Fall into my Heart (The Subzero Series, #1) (2 page)

My cell phone rang and I answered it without looking away
from the scene outside.

“Chloe Carver”

“Hi Chloe! How are you?” I immediately recognized the voice
as Alexis, my old boss from DM New York.

“I’m good, How are you?

“I miss you already! Are you ready for you first day
tomorrow?”

“As ready as I’m gonna be.” I said as I walked away from the
balcony and started pacing back and forth.

“Meet any cute guys yet?” She asked with a giggle.

“Oh I guess you could say I’ve run into a couple guys.” I
said with a light laugh.

I heard someone saying something on her end of the phone.

“Uh huh okay. OKAY! Sorry Chloe I gotta run but good look
tomorrow!”

Alexis disconnected before I had a chance to say goodbye.
That’s how phone calls always were with her. She had a bunch of big named
clients and it seemed like there was always a crisis with someone. She had a
habit of making phone calls when she had the least amount of time to actually
talk to anyone.  

I tossed my cell phone aside and glanced at the wall clock
again. 5:10.....perfect time to start dinner. I walked into the kitchen, pulled a
plate out of the cabinet and set it on the counter. I opened up the refrigerator
and pulled out a tomato, mayo and 2 slices of 12 grain bread. I began slicing
up tomato and made myself a tomato sandwich. I poured some sour cream and onion
chips on my plate, grabbed a bottle of water and went back into the living
room.

I sunk down into my comfy couch and turned on the
television. After flipping through all of the channels at least a half dozen
times, I finally settled on some cheesy reality dating show. I can never
understand what on earth would possess people to go on these shows. Are you
really that desperate that you have to fight over some schmuck with twenty
other women in front of millions of people?  

After finishing my sandwich, I popped in one of my favorite
movies into my DVD player and curled up underneath a nice warm fleece blanket.
Sometime during the movie, I drifted off to sleep. I woke up around midnight,
long enough to drag myself to bed. My head barely hit the pillow and I was out.

––––––––

I
woke up at 4 am, all of the sudden nervous about my first
day at work. After lying in bed for about 2 hours, I finally decided I couldn’t
lie there any longer. I pulled myself out of bed and stood there for a minute
trying to decide if I should eat or get dressed first.

As if on cue my stomach growled.....definitely eat first. I
padded into the kitchen and made myself a bagel with butter and apricot jelly.
I went to take the first bite and ended up with a huge glob of jelly on my
pajama top.
That was graceful.
Glad I decided to eat first.

After I was done eating, I went into my bathroom and took a
nice long hot shower. I blow dried my hair quickly, flipping out the ends and
applied some makeup. I went into my walk in closet, which I had to admit I
thoroughly enjoyed, although I could stand to fill it up a bit more. I dressed
in the outfit I selected the day before and retrieved my camel colored knee
length pea coat from the hall closet. After I put on my coat, I tossed my cell
into my purse, flung my purse over my shoulder and strode confidently towards
the door. I paused briefly at the door and glanced through the peephole.

Alright the coast is clear!

I walked into the hallway and, after locking the door behind
me, bounced down the stairs and outside in to the brisk November air.

I didn’t have a car here for two reasons. The first being
that I was too cheap to pay to have my car shipped here. The second reason was because
I was a little nervous about the whole driving on the other side of the street
thing. That was all I needed for my mother to get a long distance phone call
saying that I was involved in a head on collision! No car meant getting to work
by way of the subway.....or was it the tube? I have got to get the lingo here
down pat! Anyway, the closest subway entrance was only a ten minute walk from
my condo. From there it was a fifteen minute ride and a five minute walk to my office.

I walked into my office and took the elevator up to the
fifth floor. Once the door opened, and I walked into the bustling office, I
actually felt at ease. The atmosphere was just like the office in New York. I
walked up to the receptionist and introduced myself.

“Have a seat and someone will be right with you.” She said
as she pointed to a couple of tan leather sofas. I had barely sat down when a
petite woman with short spiky black hair and jet black eyes appeared in front
of me.

“It’s okay Rosie, she can come with me. You must be Chloe,
I’m Skylar.” She said extending her hand out to me.

I shook her hand and smiled. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Follow me and I’ll show you to your office.”

Dressed in black knee high boots, a black skirt and a tight
fitting dark purple sweater, along with her dark cropped hair, Skylar looked like
a fashionable little pixie. I followed her down a long hallway until she
stopped in front of a glass door. My name was engraved into a plaque next to
the door. I’ve never had my own door plaque, let alone my own office before.
Back in New York I had a cubicle.....now I have my own office! I could have a
view of the dumpsters for all I cared; I was just excited to be in an office.

