Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 37751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
“Hello, sir.”
“Is there something you’d like to elaborate on regarding your one-star claim?”
“Yes. The CEO of your company sucks and you should quit before the holidays so he won’t have the chance to ruin your life.”
“Thank you for your feedback, Miss. I appreciate it.”
“You’re not welcome.”
“How are you doing this month?” he asks, his voice low.
“I’m not finished giving your CEO my review yet.”
“I’ll assume it’s as glowing as all the others you’ve left.”
“No, I was planning to complain about something different this time.”
He lets out a low laugh, and butterflies take flight in my stomach.
“It’s good to hear from you this week,” he says. “For a moment, I thought you’d finally moved on and forgotten about me. I was about to call you to see if that was the case.”
“Sir, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You call me twice a month for small talk, and I call you three times, but you purposely ignore each one and send me a text…”
“That doesn’t sound familiar to me.”
“My day is going quite well by the way.” He changes the subject. “Thank you for asking.”
“You’re welcome.” I tap on my screen. “Well, I have a pretty hectic afternoon ahead, so I’ll let you return to your life.”
“Wait,” he says. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something since last year.”
“Yes, I stole all the supplies in my office before coming home.”
“I already knew that.”
“Yes, I really do hate you.”
“So, why do you keep calling me?”
“I guess I’m hoping to get a voicemail one of these days that says karma has finally served you with a lightning rod death.”
“Hmmm.” He laughs. “Is that how you really feel about me?”
“I don’t have any feelings for you.”
“I think you like hearing the sound of my voice,” he says. “And I think you miss me.”
“I promise that I don’t.”
“If it means anything, I’d like to see you in person as well,” he says. “I can send a jet for you since I believe we have some unfinished business.”
“I think you’re confusing me with Amy.”
“No, I know the difference between the two.”
“Yeah, you’re dating one and harassing the other.”
His laugh sends my heart racing again. “Whatever you’ve been reading about me, please stop.”
“Tell her I’ll stop calling your line whenever you make it official.”
“I’m not entertaining that conversation,” he says. “If I sent a jet for you tonight, would you get on it?”
I hang up before I can even consider the idea.
NINE
PARK CITY, UTAH
DOMINIC
When will the decorations at headquarters finally be complete?
Mindy
Today, sir.
You said that yesterday.
Mindy
Yes, well, as your “ride or die” (remember?) I can assure you that today is really the da.y
The team you hired is excited to show you the final result this morning.
After Georgia wowed everyone with her headquarters decor last year, I couldn’t risk not having the same experience this season.
I enter the main building and notice a single white tree in the lobby.
It’s a fifteen-foot-tall white spruce with glittering gold “Reiss” ornaments that apparently cost one hundred dollars each.
Before I can ask where the rest of the shit is, a man in a tuxedo appears and hands me a snowman lollipop.
“There you are, sir,” he says. “Thank you for hiring Prescott and Lane to bring in the holidays with your company this year.”
“Thank you for agreeing to it.”
He leads me down the treeless hallways. The only signs of the holidays are the sparse and sparkling snowflakes hanging from the ceiling.
“Okay, in one, two…” He pushes the doors open. “Three!
“What do you think, sir?”
“I think I’m in the wrong room.” I blink a few times. “At least, I better be in the wrong room.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t see what you charged me half a million dollars for.” I notice that half the room is empty. “Where is Santa’s secret shop? The elves making hot cocoa?”
The team exchanges confused glances.
“This looks like a group of high schoolers did it.”
“It does not.” He narrows his eyes. “You’ve got drones, a twenty foot snowscape, and a real-life train. If you want more trees and garland, we can add that, but this is Christmas, sir. This is the ‘Wow’ factor you asked for.”
I hold back a sigh. “I’ll have my assistant Mindy get back to you with some notes.”
They smile and continue telling me about all the things that are not here, and I feign interest until it’s time for them to leave.
When I reach my office, I push aside the endless interview requests and pull up Georgia’s Pinterest account.
She runs it like a personal blog, and I’ve followed it since she left, even purchasing a few things in the off-chance that she ever accepts the offer to come see me.
I’m scrolling through her “Things I Wish Me and My Mom Would’ve Done” board when my phone rings.
“There’s a manager from Cartier on line one, sir,” my receptionist says, “Should I send it through?”