Page 18 of Worth the Fall

Sierra launched into a spiel about dealing with vendors and clients and how she rarely drove anywhere because everything and everybody came to her. That was a nice perk, considering my current job had me driving around for meetings and location scouting all the time. The thought of staying in one place was definitely appealing. When she finished filling my head with so much information that I thought it might explode, I found room for one more question.

“What kind of events do you book the most?”

“Weddings. Hands down. And once the wedding barn is finished, we expect that to increase by at least three times.”

“What’s the ‘wedding barn’?” I asked, making air quotes with my fingers.

“Patrick”—she paused before adding his last name—“O’Grady is currently constructing a top-of-the-line event space. It looks like a rustic barn on the outside, but it’s going to be breathtaking inside. All rich woods and exposed beams. It’s divided into multiple areas that can be opened or closed with a sliding barn door depending on the size of the party. There are also two full-sized working kitchens, so we don’t have to move the food or staff from the main building. Multiple spaces for bars. There are changing rooms for the wedding parties, if needed. Four bathrooms. A loft. I mean, it’s also a gorgeous space for corporate meetings, team building, reunions, or any kind of parties. Here, let me show you.” She pointed at her computer screen as she typed away quickly.

I shoved out of my chair and walked up behind her, peering over her shoulder.

“These are the finalized sketches.”

She scrolled through multiple variations of how the space could be used and decorated, and I swore I almost started crying. It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.

“It’s stunning.”

“I know. It’s all Patrick’s doing too. He designed the whole thing.”

“Wow. I had no idea he was that talented.” It wasn’t meant to be a rude or judgmental statement in any way.

Everyone in town knew that Patrick was building a house, but it was set so far back from the road that you couldn’t see it if you drove by and tried to peek. Which I might have done once or twice with Lana.

“He’s a really brilliant contractor and designer. You should see his house,” she breathed out, her eyes wide, like even she was impressed with what he’d done. “Anyway, what do you think? Are you interested?”

My mind was still reeling, spinning with details and trying to overcome a bit of shock. “I’m a little overwhelmed, to be honest.”

“I know. I get it. You think it would be just like what you’re already doing, but technically, it’s not. It’s definitely different and extremely busy, but you have a staff working under you, which I know you don’t have at your current job.”

Just then, a thought entered my mind, and instead of working it out in my head first, I simply blurted it out. “The decorations and events for the resort. Like trunk-or-treat and the Easter egg hunt and those things. Do you handle all that as well?”

The Sugar Mountain Resort was known for their decor all year long. Each season or holiday had the resort grounds sporting decorations that matched. There were multiple events that the hotel held throughout the year for families, like picnics, treasure hunts, and Fourth of July festivities. There was a never a dull moment, and I couldn’t imagine being responsible for all of that and also overseeing all the paid events.

Sierra looked at me like I was half crazy. “God, no. Are you insane? That’s a completely different department, and they have their own staff. We don’t even interact if I’m being honest.”

“Okay. I was starting to wonder if you weren’t fully human,” I said with a laugh before replaying her earlier statement in my head. “You mentioned the staff that works under you. How pissed will they be that they weren’t considered for this position?” I wondered, not wanting to step on any toes or get off on the wrong foot if I was actually hired and accepted the job.

“They might be a little hurt at first, but they’ll understand. They aren’t ready to handle this. And the only person who is, Maribel, doesn’t want it. She isn’t interested in her life revolving around her job, which is why she refused to accept the assistant position, too, when I offered it.”

“I can respect that.” Not everyone was as career-driven as I currently was. Obviously, or else I’d still be married.

“Can you give me a minute?” she asked before picking up her phone and dialing. “Thomas. I have Brooklyn in my office, and I wanted to send her down for an impromptu—” She paused as she looked at me.

She couldn’t possibly want me to interview for the position right this second. I wasn’t prepared. And Thomas O’Grady, of all people. I fought the urge to roll my eyes and stifled the dread that started to build inside my chest.

“Uh-huh. Sounds good. Thanks for fitting her in.”

Sierra slammed down the phone with a smile. “Can you stop by Thomas’s office on your way out and meet him? He just got in and has an opening.”

I pressed my lips together tight as I tried to think of a response on how to get out of this. But, damn, this offer was too good to be true.

Sierra snapped her fingers. “Brooklyn? Do you have time to meet with him right now, or do you need to go?”

“Right now?”

“No time like the present.”

“Why am I meeting with Thomas?”

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