Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 55599 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55599 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
“Josie,” Linda says as she sees me walking in. “It’s so good to see you. How are you?” She walks out from behind her desk and gives me a hug. “Gosh, you look great.”
I do look great. I wore a new black suit with heels so I’d feel more confident about this meeting.
“Thanks, Linda, you too. I’ve missed you.”
She pulls away and gives me a sympathetic look, glancing over both shoulders before speaking in a low tone. “I’m sorry about the promotion.”
I wave a hand, trying to look like I’m over it. I’m not, though. In reality, I have a sick, churning feeling in my stomach.
“It’s okay. Is she in?”
Linda knows who I mean—Jane is the universal she in this office.
Nodding, Linda leans in and says, “Monica’s been asking her for the Mammoths account since you got it. I think she wants to get a hockey player boyfriend out of it.”
My stomach churns double time at that. I trust Dane, but just the thought of Monica trying to charm him makes me stabby. I hate the idea of them alone in a hotel room, even if he was wearing pants and a snow parka because he’d still look sexy as hell.
“Well, she got what she wanted. As usual.”
Linda glances back over one shoulder, then the other. “She’s in, but there’s a staff meeting starting at eleven thirty.”
Ah, the old eleven-thirty staff meeting. I don’t miss those. Jane doesn’t even order in lunch on those days, even though that meeting time forces people to skip lunch.
“Should I ask her if she can see you?” Linda’s eyebrows disappear beneath her bangs. “Or maybe you should just attend the meeting.”
I smile. “I’m not attending the meeting. And I’m not asking her permission to talk.”
“Oh, but--”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she knows I didn’t run it by you.”
Poor Linda constantly worries about losing her job. Jane gets pissed when people walk into her office without going through her first to get scheduled. Linda goes from passive to assertive quickly when it comes to that, feeling like it’s somehow her fault.
If Jane knew Linda’s the one who told me about Monica getting the promotion, I’m sure she’d do something to make Linda’s job a little more hellish.
I turn and walk across the open office area, the cubicle dwellers’ domain. Though I get a few waves and nods, I get more curious looks. Everyone knows I was in line for the promotion to senior publicist.
No one has to know I’m shaking inside. I look fabulous. All the nice things Dane says about me are playing on repeat in my head. I’ve got this.
Jane’s office has a glass door set inside a glass wall that’s open to the entire main office area. I’m sure my coworkers are not so covertly watching as I grab the door handle, open the door and walk inside.
She looks up from her computer at me, peering over the rim of her glasses. “Josie, I’m busy. You’ll need to schedule time with Linda.”
“This is the only time I’m available.”
Yeah, I just said that. Her lips part with surprise.
“What have I done to make you hate me so much?”
I tried so hard to keep my voice level, but my emotions crept in. I’ve wanted to ask her that for years but never had the guts.
“The workplace isn’t appropriate for crying.”
Her tone is a mix of pity and condescension that makes me swallow my anxiety and steel myself.
“I’m not crying. Do I have feelings? Yes, I’m human. And when my own family member repeatedly does hurtful things to me, I feel hurt. Mission accomplished.”
“In this office, I am your boss, Josie. Not your aunt. You know--”
“No, that’s bullshit. I’m not the one crossing that line; you are. You crossed it a long time ago and I’m just calling you out.”
She stands. “You’re on very thin ice right now. I suggest you take a day at home to process your disappointment and return to the office tomorrow.”
“Tell me why you took me off the Mammoths account.”
“I don’t owe you an explanation.”
My smile is satisfied. “That’s what people say when they don’t want to be honest. Tell me, boss to employee, why you did it. I was doing a great job.”
Her laugh is humorless. “A great job sleeping with the client? That’s so unprofessional and you know it. I could have fired you for it. Maybe I should have.”
Before Dane, I would have been mortified by this conversation. Ashamed. But I’m a different woman now. I know my worth.
“Yeah, Dane and I developed feelings for each other. It just started. But in no way did it affect my ability to do my job. Everyone in the organization likes me. And you sent Monica in there? She complains constantly. The team doesn’t want to be around that on every road trip.”