Break of Day by Mari Madison Read Free Book Online Page B

finally managed to say. “Is it . . . a daytime writing job?” My heart picked up its beat. Oh God, if he had really gotten me a daytime writing job . . .
    Asher’s eyes locked on to mine. Those beautiful emerald eyes—blasting full force on my face. “Actually, it’s a producer job,” he said. “From here on out, you’ll be working with me.”

five
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PIPER
    I stared at him, my mind racing with what he’d just said. What I thought he’d just said, anyway. The words had clearly been English, but I had to have been misinterpreting them somehow. ’Cause there was no way . . .
    A producer job?
    Working with him?
    â€œI don’t understand,” I blurted out at last, feeling hot and stupid and flustered. “You want me to work with you? As your producer?”
    He gave me a sheepish grin. “Sorry, I probably should have asked you if you were interested before I went to Richard.”
    I swallowed hard, my heart thumping in my chest. He’d asked for me? Asher Anderson had asked for me to be his producer?
    â€œI don’t have any experience,” I protested. “I know nothing about weather.”
    He waved me off. “You don’t have to. I’m the meteorologist. I just need someone to write scripts for me. To set up shoots. To do all the behind-the-scenes things so I canconcentrate on the forecasts themselves. It’s really not rocket science, trust me.”
    I closed my eyes, my head spinning. I didn’t know what to say—what to do.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Asher asked, looking concerned. “I thought you’d be pleased.”
    I exhaled. I was pleased. I was so pleased. Thrilled, in fact. This was an opportunity of a lifetime. A big FU to everyone in the newsroom.
    But did I deserve it? Or was this just Asher taking pity on me? Feeling sorry for me and my pathetic life? Or . . . Suddenly his words from the wedding came raging back to me.
    If I win, I want a date.
    Oh God. Was this all just one big joke? An elaborate scheme to get in my pants? One big game by a guy who didn’t have anything to lose?
    And had it cost me the job I really did deserve?
    Rage flooded through me all over again as my mind treated me to a play-by-play of how it must have gone down. Asher cornering Richard at the wedding after I had left, asking about the job I’d told him I’d wanted. Telling Richard to give it to someone else—because he had other plans for me.
    That bastard. That total fucking bastard.
    â€œThat was my job!” I screamed at Asher, not caring if anyone outside in the newsroom could hear. “Mine! You had no right to—”
    â€œUh, Piper? Richard wanted me to find you?”
    I whirled around, shocked to see none other than Anna Jenkins herself, hovering in the office doorway. She gave me a worried look. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
    I closed my eyes, then opened them again, a vain attempt to restore my sanity. “It’s fine. Thank you. Tell him I’ll be right there.”
    Anna nodded and shut the door behind her. I could feel Asher’s eyes on me, watching, waiting. I turned to look at him, sucking in a breath.
    â€œPiper . . .” he started, but I held up my hand.
    â€œNo,” I said. “Just no.”
    And with that, I headed out of the room, my legs feeling wooden as I crossed the newsroom to Richard’s office. When I reached it, I slumped down in the chair across from his desk, feeling completely defeated. It was funny how a day that had started so well—with so much potential and excitement—had gone downhill so fast. Story of my life, I supposed.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Richard asked, eyeing me up and down from his seat behind his desk. “You look like someone ran over your pet puppy.”
    I sucked in a breath, trying to calm my voice. Whatever happened, I couldn’t