Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 66134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
I walked down the hall to the executive wing, seeing through the glass wall that both Brandy and Samantha were in Samantha’s office. They were standing together inside, talking, and I couldn’t get a read on their moods.
“Hey, Stevie,” my sister said, greeting me from her desk in front of Brandy’s office where she handled all the assistant duties for her boss. “Brandy and Samantha are waiting for you and said for you to head inside when you arrived.”
I searched my sister’s expression to see if she knew what I was walking into, but she was all bright-eyed, happy smile enthusiasm these days, giving me no clue whatsoever.
I set my laptop on the corner of Valerie’s desk and walked into my boss’s office. “Good morning, Samantha, Brandy,” I said.
They both gave me smiles and returned the greeting, then Samantha rounded her desk to take the chair behind it. “Have a seat,” she said, waving toward the two chairs in front of her desk.
I settled into one, and Brandy took the other. Feeling nervous, I clasped my hands in my lap.
“I guess I’ll just get right down to business,” Samantha said, meeting my gaze. “We’re going to have to cut your two days a week.”
I tried not to flinch or react to the news, but damn that felt like a sucker punch to the stomach. “Do you mind me asking why?” I glanced from Samantha to Brandy.
Brandy grinned. “Because we’re offering you a full-time position here at Dare PR, starting as soon as possible.”
Confusion rippled through me. “I…I don’t understand.”
Samantha grimaced, seemingly realizing where my mind had gone. “We wanted to surprise you, but I can see that plan kind of backfired and you were expecting the worst. But, well…surprise!”
All my anxiety faded away, and excitement settled in its place as I tried to catch up. “But I haven’t finished my final classes yet. I don’t have my degree.” I still had about a month to go to wrap up all my coursework.
“Your degree is just a formality,” Brandy said, grinning. “Even without it we’d still make you this same offer. You’ve proven yourself more than capable.”
Samantha nodded in agreement. “PureGlow has been so impressed with your campaign ideas and they requested that you head up the account. After discussing things with Jack, who is one of your biggest advocates, by the way, we’re promoting you to a full-time position as a marketing strategist. You’ll be working directly beneath Jack and reporting to him since he’s a senior manager, but we need you to start full-time as soon as possible. Like, next week. Is that something you can do?”
My head spun as I tried to process everything. Accepting the position meant resigning from The Back Door permanently, but Raven had already assured me that she was covering my shifts just fine. I knew she’d understand, because this had been my end goal, anyway. It had just happened faster than I’d anticipated.
“Yes,” I said enthusiastically. “Yes, I can do that.”
The two of them presented me with an impressive salary that came with health insurance and benefits, a retirement plan, stock options, and bonuses. By the time I walked out of their office I was floating on a cloud, grateful that my dedication to Dare PR, and all my hard work, was starting to pay off.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Stevie
The entire week had passed in an overwhelming rush of activity. Between my day with Raven on Wednesday, my promotion at work on Thursday, and Caleb insisting on properly celebrating my first real career achievement on Friday—which had included an insanely expensive bottle of champagne, a bouquet of two dozen roses, and dinner at a five-star restaurant—it had been a whirlwind of events.
Today, Saturday, was the Inspired by Art Charity Gala. I’d spent the morning and afternoon with Valerie, doing our normal Saturday laundry and grocery shopping routine, and enjoying a session at the yoga studio in the building. Afterward, she’d helped me with my hair and makeup, had zipped me into my gorgeous, fitted, strapless red gown for the event, and then Jack had arrived to pick her up for their first real date night together.
She’d been so giddy it had been adorable. I, of course, couldn’t help but tease Jack about being a gentleman and getting my sister home at a respectable time, and he took it all in stride. I made Valerie promise to text me later so I knew what her plans were since I’d be spending the night with Caleb. I just needed to know whether she’d be at home or at Jack’s so I didn’t worry.
A short while later, Caleb arrived at the apartment, and as soon as I opened the door we both stared at one another in awe. I couldn’t tear my eyes off him because he was wearing a fitted black tuxedo and looked sexy as hell, and he smelled amazing wearing that expensive cologne I loved that made my sex clench whenever I got a whiff of it…like now.