Page 19 of The Vegas Rerun
My breath catches. Nearly double my salary. That kind of money would change everything for me and for Autumn. I wouldn’t have to struggle so much, wouldn’t have to pinch every cent to make sure my daughter has what she needs. And I could finally feel proud of myself, like I had achieved something.
But the thought of working so closely with Joshua is terrifying. How would I keep my secret then? I guess it would just be a case of not discussing my personal life, which shouldn’t be so hard, and not displaying my picture of Autumn on my new desk. I can do that. But do I want to?
Linda tilts her head.
"Molly?" she says, and I look at her. “You don’t have to decide right now of course, but this really is time sensitive, and I need to know within twenty-four hours. I’m sorry to rush you, and I hope you understand why I’m doing so.”
I force a swallow, and I nod my head. I do understand that she needs to move quickly because if I say no, then there will be a lot more of an in-depth process, having to find someone else and then train them.
"I... I’m just surprised. I’ve only been here a short time," I say.
"That’s true," she acknowledges. "But talent is talent. And you’ve already proven yourself."
I take a shaky breath. The rational part of me knows I should say yes. It’s the smart thing to do. But the personal part of me is screaming at me to run in the opposite direction.
And yet, the image of Autumn’s little face flashes in my mind. Her curly red hair, her bright green eyes - the same eyes that will stare at me in disappointment from the mirror if I let her down. I can’t afford to let my past dictate my future. I square my shoulders, and I meet Linda’s gaze.
"I don’t need twenty-four hours,” I say. “I’ll take the job."
She beams.
"That’s fantastic news,” she says. she opens the brown file and pulls out a stapled booklet of paper and pushes it across the table towards me. “This is your new contract. If you can read it and sign it, please.”
I do as she asks. It’s a pretty standard contract, nothing really different from the current one I had signed except for the better job title, salary and benefits. I sign it and hand it back to Linda.
“Perfect. I’ll get the paperwork started and you will start in your new role tomorrow. Congratulations, Molly," she says.
I beam at her and thank her and then I leave the room and head back out of the HR department and back to the elevators.
As I leave her office, reality crashes down on me. I just signed up to work side by side with the man who doesn’t know he has a daughter with me, a man who gave me the best night of my life and doesn’t even remember it. And now, I have no idea how I’m going to do this, but I only know that I’m going to do it. If Joshua can forget that night, then so can I. Or at least I can act like I have. I think.
CHAPTER 15
MOLLY
I walk backto my work area in a bit of a daze, and I’m still reeling when I get there. I go and sit down at my desk. Frieda glances over at me.
“Is everything ok?” she asks.
I nod my head.
“Yes,” I say. “In fact, it’s better than ok. I was worried I was going to get fired, but instead, I’ve just been promoted to the executive secretary to the CEO.”
"Oh my God, Molly. That's amazing," Frieda says with a big smile. She claps her hands together, her perfectly manicured pale pink nails clicking as she grins at me. "Executive secretary to the CEO? That’s huge."
"Yeah, congratulations," Patty chimes in, clapping her hands along with Frieda. "I knew you were going places. And that pay increase? Damn, girl, you're going to be rolling in it."
I laugh, though it feels slightly strained.
"I don’t know about rolling in it, but yeah, it’s definitely a step up."
"A step up? It's a freaking elevator ride to the penthouse," Patty adds, tossing her sleek dark hair over one shoulder. "That’s, like, the most coveted job in the entire admin department."
Most coveted. The words make the hairs on the back of my neck prickle. Because not everyone in the room looks thrilled.
Sarah is sitting at her desk, her silence almost louder than the congratulations I’m receiving from the other two secretaries. She hasn’t said a word. She’s just sitting there with her arms crossed. Her expression is unreadable, her face set in its usual mask of cold neutrality but I know she’s not happy about this. I can tell by the way her eyes bore into me like I’ve stolen something precious from her.
"Sarah?" I ask. I offer her a hesitant smile. "What do you think?"
