Page 163 of Now and Forever

Blinking at her, I bit into my lip, clueless as a little bird. “My size?” Did she mean shoe size or clothing-wise?

“Clothes, dear.”

Oh. This was fashion; of course she would ask me something relevant to the field.

Clearing my throat, I made a face before speaking. “Well, that depends on the season.”

“Clarify that,” she shot out with a raised brow, her eyes narrowed.

“Spring and summer, I’m a six, but fall and winter, I’m a four.” Stupid me. Why did I have to complicate things? I could have simply answered it instead of drawing more ire.

“Interesting.” She pressed her lips together then placed my résumé down in front of her and facing me with a considering look. “Have you considered that it could be due to water retention?”

“I beg your pardon?”

Her eyes narrowed again. “Hmm.” She dismissed the subject altogether. “Your résumé shouldn’t be considered as one. Have you no job experience? Not one to your name?”

I had expected this. Of course I had.

Shaking my head, I addressed her question, “No, this is my first job interview.”

“Sad.” She sounded just the opposite of the word. “Are you sure you’re cut out to work? If this were a normal interview, I wouldn’t even waste another minute of my time. Let me clarify that I don’t babysit privileged brats, and if you fail at one task, don’t wait for me to fire you; just leave your keycard on your desk and never come back. Am I understood, Chloe Armstrong?”

My mouth went dry. “I understand.”

“Do you, Chloe Armstrong?” She gave me a stern look, pinning me down with those eyes of hers. “You’re going to be in a trial position for eight weeks. We’ll re-evaluate then if you’re worthy to stay indefinitely. You start a week from today.”

She had just hired me, hadn’t she? Holy guacamole! My first job, and at Teen Vogue! Courtney would be in hysterics.

“Thank you. Thank you for this amazing chance! I promise to work extremely hard.”

“Do.” She raised her brow at me before taking a deep breath. “Life is about experiences. Late comers never win at anything,” she said chidingly before adding, “And, Chloe?”

My little inner victory dance came to a screeching halt when my gaze connected with hers. “Yes, ma’am?”

“Dress accordingly. Don’t disappoint me with funeral clothes.”

“Of course.”

Funeral clothes? I thought black was always a staple? Well, since I was going to be in Teen Vogue, I supposed a drastic change in my color preference would be good. I had eventually warmed to red. A few more hues wouldn’t hurt. Chuey and Manolo would surely love to go shopping with me.

Jesus, Mandy Johnson was terrifyingly cutting, not to mention grueling. Holy crap, the woman was going to make me really work for it. God, help me, because I would need it around here.

A celebratory drink with the boys was in order, but when my mind argued that maybe I should call and thank Drew for this brilliant idea of his, the little happiness I was basking in immediately fizzled. Drew wouldn’t welcome my call, but it had still been so kind of him to ask his friend to do this for me..

Who knew what the future held? This could be my calling for all I knew.

I got home, feeling upbeat, and headed straight into the kitchen to pour myself a glass of orange juice. While shuffling through the mail that was stacked neatly on the counter, my eyes were drawn to a smooth, black envelope that had expensive written all over it. Heck, even by touching it, you could immediately tell by the texture and the weight of the stationary.

Who would send us this? It was addressed to Jackson and me, but when I flipped it over to check out whom it was from, there was no addresses.

“Odd.” Placing my drink down, I hesitantly opened it and was stunned to realize that it had come from someone who was apparently close to Drew. Close enough to throw him a birthday party in the Hamptons.

It’s his birthday.How could I have forgotten that it was coming up? Jackson, no doubt, would go. But should I? Was I brave enough to see him? I wasn’t sure. I supposed I would soon find out.

---