweet. Only this time, Mr. Thompson, I’m not stupid enough to fall for it. Now, leave me alone.”

No one was perfect. I was the idiot who fell for this man’s act the first time. And my suspicions were only confirmed when that ‘good guy’ persona he had on to try and persuade me, faded, and the spark of irritation and rage that replaced it was almost enough to match mine.

Oh, was someone mad that the breadwinner they stole all the flour from refused to serve them? Tough fucking luck then. Max could choke on the flour he stole while I was living it up baking brioche and croissants.

If only I could get to my interview without him intervening!

One day, he’d run out of material, and I couldn’t help but feel that was why he was trying to fix things between us now. What other reason would he have to corner me on the day of a very important interview with a very illusive and popular man?

Then, I heard a distinct voice come in from behind me and my body relaxed when he spoke.

“Ah, I was wondering what was keeping you, Ms. Wrenn, as you were so punctual on the conference day. I didn’t think the cause would be a visitor in my lobby though. I apologize. Perhaps I should make the guidelines a bit…stricter.”

Wow. I had no idea that something spoken so calmly could sound so very much like a threat, and I took great pleasure in watching Max go pale.

Rafe Silvius was indeed an impressive man, not to mention a surprising one. He came all the way down from his office just to check if I was here? He really did know how to make a girl feel special, especially with the way he was intimidating my ex.

“Mr.—Mr. Silvius. I—what a pleasure to see you,” Max choked out.

He hummed, his gaze sweeping Max up and down. He was in a brown suit, one of his better ones actually, but Rafe’s gaze was enough to make him shrink down like he was wearing a potato sack.

‘Calm down, Lila,’ I told myself, feeling rather warm in the air-conditioned building. He was just being nice. It was my fault if I found it insanely attractive.

I didn’t think I was this petty, but damn if it didn’t feel good to get a bit of payback.

“I wish I could say the same, seeing as you’re causing trouble to my guest. You do know that while this lobby is open to the public, it is still private property,” Rafe noted with a raised eyebrow.

Max nodded quickly. “I—I was just leaving. Lila.”

“Mr. Thompson,” I said, not sparing him another glance as he skittered out like the rat he was. I then turned to Rafe. “I apologize for being late, Mr. Silvius. I didn’t mean to keep you waiting.”

“If anything, you were right on time and that man was at fault for it, Ms. Wrenn. And to think this would happen in my building too. How about we start with a tour of the building, along with photos for the article you’ll be writing? I hope that can make up for what happened.”

“Mr.—Mr. Silvius that’s—that’s very generous of you, but if we’re in agreement that Mr. Thompson was at fault, then there’s nothing for you to make up for…I would be delighted to take photos though,” I flushed, and he chuckled at my response.

Usually, the only photos one could get of Silvius Enterprises were the ones that they allowed you to take. That meant most candid photos were of the building outside and of Rafe himself, never of anything inside the building.

A tour along with photos of said place was all very exclusive. Forget double sales, we’d probably have other news companies contacting The Local Tribune so they could run the article themselves.

“Right this way, Ms. Wrenn. I’ll show you everything our company has to offer. Oh, and call me Rafe, this tour will take quite a while.”

“Then, call me Lila. It’s only fair.”

‘It’s only fair?’ God, shoot me now, but Rafe just smiled warmly.

“Lila.”

Fuck. GOD! Shoot me now!

I coughed lightly and pulled out my little notebook and pen, trying to distract myself from the furious blush on my face. You’re a professional, Lila. Get it together!

“Well then, what first?” I asked meekly, prompting another smile from Rafe.

***

The tour was… nothing short of magnificent. The facilities were top notch, their process for testing streamlined, and even the employees seemed to thrive in the work environment that was built for them.

I knew Silvius Enterprises was something else. There was a reason they were the world’s top producer for biotechnology, but it was one thing to know it and another to see it.

Rafe was polite and didn’t hesitate to answer the questions I had—though I did try to keep them tasteful and non-personal like last time. That’s what got me this interview, so I wasn’t going to screw things up by changing that.

“I have to say, this interview has been one of the best I’ve ever had, Lila. In fact, I think we might have to do this again.”

“W-what?” How embarrassing to squeak like that, but he caught me completely by surprise.

“The tour was nice, but we didn’t have much time for a proper interview. Say, Monday at 2:00PM? If you’re free,” he smirked.

I nodded. “A-Absolutely.”

My mouth moved before my mind, but they were both in agreement this time. I was wondering when my luck would run out, along with what I did to get this much luck in the first place. But while I was a bit confused as to why Rafe almost enjoyed my company, my journalistic integrity seemed to be a common factor for it all.

In your FACE, Maxwell Thompson. I’d be moving up in the world with some of my best work yet, while he’d be staying on the lower rungs without me to steal from.

“I look forward to seeing you on Monday then, Rafe.” I was probably grinning like an absolute loon, but I was too happy to care. Promotion here I come.

***

*Rafe’s POV*

“There you are, geez. What the hell did I do to suddenly get death glared for entering?” Leo complained as he entered my office. I was smiling, but that was because I had just come from my interview with Lila.

"I wanted her file before our meeting," I reminded him.

"Oh, I'm SO sorry that we were being thorough. 'Thanks for watching out for me, Leo.' 'You’re such a good friend, Leo.' ‘I understand you’re not the one sifting through the documents or data, Leo.’”

“Sorry—sorry,” I laughed before sighing heavily. “I’m just nervous.”

“Rafe Silvius? Nervous? The world is ending.”

“I just want this to work. We’ve kept most of our talk professional, but I think she’s… wonderful. She’s brilliant, Leo.”

Leo winced at that. “That’s great and all. Like, props to you man, but we've got a problem."

"Don't tell me she's from a rival pack," I frowned, taking her file and cracking it open. 'Lila Wrenn', birth name, at least that was one thing I didn't have to worry about.

"Worse."

"A rogue?"

"Rafe, she's human."

…Oh.