Free Connectivity by Aven Ellis

William.
    And I could get badly burned at the end if I am not very, very careful.

Chapter 10
    As I step into the offices of the Beautiful Homes Network on Monday, I am beyond excited.
    This morning, I am going to submit my article on redecorating William’s office to Jennifer Lewis, the web editor for the Beautiful Homes Network. I feel the butterflies shift in my stomach at the thought. I worked on revisions yesterday, had William look it over one more time, and now it is ready to go. If she likes it-God, please let her like it—this could be the beginning of big things for me.
    I get to my cubicle and begin unwrapping all of my winter layers. And more good things happened! I have, as of this morning, five blog readers! And the only one I know personally is William. The other four found me, like my writing, and actually subscribed to my blog!
    I am finally on my way , I think as I lean over and boot-up my computer. Things are really starting to happen for me with my career.
    And things are happening with William, too , my heart adds, joining the conversation.
    I feel my cheeks burn as I head down the hall to get the water going for tea. I spent all afternoon with William on Saturday. We went to Michigan Avenue, and he requested that I direct him to my favorite stores, rather than ridiculous custom furniture stores or interior design studios that I know people with his type of wealth frequent.
    So based on what I like, we went shopping at Crate & Barrel, Restoration Hardware, and Pottery Barn. I made him sit on furniture and pick up pillows and test everything. It was funny, and I could tell he usually just had “people” do these things and never had done furniture shopping by himself.
    I took loads of pictures of potential pieces for his penthouse. And then I made him take silly pictures, like ones of him testing out chairs at Pottery Barn. Then he insisted on taking my picture, too, and we just were laughing our heads off and being completely stupid.
    We were being , I think, filling the electric teakettle with water, just William and Mary-Kate.
    After we shopped, I made him stop at Gino’s East, the famous Chicago pizzeria, for a break. William had never had it before, so he put me in charge of ordering and we shared a thin crust pizza. We talked and laughed, and I think I went through half the matches in my book on Saturday alone.
    I take a deep breath of air as more butterflies flutter around in my stomach. But this time, they aren’t for my career.
    They are for William.
    In a few weeks, I will be in London. With William . I still can’t even believe that it is happening. My life is changing so fast on so many levels.
    I go back to my cube after I have the electric teakettle started, and I see William has slid in while I was in the break room. My pulse leaps, and I stick my head inside his doorway, as I am excited to see him.
    He is already at his desk, talking to someone on speakerphone. William is in a crisp white dress shirt and, oh mother of God, he looks stunning in it.
    As I am standing there trying not to drool on myself, William looks up at me. His laser eyes lock with mine and I know, without him saying a word, he wants me to wait until he is off the phone.
    “No, that is not what I requested and I anticipate this situation will be rectified immediately,” William says firmly. “You have 24 hours to correct this problem, and I trust I will not have to follow up on it again. Do I make myself clear?”
    Damn. William is really hot when he is in full-on mogul mode.
    He punches the off button on his phone and turns around in his chair. Then he brushes his fingertips against his lips and stares at me.
    “I am sorry, but, really, the idiocy of some of the people employed at this group of networks is astonishing,” he says. “How did they get to this level? How?”
    I smile knowingly at him. “Agreed,” I say. Often I felt like I was aboard the ship of fools at TATS, so I’m glad that William sees