“Sounds like the company acquired Santa’s summer home.”
“I hope not. They told me it was a ski resort and vineyard. Year-round destination.”
“Anyplace we go is fine with me,” Anna assured her.
“This trip will be my treat. No argument, especially since we have to accommodate my schedule, but I promise it will be less work and more play.”
“Your mom would love what a successful businesswoman you’ve become.”
Anna hadn’t mentioned Dad. They both knew he’d never admit he was proud of her… even if he was. Vanessa had vied for his approval for as long as she could remember.Why can’t I let my need for his acknowledgment go?
“And I’m proud of you.”
Anna’s delicate and comforting voice, like silver bells, left her feeling lighter, and loved.
“Remember when you were six?” Anna asked. “Barely old enough to Magic Marker a poster, but you did and then sold more cookies by yourself than the church did at the Christmas Festival. And when you were in the sixth grade you had more fashion sense than I did, and figured out how to make money using it.”
“You funded the start-up for that business.”
“Vanessa’s Fine Vintage Frills.”
“You always believed in me.”
“Of course I did.”
“I loved going to the flea markets with you, sifting through old jewelry to find just the right pieces for my kiosk. Every Saturday on the driveway.”
“I remember. You’ve always had a head for business,” she said. “You were quite the entrepreneur. I thought you’d own a boutique one day, but I guess I wasn’t dreaming big enough. You’ve done so well. And now you’re picking the projects you want to do. That’s quite an accomplishment.”
There wasn’t anything entrepreneurial about her job now. It was simply making the decisions the executives made become reality. But she was good at it, and she’d moved up quickly. “It’s been a hard road and lots of work, but yes, I’m in an excellent position now.”
“In your career. Yes, I’d agree,” said Anna. “But your personal life could use a major do-over, and spending Christmas together is a good first step.”
“I’ll call you after this meeting, when I get my assignment and know where we’re going. Fingers crossed for Paris!”
CHAPTERTWO
Vanessa rushed into the elevator just before the doors closed. “Eleven, please.”
Why was it that when she was in a hurry this elevator seemed to stop at every floor? Good thing she didn’t work in a building with more floors. Finally, when she was the only person left, it lurched to a stop, and the doors opened.
The front-desk receptionist lifted her head and offered a good-morning.
“Good morning.” Vanessa checked the time, then picked up her pace to drop off her handbag in her office.
Kendra, her assistant was waiting on her. “I have all the paperwork for the meeting right here for you,” she said, trading the documents for Vanessa’s purse. “You’re a little late, but not horribly so. You’re near the bottom of the agenda.”
“Great.” She’d reviewed everything yesterday, so she was already prepared. She rushed down the hall, then paused in frontof the conference room door to catch her breath, before quietly opening the door and entering with an air of confidence.
Never apologize.
She took her seat at the fourteen-foot table. Gleaming wood and fine leather chairs filled the room. There were normally at least another ten people on the phone.
Offering a simple nod and grin to her boss, who nodded back, she turned her attention to Roland McAdo, who was droning on about the status of his merger down in Miami. He was the Chicken Little of the bunch, and Vanessa usually just tuned him out, knowing full well that no matter how dismal a picture he painted, he’d pull it off with great success as he always did.
Roland sat down and pushed the agenda between him and Vanessa.
“I’ve got one. Thank you.” She flipped open the folder Kendra had prepared for her. Glancing over it, she saw that she hadn’t missed much. Just some recaps on older projects.
