Page 9 of Storybook Christmas

After she steps inside, the door slams shut in Finn's and my faces. “Now what?” I whisper.

“No idea.” He shrugs, leaning in closer to me before uttering, “But I do know that assault on my sniffer costs a hundred bucks per molecule.” He waves his hand around to disperse it.

I hold back a chuckle.

Then it hits me: now that Annabelle’s in there, a whole new meeting is starting.

Crap!

Maybe she just has one question for her dad before rushing off to a facial? I mean, she probably gets them daily—her skin is flawless.

But after another four minutes of Annabelle rambling on about her upcoming vacation, I realize that’s not happening.

Finn must too, because he says, “This is bad—I need this job, Lacy. And Joshua told me I’m fired if I don’t get the ad copy to the marketing team by lunch.”

My face contorts. “Joshua threatened to fire you over that?”

“Well, it wouldn’t technically be a firing since my position is interim. So, it’d be terminating my temporary contract, but yeah, Joshua was serious. You know how easy it is to find lackeys like me who are fighting to break their way into publishing?”

“Pretty easy,” I grumble, conceding. I let out a groan when I realize it’s time to bring in Bertha—but not for myself. “Come with me.”

Finn responds with a puzzled look, but he follows me.

When we arrive at Bertha’s desk, I let Finn in on Bertha’s secret permission to interrupt the Suttons before telling her what Finn needs.

“On it,” Bertha says, extending her hand. “Give me the ad copy, Finn.” After he does as he’s told, Bertha punches something out on her phone. Within a minute, she says, “Okay, done. Ad copy approved.”

Finn goes wide-eyed. “Thank you. That was magic.”

“Shhh.” Bertha looks around. “It’s a once-a-day magic, and it’s top-secret. Now, in return, I request a molten lava chocolate mocha from Queen Bean.”

“Hold the whipped cream,” I add.

“Done,” he says before looking at me. “Thank you, Lacy. I owe you.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

After he rushes out the front door, I look at Bertha with the best puppy dog eyes I can muster. “Can youpleasetake in my contract—”

“No way, Lace. Don’t even ask. I know rule number two, addendum five, of my life coaching handbook states that one must take charge, but I’m not losing my job for the cause.”

I groan, tapping a foot. “Okay.”

A smile takes over Bertha’s face. “That was awfully nice of you, Lace. Sacrificing your much-needed interruption card for Finn.”

I point at her. “Don’t get any ideas. Joshua was going to fire him.” Before Bertha can say anything else, I dart away, but I still hear a kissing sound echoing from her desk.

The afternoon races by, as I have so much work piled up, I can’t get to it fast enough. I’m slightly annoyed that I used up Bertha’s interruption pass because it takes three attempts to corner Isaac at the water-cooler to get the signature I need.

So, yeah—Ireallyneed to be more assertive.

I’m back at my desk, finally editing, which is fantastic given that it’s my actual job. I’m getting feverish about Fireflies Save Christmas because I have to submit the final version on Friday, which is in three days. The Suttons will make their decision for it and all the other competing manuscripts on Monday, and the big announcement hits Tuesday morning.

Just thinking about it, I shiver.

I’m still making good progress when Finn appears at my open door and says, “May I come in?”

“Of course.”

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