Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 88673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
“But… it’s not boss you I’m going to miss. It’s friend you, Clarissa.” I pout. Because even though we don’t really hang together outside of work, she’s my best friend these days. I tell her everything. And when things go wrong, she’s the one who makes life better. Without Clarissa, I wouldn’t have scored the cottage I live in on the Yonder grounds. It was hers before it was mine. And when she moved out to rent a little house in the nearby village, she told Sutter I should get it.
Which is the whole reason why I can afford to keep renovating my childhood home back in Disciple. One day—hopefully before I grow old—I will turn that old mansion into my own niche hotel and plan events on my own estate grounds. It’s my dream. Clarissa has been helping me make my dream come true and now she’s leaving.
I cannot hide my disappointment.
“Aww, I feel the same way, Clover,” Clarissa says. “And I’m gonna miss you like crazy. But we’re meant for bigger things, friend. And this is the next step on our journeys. We need to spread our wings.”
“Yeah… I know. But we need to make sure we meet up. Once a month, just like I do with my childhood bestie, Lowyn, back home in West Virginia.”
“It’s a date.” And she smiles at me, cementing these words into a promise. “Now go. Have your meeting with Sutter. I’m on my way to the airport.” She points to a pink wheelie suitcase that I hadn’t noticed.
“You’re leaving now?”
“It’s just a one-week trip to get a feel for the place. Don’t worry, I’ll be back and we’ll have a proper goodbye then.” She twiddles her fingers at me. “See ya soon!” Then she takes off at a determined walk towards the revolving front doors of the hotel, her heels clicking on the polished marble floors, and a moment later, she’s gone.
I let out a long breath. I love working under Clarissa. She’s very upbeat, her smile is wide and contagious, and even when people mess up, she only has encouraging things to say.
I want to be sad about this turn of events for a few more hours, at least. But I owe it to my boss to rally and meet the moment with dignity. And anyway, it’s not a setback, not at all. This is a good change and now that I’ll be the boss it will be my turn to pay it forward and mentor an up-and-coming event planner, just like Clarissa did for me.
So I straighten my back, turn on my heel, and head straight to Sutter’s office.
Ten minutes later I’m sitting in an oversized leather wingback in front of Sutter’s massive mahogany desk with my mouth open.
“Did you just say… I’m fired?” I blink at him. Like seven times in a row, because this can’t be happening. “How—”
“Look, Miss Bradley, you’ve done a great job here. I’m not unhappy with your work at all.”
“Then why?”
He shrugs with his hands and sits back in his chair, making the leather creak. “Downsizing. The economy is terrible. The Dixie Yonder has been losing money for over a year now. Something has to be done.”
“But we have events scheduled for the entire year, Mr. Sutter! If Clarissa is leaving for Boston, then who will do the events if not me?”
“Brian can handle it, I’m sure.”
“Brian? But he’s my assistant.”
“Exactly. He’s mostly qualified and makes half as much as you do. And… well, that’s really all that matters. The bottom line is king, as they say.”
“But he’s only been here six months. He can’t possibly produce the quality of event that Clarissa and I did.”
“You’re right.” Sutter sighs. “He won’t. He’ll muck it all up, I’m sure. But this isn’t my decision, Miss Bradley. It came straight from corporate. They told me to fire you. I’m sorry. I really am.” But then his sympathy fades and his business face returns. “Now. About your cottage.”
“Oh, my God. You’re not kicking me out of the cottage!”
“I’m sorry about this too, but I was ordered to book it up and… well, the first guests are arriving tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow! But how will I pack—”
“Oh, don’t worry about packing.” He waves a careless hand through the air. “It’s been done. All your things have been loaded into a rented Haul-It trailer, courtesy of the hotel. You have a hitch on that that brand-new SUV you drive, right? I’m sure I saw a hitch and it’s a monster of a car, so the load shouldn’t be a problem.”
For a moment I can’t speak. Hell, I can’t even think. What is happening here? “You… packed up my cottage?”
“No need to thank me, it’s the least I could do. I’ll email you all the details for returning the trailer—it’s booked for two days.” He shuffles some papers on his desk and then smiles as he finds what he’s looking for. “Here it is. Your final paycheck.” And then he slides it across the desk. “Good luck, Miss Bradley.”