Page 42 of No Time for Traditions

Now, time for a much-needed date with Ben and Jerry.

Chapter 15

Brittany wiped her clammy palms on her pant legs before knocking on Cassandra’s door. She’d stepped in Brittany’s office earlier and asked her to come by before she left for the day. Brittany knew she wanted to talk about the acquisitions job, which is why she’d spent the entire afternoon contemplating how she’d react if offered the position.

“Come in, Brittany.”

Brittany slowly opened the door. Either Cassandra had a sixth sense for knowing who knocked, or she’d installed a spy camera in the hallway. Neither would surprise Brittany.

Brittany crept inside, the cozy office closing around her like a cell. Brittany sat on the edge of the sofa facing Cassandra’s desk, anxiously awaiting the news.

“Brittany, now that we’ve all been back to work a few days, it’s time to talk business.”

Brittany shifted and tried to calm her nerves.

“I’ll be straight with you, as always. You’re a great editor, and I would like nothing more than to make you my acquisitions editor for sweet romance books. You’d still have the same office, but I can give you a twenty-percent pay increase, effective first thing in the new year.”

Brittany’s eyes widened. This was good news. Or was it? Suddenly, the promotion sounded like a sentence to lifelong editing and other editorial tasks, taking her further away from her dream of writing.

“Thank you . . .” Brittany cleared her throat and sat up a little straighter.

Greg might have been wrong about a lot of things, but he was right about one—she didn’t need to give up on writing. It was something she’d dreamed about ever since she sat in her grandparents’ windowsill readingLittle House on the Prairie.

“. . . but I have to be honest.”

Cassandra clasped her hands together and leaned forward. “Go ahead.”

“I really want to write.”

Cassandra half-smiled. “You can write. In your spare time. But I need you here as an editor and in acquisitions.”

Brittany dropped her shoulders. Fight for it, Brittany. Come on.

“I wrote something great over the holiday. Could you please just take a look at it?”

Cassandra dropped her gaze momentarily, then offered Brittany a slight smile. A pity smile. “Brittany, I have no doubt you’re a talented writer. I just can’t afford to lose you on our editing team at this time. I’d be willing to offer you a thirty percent raise if you take the promotion.”

Brittany picked at her nails. She didn’t know what to say. If she were Greg, she might walk out and go start her own publishing company. But she wasn’t Greg.

Cassandra was dropping a dream job in her lap. Sure, it wasn’t her dream, but it was a sweet salary for an editor under thirty. Jobs like this didn’t come along often, especially in Manhattan. She would continue to write, but she couldn’t bring herself to say no to such a position. If for no other reason than to have a nice safety net in case her writing didn’t work out the way she planned.

“That sounds wonderful.” Brittany followed the half-truth with a fake smile. The salary sounded wonderful, but the actual job, not so much.

“Great. I’ll have the official paperwork to you tomorrow.”

Brittany nodded, continuing her fake smile.

Cassandra put on her bifocals and turned to her computer, indicating the meeting had ended. Brittany stood slowly and walked toward the door.

“Oh, Brittany?”

“Yes?” Brittany turned before opening the door.

“You have a great future ahead of you in this industry.” Cassandra offered one of her rare genuine smiles.

“Thanks. That means a lot coming from you.” Brittany meant that. However, she wasn’t so sure the future Cassandra pictured for her was the one Brittany wanted.

Brittany walked the Green Mile back to her own office. She should be thrilled. One of the most noted fiction publishers in New York had given her a promotion that came with a fat pay raise. And she’d given Brittany a huge compliment. That alone was astounding coming from Cassandra. But instead, Brittany felt defeated.

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