“My office is right next to yours,” Skylar said pulling me
out of my thoughts “Feel free to pop in if you need anything. I’m sure Jonathan
will be round to say hello at some point.”

Jonathan Howard is my new boss. I’ve been introduced to him
a couple of times, but I don’t really know him. At 6 foot 4 with chestnut brown
hair, deep brown eyes and obvious muscles underneath his dress shirts, he looks
like he could be a model. It gets even better when he opens his mouth to talk.
He has one of the sexiest voices I have ever heard. It’s very smooth and
masculine and his accent.....my oh my! Nice, thick and British. My interview with
him was via conference call and I’m surprised I got the job. I’m pretty sure at
one point I zoned out on what he was actually saying and imagined him saying
other things to me.....but we won’t go there.

I thanked Skylar and we both walked into our individual
offices. I put my purse down on my mahogany desk and hung my coat up on the
coat rack behind my door. Walking over to the window to check out the view, I
felt pleased as I looked out over the park across the street.  I know I said I
wouldn’t care earlier, but I was definitely glad I was not looking out over the
dumpsters.

I looked around my office and made a mental notation to
bring in some pictures to put on my desk and bookshelf. Do people still hang up
their college diplomas in their offices? I wished there was some sort of book I
could buy on decorating your office.

Just as I sat down and powered on my computer, my cell phone
rang, nearly giving me a heart attack.

“Chloe Carver” I said, using my most professional voice.

“Hey Chloe, it’s me. Look I need you to do me a huge favor.”
My brother said.

“Nick I really can’t talk right now. It’s my first day and I
really don’t want to start out as the chick that is always on her cell phone.”

“I’ll only take a moment of your precious time.” His voice
dripped with sarcasm.

I rolled my eyes and spun my chair around so that I could at
least watch the shirtless guys running in the park while I tried to deal with
my brother. Yep, definitely, definitely glad that I had a view of the park and
not the dumpsters. I do realize, though, that it might be hard to get some work
done around here if I have a view of half-naked men running around outside my
window.

“Okay so I ended up going home with this girl two weeks ago
and she -”

“Nick stop right there. I know its Noelle you are talking
about and she is my best friend.”

“Yeah well I’m your brother. Brother trumps best friend.”

“I know what you want me to do and I’m not doing your dirty
work for you. “

“But I think she wants a relationship and I can’t deal.”

“You should have thought about that.”

“If you could just slip into a conversation with her that
I’m not a relationship kind of guy.”

“Nick I’m not lying for you.”

“Whatever Chloe.”

“No not whatever. You did this. Act like a man and take care
of this yourself. You are responsible for your actions not me.”

I heard a noise behind me and I slowly turned around. I
nearly died when I saw Jonathan standing in my doorway. Someone called his name
then and he turned and walked away.

“Nick I have to go.” I said and I hung up the phone.

I walked over to the doorway and I saw Jonathan bent over
someone’s desk. I couldn’t be positive but I thought I heard the words “new
girl” and “ball buster” in the same sentence.

Jonathan turned around then and saw me standing there.
“Chloe,” He said as he walked over to me, “How are things going?”

“Pretty good, thank you.”

“Great. Listen I have a meeting set up to introduce you to a
band you’re going to be representing. They’ll be in about 10. Nothing major,
they want to meet you and I’ll be there of course. I don’t expect it to last
terribly long.”

“That sounds great.” I said.

He paused, staring at me. “I should warn you they are a
little.....energetic. Nice guys, extremely talented just energetic, but based on what
I heard from your phone call I think you’ll be able to handle them.”

Wait.....was he trying to tell me in a nice way that I would
be working with a band of delinquents?

“Alright so, 10:00 in conference room B. It’s down the hall,
make a right at the end, third door on the left. We don’t have a set schedule
around here so take lunch whenever you can. Just let Jocalyn here know when you
are in and out.” He pointed to a girl sitting at a desk in the middle of the
entryway.

She waved enthusiastically. “Hi! I’m Jocalyn! I’m the
administrative assistant for you, Skylar and Wes. I’m so excited you’re here. I
heard you’re from New York. I have always wanted to go to New York. Did you
live in the city? Do you go by Chloe or Miss. Carver? Do you like coffee?
Lattes? Tea? Do you want me to take messages or put calls through?” She looked
at me, cocked her head to one side and blinked a couple of times. My lord, she
talked so fast my head started spinning!

“Uhm Chloe is fine. I like lattes and hot chocolate and you
can put calls through if I’m not busy.”

“Okay super!” she said as she bounced up once in her seat.

