Page 68 of Fauxmance in the City

“I wasn’t going to fire them,” Gillian says. “I was upset, but I don’t believe in taking the whole ship down just because of one rotten passenger. Patrick is a talented editor. I’d be an idiot to let him go. And I almost admire Samuel Harding for his loyalty to you. If he has as much loyalty to his job, I’ll never let him leave.”

“Thank you.” I want to fall into a puddle of gratitude on the floor. “I accept your offer.”

“I’ll be watching you carefully, Ms. Bloom.” Gillian purses her lips, then marches out of my office.

Charles claps his hands. “That was fun.”

“What if she hadn’t taken the bait?” I ask, releasing the breath I’d been holding.

“I wasn’t worried,” Charles says. “I love messing with Gilli. Plus, I like to remind her she plays as dirty as the rest of us.”

Charles smiles gleefully, then walks out of my office, whistling.

“Thank God for small miracles.” Natalie collapses onto the cushions.

“I’m worn out.” By some miracle, the ploy worked, but I pace the rug, unsettled. “I don’t want to do this anymore.”

“What are you saying?” Natalie asks.

“I don’t know.” I sink to my knees in front of her. “I think—yes, I think Gillian firing me was a blessing. Maybe I shouldn’t have taken my job back.”

Natalie lays her good arm on my shoulder, eyeing me suspiciously. “We raced across town scheming to save it.”

“I came here to save Sam’s and Patrick’s jobs,” I say, the truth hitting me squarely in the chest. Butterflies of a different sort accost my belly. “I want to work with you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Let’s start our own business. We can write another book, but this time with both our names on the cover. It’ll help promote your new restaurant, and I could start my own interior design business. I’ve wanted to for years. And Charles likes me. I think he’d continue to work with me, even without the magazine. I think he’d do it just to piss off Gillian. It’ll be a lot of work at first, but I think we could build this into something. Together.”

Natalie stares at me like I have a monkey on my head, but then she breaks into a smile and throws her good arm around my neck. “Yes! Of course. Let’s do it!”

We jump up and down, holding each other. Adrenaline spikes my heart rate. Natalie flinches, and I help her sit. “How’s your arm?”

“It aches, but it’s fine.”

Relief floods through my veins. I can’t believe I got my job back and I don’t even want it!

“Remind me to kiss Max the next time I see him,” I joke. “He saved our asses.”

“I’d be happy to lock lips with you, but I don’t think your husband would appreciate it.” Max leans against the doorframe, a smirk on his handsome face. I throw a pillow at him from one of the accent chairs.

“Do you think your girlfriend would appreciate you kissing another woman?” I tease, but all I want to do is run and find Sam.

“She dumped me.” Max flashes a bright smile as if he’s announced he’s engaged, not disengaged.

“What?” Natalie bursts out. Ha! I knew she liked him.

“She fell for another man. I know him. Great guy. She’s on her way to meet up with him.”

“Aren’t you upset?” I ask.

“I’m more upset I won’t be skiing in Colorado. I could still go, but it might be a bit awkward. They’ll both be there.”

“You’re taking this way too calmly,” I say. “Did you hit your head again?”

“I’m not surprised. We both knew the relationship was flawed. If she hadn’t done it first, I would’ve.”

“I’m glad then,” I say, but I realize how it might be misinterpreted. “I mean, I didn’t mean… I’m not glad because you broke up—”

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