Song of the chapter: Feelings - Maroon 5

I prepared waffles for Min early in the morning, her favourite breakfast treat. I called Carla, asking her to bring Min lunch and some sweet treats that might help her before leaving for work. Tyler had a breakfast meeting with her mother about their annual summer project and Rae had to meet with her publicist.

I had been prepping my boss for an interview with a young and talented entrepreneur. This Don happened to be one of the contenders for People's Sexiest Man Alive title and currently one of the most eligible bachelors in the East Coast. Unfortunately, she had to see to something today - I was asked to fill in for her.

From what I had heard from the office gossip, he was a bad boy with a passion of music and women, and an extremely gorgeous man. His elusive character and already damning reputation made me very eager to interview this anonymous Adonis. He even had many interns', my cougar boss Joss included, knickers in a twist.

Our meeting place was the restaurant co-owned by Tyler's boyfriend, Luke Sparrow, and his actor half-brother, Douglas Booth. It was a hipster eatery frequented by the young and famous with a knack for good food and great music.

The atmosphere was inviting, the waiting staff polite and eclectic, and a blend of tattooed hippies named Paradise to blond Rastafarians with shoulder length dreadlocks. I purposefully chose this place because it was the epitome of cool and trendy youthfulness also personified by the interviewee.

His publicist called me an hour prior to our lunch to confirm the meeting place and the time he would arrive. I was treating myself to some herbal tea offered to me by a mellow Yellow - her real name - when a tall figure loomed overhead.

"Is this seat taken?"

I choked on my drink, the hot liquid burning my throat and he asked if I was okay. Now, why was that voice so familiar?

"Zoe, are you okay?" Eoin asked again, walking over to gently rub my back.

"Eoin, hi. Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just surprised. I didn't know I was interviewing you today," I replied, standing up to receive him.

He smiled his slick smirk dripping with sexual innuendo and hugged me, which I deemed very unprofessional.

"Me neither, Zoe. I only found out on my way here from Rae." So they are talking about me. Remind me again to kill her.

"Oh, that's alright then. On the plus side, I know you so it'll make everything easier for me," I said, beckoning for Yellow.

She took his lunch order with a smile and flip of her slovenly locks, flirting with him before literally skipping to the kitchen.

"So we still have the charming part down. That's one less question I have to ask." I ticked a box assigned to a question on a list of questions set for the magazine.

"Guess I work fast, huh?" he asked as if surprisingly amazed at how good looking he was. Gosh, I needed a cold shower. He ran his hands through his hair, which today pulled back by a black and white striped headband. He flashed me a sheepish grin in question, one he obviously knew the answer to. "What did I do now?"

"You were born," I sassed, annoyed at his coy act towards his celebrated sex appeal. His eyes twinkled, the light refracting off the lights perched on the restaurant's wooden ceiling beams onto his pupils.

"That's the biggest compliment anyone's ever given my parents. My mom will surely love you now," he grinned.

Now? Oh dearest me.

Clearly my throat, I diverted the conversation back to the real reason we had met up. "Let's begin with your early life. You were born and raised in rural Ireland. Tell me about that." I began, asking him questions listed as the set ones assigned to me by Josie.

All his answers were immaculate, expanding on a few and leaving some vague to make for a good read. I laughed when he explained his humble childhood in the Irish countryside and I was impressed by his decision to skip university to open his own entrepreneurship.

"But you're twenty-seven," I sighed, prompting him to explain further.

"Exactly. I didn't want to live with my parents, bless them, anymore and since my sister abandoned me with them thanks to Ronan..."

"Duke Ronan to us commoners," I corrected with a smirk.

"Ronny to his favourite brother-in-law," he emphasised and continued,"I wanted to get my life together and make a name for myself. Close to nine years later and look where we are."

A half hour later, our interview was over. "Thank you so much, Eoin. This was fun, really."

"I'm glad I got to spend time with you again," he replied likewise. I was getting up to leave when he asked me if I could hang out with him later.

"I have to work late tonight and my friend's not feeling well so I have to take care of her. Rain check?" I asked, trying to sound as sincere as possible.

His eyes searched mine for a possible way to get me out of my plans. Eventually he gave up and with a sigh, he said, "I'm leaving New York tomorrow. I really wanted you to show me around. You're a good friend."

I apologised to him and offered to call him up when I ever went back to Chicago, a promise I knew I'd never fulfil. I couldn't exactly give him a reason for rejection so I had to lie, story of my life.

I walked him to the town car waiting to take him back to his hotel and waved him off.

"Till we meet again, Zoe," he whispered into my neck, just like the last time.  He hugged me warmly, his hands lingering over my waist for longer than was comfortable and he kissed my cheek, his warm lips burning my cheek.

He stared at me for a few seconds, placing a lock of stray hair behind my ear and got into his car.

"Next time you won't say no to me. I'll make sure of it."