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I did coffee, shower and hair, got dressed and headed out. I grabbed a bagel on the way and ate it on the train. After the train spit me out, I hurried to the office, experiencing the only lament I had about our new space, it being more than the ten-minute walk away. I loved my new space, but a short day to do some quick work like I needed to do that day, it was kind of a hassle (but only kind of).
I was almost at the door when I noticed her.
I wouldn’t normally. It was likely I shared space with hundreds of people every day and didn’t look a single one in the eye.
But there was something about her that sent a slithery feeling down my spine, and it wasn’t just that she was doing nothing but standing there, outside the doors to my office building, and staring at me.
One could say I was far more recognizable than I had been a few months before, and that was probably what she was about, even if it looked like she was waiting there, not like she’d just happened to notice me.
I was going to have to get used to that kind of thing, but even so, the vibe she gave, I didn’t waste time hustling into the building, through the security kiosk and up the elevator to my suite.
When I arrived, I saw Zoey at her desk.
I went right to the doorway to her office.
“You’re pure gold in human form,” I announced.
She smiled at me and proved my words true. “I sifted through the pictures and clips and picked the best with about a dozen alternates you could look at. I also drafted copy to go with them. And I sorted your fashion list with my faves at the top. I’ve emailed them to you.”
I nodded and hit my office.
I was scrolling through Zoey’s work when my phone chimed with a text.
It was from Carole, and it had a photo, so I picked it up and opened it.
It was our group text, her, me and Fliss, and the photo was of Hale and I standing together. He’d jerked me close as a joke, so I’d put a hand to his chest to steady myself and tipped my head back to smile up at him, and he was smiling down at me.
Carole’s text read,Thurston Remington the Fifth announces his engagement to Sunny Sinclair…
I laughed out loud, because it looked exactly like a high society engagement photo.
I sent three ROTFL emojis and got back to work, only to be interrupted by Felicity’s text of,We’ll be wanting the story behind THAT, pilgrim.Soon.
Straightening out the misunderstanding with Hale, having plans with him that evening, being personally invited to one of the biggest nights on the social calendar, all of this put in stark relief that this was New York, New York, and I was a girl who was making it there.
I had great friends.
I’d met a great guy who was into me.
And I had a job I loved, and I was killing it.
It was time to rejoice in that.
Cocktails tomorrow night.
Fliss immediately sent,You’re on.
And on its heels came Carole’s,I’m there.
I got back to work, noticed I only had to make a few tweaks to the copy Zoey drafted, the stills and clips she’d picked were spot on, both indication I needed to consider giving Zoey a raise and maybe a promotion. There was a vast open space in reception that was designed to hold a desk. I had money to hire a receptionist, who could also be my assistant, and Zoey could take over website and socials, which would free up a massive amount of my time.
On this thought, I gave her the go-ahead to publish. I spent a few minutes cherry-picking stills and clips I’d use for the stream I was going to film. I then wrote the copy. After that, I moved to the elaborate makeup station I’d set up against the wall to the side of my desk and did my makeup.
All set, I went to the storage closet. A quarter of the space housed office supplies. The rest of it was shelves of shoes, accessories, and two rolling clothing rails. I had a vast selection these days, and I hadn’t bought them all off TheRealReal or in bargain basement sales where I’d had to have tears mended and makeup smudges dry cleaned off them. A handful of designers now sent me fabulous items, and they were brand new.
I sorted through it all and picked an outfit.
I put it on, headed out, and Zoey and I filmed the Elsa’s Exchange about the Blazing the Trail gala.