By the grace of all that is good her phone rang then. I
might have to pop a couple of aspirin or down some caffeine before she gets off
the phone.  I don’t think I have ever heard someone talk so fast in my entire
life.

At five minutes to ten I grabbed a notepad and a pen and
headed for conference room B. I could hear a bunch of guys talking so I knew
the band was already there. I paused to smooth my sweater and put on my best
smile before I entered the room. Confidently, I strode through the door.....and
then I stopped dead in my tracks.

Oh no! This cannot be happening. You have got to be
kidding me!

Sitting at the table smiling back at me was Blue Mohawk, Big
Red, Mr. Average and Jack.

Is it too late to turn around and run out the door? Most
likely since they have already seen me. I guess my plan of avoidance was
officially out the window.

Jonathan walked up to me and put a hand on my shoulder.

“Chloe Carver this is Tyler McDermott,” He said motioning
towards Blue Mohawk.  “Next to him is Noah Walker, Dean Marshall and on the end
here is Jackson Riley. They make up a pretty popular local band called
Subzero.”

I went to casually toss my notepad on the table and ended up
throwing it on the floor. I looked up and the four of them sat there with huge
grins on their faces. My cheeks felt like they were as red as Noah’s hair and I
wanted to die. I managed to pull myself together, pick up my notepad and shake
their hands.

“It’s nice to meet you Chloe.” Jack said with a smirk.

“Yes.....It’s nice to meet you.” I said. I loved his accent
and hearing him say my name melted my heart like butter.

As I shook Tyler’s hand, he smiled and said “I have to say
you look so familiar......Have we run into each other before?”

They all started laughing, including Jonathan, who had no
idea what he was laughing about.

“I doubt it. She just moved here from New York.” Jonathan
said as he continued laughing.

We all sat down around the table and I pulled off the cap to
my pen. “So you guys are a local band, have you been signed yet or are you
still playing the bar scene?”

“We were signed by a small label about a year and half ago
but we still play the bar scene as well. We love the bar scene and the bar
scene loves us.” Dean replied.

“And you guys were with Joanie for two years.....so you guys
had a publicist before you even got signed?” I asked.

“Yes, we needed one.” Noah replied.

“Any particular reason why?” I asked curiously.

Tyler laughed and said “Clearly you haven’t checked your
voicemail yet.”

He was right, I hadn’t and now I wasn’t sure if I wanted to.
The conversation turned to the type of music they played – rock – and the bands
and singers that influenced them. Before I knew it, forty minutes had passed
and our meeting was over.

I walked back to my office, sat down at my desk, noticed a
red light blinking on my phone indicating I had messages and put my head in my
hands. Tyler’s laugh rang through my head as I thought about him stating that I
obviously hadn’t checked my voicemail. God only knew what kinds of shenanigans
were waiting for me on there.

“So are you stalking me or something?” A voice said.

I looked up and saw Jack leaning up against the door frame,
his hands shoved in his pockets.  Man was he gorgeous. It really should be
illegal to look as deliciously good as he does.

I smiled at him and shook my head. “You’re in my office
remember?”

“Right,” He said as we stared at each other, “Well.....I guess
I’ll see you around.”

I nodded and watched as he turned around and strode towards
the elevator.

After Jack left, I decided to do a search on his band. A
bunch of fan sites and one official site came up. I clicked on the official
website. A picture of all four guys playing a show came up. At the top of the
page there were different tabs to select from. I clicked on the one that said
About Us.

That took me to a page that had some information about the
band. They had been playing together since high school. Their debut album came
out a year ago, which would explain why I had never heard of them before. They
were a hit in over here, but hadn’t crossed over to the States yet. The bottom
of the page had an individual picture of each guy with his role in the band
next to it.

“Noah Walker, lead singer. Dean Marshall, guitar. Jack
Riley, bass. Tyler McDermott, drums.” I read out loud to myself.

I moved my mouse and clicked on the tab marked “Photos.” I
spent the next twenty minutes clicking through pictures from various shows they
played. I stopped on a picture of Jack. He was wearing tan cargo pants and a
black Henley shirt, his black hair was styled so that it was sticking straight
up. He was playing his guitar and it looked like he was sucking his top lip in.
I closed my eyes and I could still see the image of that photograph like it was
burned in my mind.

“Chloe, are you okay?”

Startled, my eyes opened wide and my hand flew up to my
chest. “I’m fine Jocalyn, just thinking. What’s up?”

“I wanted to see if you wanted me to order you lunch or are
you going to go to the café?”

“Oh.....I can just go to the café. Where is it?”

“Take the lift to the second floor.”

“The lift?” I knew now what a lift was, but it sounded funny
to hear it. I was going to have to remember to say that instead of elevator.