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I leap to my feet and head down the hallway, making my way to Amanda’s office. Her door is open and she’s chatting on the phone. Her voice carries into the hallway, every word dripping with scorn. “Did you see what she was wearing? My God, if you ever see me dressing so 2000-late, please just euthanize me.”
I walk in, and she scowls at me and tells the person on the other end, “Excuse me, I have to go deal with something.” Then she puts her phone down and looks at me with annoyance. “There’s a sign on the door asking people to knock. I’m working.”
Yes, I could tell.
I keep my expression pleasant and smile at her. “Have you heard back from anyone about the event?” I try to hide the anxiety vibrating inside me.
She shakes her head. “Not a word. Maybe you’ll need to cancel. You should probably start working on that right away; it’s coming up soon.” She’s toying with a letter opener that’s shaped like a dagger, and her mouth curves faintly in a smile as she says it.
I’ve never known anyone to cheer for other people’s misfortunes like she does.
I take a deep breath. “Listen, Amanda. I know that we’re both up for the same position, and I’ve sensed some hostility from you about it. The thing is, whoever gets it, we’re both still going to be working here, and we are all on the same team. This is a great company.”
She sets the letter opener down and stares at me, her expression blank.
“It doesn’t help the company to have two coworkers feuding. It can even spill over and hurt our clients and reputation.”
“Are you done?”
Well, I tried. I extended an olive branch, and she slapped it away. At this point, I don’t know what else I can do to fix things between us.
“Yes, I am.” I turn on my heel and walk out.
“Good luck with the invitations,” she calls out at my retreating back.
I return to my office, worry thrumming through my veins.
I can’t believe nobody has even contacted us to say they’re not interested. I could see one invitation being lost in the mail, maybe even a few, but all of them?
I plop back down at my desk. I don’t have time for this. Tomorrow is going to be a super busy day because it’s Mason’s next hospital visit and I still haven’t picked out a costume. I’m going to be making a last-minute visit to the costume rental shop, I guess.
I also have a message from the hospital coordinator that there are several birthdays this month, and several kids who will be “ringing the bell,” which means that they are in remission and done with treatment, and they’re celebrating tomorrow. The media will be there for Mason’s visit too, and it’s to be a packed house because some of the staff are coming on their day off to celebrate.
So in addition to figuring out what’s happening with the invitations, I need to pull together a bunch of awesome gift baskets and pick out a great costume.
No pressure, though.
I send a silent message to my mom, wherever her spirit is resting.Are you sure that this career thing is everything it’s cracked up to be? Because sometimes it’s terrifying. I could fail and let everyone down.
There’s no answer, of course, which just makes me feel even more alone.
Okay, I can’t wait for the invitees to get back to me any longer.
I pick up my phone and call Tyler Watkins, the CEO of a construction company, to see if I can get his verbal confirmation. He has a personal tie to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as well, because his aunt was successfully treated for lymphoma at Manhattan Hospital, so I really thought he’d be pumped about the event.
The administrative assistant patches me through right away, because we’ve worked together in the past. Tyler’s also good friends with Mason’s father.
“Hey, chickie, how are you?”
I stifle a laugh.Tell me you’re sixty-five without telling me you’re sixty-five, I think.
“I’m great. Listen, did you get the invite that I sent, by any chance? I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be pushy ...”
“My dear, if I’d gotten an invite, I’d have RSVPd one way or the other. I don’t like to be kept hanging myself, so I don’t do it to other people. What’s the occasion?”
I spell it out to him, and to my relief, he immediately says he’ll go. I quickly mark him down on my list. Okay, whew. Well, at least I know that it isn’t that people got the invite and hated the idea of the event.
“I’ll also be glad to donate fifty thousand dollars towards the toy drive.”
