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“Okay. Fine. Then find a new job. I’ll miss you desperately.” She pouted, giving me a puppy dog look.
“And you’ll come out to visit,” I said, laughing.
“You’re damn right I will!”
We both laughed for a few minutes, but angst remained in the pit of my stomach. I’d fought the demons that had threatened to derail my career but being forced to see the asshole on a daily basis had become exhausting.
Especially since he lorded his position as VP over me.
I scrolled through a couple of pages, growing bored almost instantly. Then a single entry caught my eye. It really caught my eye. I read the ad over twice before flipping the laptop in her direction. “Whoa. Would you look at this?”
Yawning on purpose, Maggie finally grinned then peered down at the screen. Then her eyes narrowed as she read the ad out loud. “Position available in Napa Valley. Imagine learning the ins and outs of the wine business in a beautiful setting, enjoying the lifestyle while being paid to do so. Wolfe Wineries is looking for the right candidate for a one-year position possibly leading to full time. Work will entail certain aspects of marketing as well as providing ideas for entirely new and vivacious campaigns. Salary is…” She hesitated, giving me a quick look.
I finished for her. “One hundred thousand dollars with full benefits plus living quarters and a car.” I couldn’t help but grin.
“Is this for real? No way. That’s a crazy ad. No one is going to pay that kind of money for a temporary position. Besides, that’s beneath you.”
“Don’t say that. It just might be the fresh start I need.”
“Hmm… Then let’s take a look at Wolfe Wineries.” She allowed her fingers to fly on the keyboard. Then she leaned back, her eyes shimmering. “The place is real all right. Look at this. It’s freaking gorgeous and they’ve had some seriously award-winning wines, at least until recently.”
When she flipped the computer around, I was instantly mesmerized at the gorgeous setting. From rolling hills to the most gorgeous green fields full of grapes, spectacular villas, and an estate that looked like a castle, the location was what dreams were made of. I pulled the computer in front of me, gawking at the pictures for a few seconds.
“It’s a pipe dream, but what the heck?” Maggie sighed, sipping on her iced coffee, growling when another group of men walked by the front door.
I started typing, humming as I did so. A few seconds later, I sat back, nervous as a kitty cat. Was I doing the right thing?
“What?” she asked.
“Well, I took your advice. I sent in my resume. We shall see. Cross your fingers.”
Maggie giggled. “That was fast. You really are serious. Let me know if you hear anything. You have balls, my friend.”
Sighing, I closed my laptop. There wasn’t a chance in hell I’d qualify, even if my resume was spot on. No, I’d lived through hell. Maybe karma would be kind after everything I’d been through.
* * *
Arduous.
That’s the only way to describe the day. I’d spent far too much time being ignored by a company whose future I’d sacrificed so much of my free time for. The owners seemed to be in a holding pattern instead of pushing the boundaries like I recommended. Maybe that was the telling moment and it was the perfect time to leave.
Then Scott had berated me in front of other employees. I was done. I’d take a job flipping burgers at this point.
I tossed my bag on the floor, immediately moving into the bedroom to change. Wearing a constricted suit every day just wasn’t me, although the attire was required. After jumping into a pair of jeans and a tee shirt, I poured a glass of wine before placing my laptop on the kitchen table. At least I was home. Maybe tonight would be a good night for spaghetti. I opened the case, quickly moving to my email, huffing at the assorted listings from various clothing stores I couldn’t afford.
I shifted my thoughts to the winery, remembering the incredible images of the owner. The man had the most gorgeous green eyes, which captivated me with every image. He was gorgeous with long shaggy dark and very silky-looking hair, a mesmerizing presence that captured not only my mind but my desire. He had bronzed skin, his high forehead suggesting an aristocratic heritage of some kind. And his muscles… Whew.
Exhaling, I realized I was having difficulty breathing, my pulse racing. I’d never been so aroused from looking at a few pictures. I pressed my hand across my mouth, trying to control the few moans slipping past my lips. My reaction was ridiculous. After shaking my head, I returned my attention to whatever mail was in my inbox.
Then a particular email caught my eye. Wolfe Wineries. Really? I realized my hand was shaking as I pressed on the nondescript tagline.
I was forced to blink several times until I realized I’d been offered a Zoom interview. Really? While I knew I had an impressive resume to a degree, I couldn’t imagine the work I’d performed could matter. It had nothing to do with beverages of any kind.
“Oh, Lord.” The interview was in the morning at eleven. There wasn’t much time to prepare, but damn it, I wasn’t going to turn this down. After accepting the Zoom invitation, I sat back, reeling from my actions. I wasn’t the kind of girl to hunger for adventures, no matter what I’d said to Maggie. I was a homebody. Hell, my parents lived three miles from my apartment.
But I had to admit I hungered for something different in my life. I longed to see exotic places, enjoying the fruits of my labor in an entirely new way.
Maybe this was a new beginning.
