Page 113 of When Fate Breaks
“Yes. I’m meeting a friend.”
“Oh,” Matthew says, letting his hand fall away from my arm. “Well, Margaret said she wanted to speak to us after she finished. Can your plans wait just a few minutes?”
I chew at my bottom lip anxiously. The whole day has gone over so well with Margaret up until right before her speech. I can’t drop the disappearing act now when she’s already not pleased with me. If I want the New York position, I have to leave her with a good impression. I’m seriously going to be cutting it close, but I can wait a few minutes.
“Yeah, sure. Of course.” I nod and follow Matthew back to where Evelyn is standing. The crowd around Margaret has mostly dissipated, only four people still waiting to talk to her. I tap my foot anxiously over the next few minutes, each second feeling like an hour. My eyes search the room, realizing this place must be too fancy for peasant necessities such as clocks. Not wanting to be caught on it again, I subtly slide my cell phone out of my pocket, unlocking it to read the time. I’m just barely able to read the numbers before the screen goes black and my phone dies.
5:34 p.m.
Shit.I seriously have to go.
“Oh, yes, this is Annie Jacks.” I jump at the sound of Margaret’s voice at the same time her hand claps down on my shoulder. “Annie, this is Randall Coralton.”
My hand shoots out to shake the man’s. “Hi, Mr. Coralton. Nice to meet you.”
“Great to meet you as well, Ms. Jacks. Were you, er, heading out?” he asks, nodding to my full hands and my bag slung over my shoulder.
“Actually, yes. I have plans with a friend in the city tonight that I’m running a little late for.”
“Oh, what a shame,” Mr. Coralton says, his lips pulling to the side.
“Annie.” My head turns to see Margaret looking at me with the oddest expression, making my brows pull together. I also realize she just addressed me by my first name. Twice. “Mr. Coralton is an alum of the University of Alabama.”
“Oh,” I steel my spine, grinning, “how cool!”So this is why Margaret wanted to introduce us.“Small world. Roll Tide!” I start to turn to leave before Margaret’s hand stiffens on my shoulder, stopping me.
“He’s also the executive director of human resources at our New York City headquarters.”
My stomach instantly dips.Oh my God. I swallow, turning to fully face Mr. Coralton again, my eyes darting between him and Margaret. “Well, nice to meet you,” I repeat, dumbly, not sure what else to say.
“You as well, Ms. Jacks. I’ve heard a lot about you from Margaret.”
You have?
“And, though I’m not one to play favorites,” Mr. Coralton continues, “I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bring me a little extra joy to see my fellow alumni succeed.”
“Oh…” My mouth has gone bone dry. “Well, that’s great.”
“Indeed,” Mr. Coralton says, his brows raised. “I was hoping you and Ms. Brooks might have some time to chat over dinner and drinks this evening, but if you already have plans…”
This can’t be happening right now.“Oh, well, um, I–”
“We’d love to,” Margaret cuts me off.
“But–”
Margaret’s blood red manicured nails dig further into my shoulder. “Just one drink, Annie.Surelyyou have time.”
I swallow hard, moving to reach for my phone to check the time and then remembering that it’s dead.
Dammit.
Blake is waiting on me and I have no way to contact him. But…this is my shot. Judging by the look on Margaret’s face, probably the last and only one I’m going to get. This is my dream job. My dream city. Once I get to Blake and explain, he’ll surely understand.Won’t he?
The blue banner above the stage catches my eye, my eyes trailing from the conference name to the date below it.September 1st. Today might be my dream, but it’s Blake’s nightmare. I need to be there for him. Iwillbe there for him. And we still have to talk. With the way life is going, I need this job more than anything. I blow a subtle breath out of my nose.
Goddammit.
“Yes, one drink would be lovely.”
