Page 67 of Vixen's Guide to Christmas
“When are you leaving?”
“Seven o’clock, as long as the roads are clear.”
“Oh, tonight?”
“Is that a problem? I thought the roads were set to open.”
“They are,” he says, suddenly seeming like he’s scrambling. “Before you leave, do you have time to meet with Declan and I?”
“Yeah, sure,” I stutter out. “Do you want to meet now and get it out of the way?”
He shakes his head. “Oh no. I don’t want to ruin the last little bit of time you have here today. Maybe around four, before you head to the airport?”
“That’s fine.” I say, except that it’s not fine because why is he being so cryptic. “Is everything okay?”
He can’t hide the smile. “Let’s just say, it’s very good news.”
I should be happy, but a sense of dread comes over me. “Okay. I’ll see you then.”
Howard leads me out of the kitchen before walking away, and I’m left standing there confused. What would he want to talk to me about besides…
Shit. They’re picking me.
I’ve never been so disappointed to get a client in all my years in PR.
Honestly, in the blissfulness of the past couple days, I almost forgot that’s why we were here in the first place. But that has to be what he wants to talk about. I can’t imagine they’d ask to talk to me just to let me down easy.
But…shit…Grayson. Did I want to win? Yes. But, I don’t want to beat him again. From the little bits I gathered, he had a good presentation. He had good ideas. It feels…don’t know, it feels wrong. Is this my feelings for him clouding my reaction? I don’t think so, but they don’t help.
Does he know yet? Is that why they didn’t want to meet now? That would be pretty shitty of Howard to tell me, knowing I’d still see Grayson before I left.
I suck in a breath and walk back through the restaurant toward the elevator. Except Grayson is still at our table, looking at something on his phone.
I stop to look at him, trying to read his face. It’s like he can feel my eyes on him, because he looks up, and his face is white, and he just looks…sad.
Fuck. Is this it? I don’t want to assume, but there’s nothing in his expression right now that gives me any sort of hope.
The realist in me takes center stage. I thought we could mix business and pleasure. I should’ve known it was a pipe dream. Because seeing his face now? He doesn’t have to say anything.
We’re over before we even began.
20
grayson
I didn’t meanto check my email. I just happened to have my phone out when I got a message I truly didn’t expect to get any day, let alone on Christmas Day.
Grayson,
Merry Christmas and I hope your trip to Connecticut has been going well. I wanted to message you that, since you’ll be up there for a few days, maybe swing into New York and do some apartment hunting. There’s been a retirement in the New York office, meaning there’s a position open for a senior account executive. The job is yours. You earned it.
We’ll talk more when we’re back after the first of the year. Congratulations again.
Merry Christmas,
Melinda
Holy shit…this…I have to read it three times because never on any bingo card or prediction betting block did I have getting this email today.
