Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Josie
It feels different here. When I stepped off the elevator and into the offices of JG Publicity, I used to feel like a true professional. Part of a highly regarded team. A woman who might have been a hot mess on the inside but who could put aside her financial woes and lackluster love life from eight to five every weekday and get shit done.
Now, though, I just see a bunch of coworkers who could do better than this place. There’s Tom, who works late often and was only allowed to take one day off when his wife had a baby because Jane said she couldn’t risk losing the account he was in charge of. And Linda, who spends money from her own pocket to cover the difference when my cheap aunt doesn’t give her enough cash to pay for the gourmet coffees and lunches she sends Linda to pick up for her.
“Josie,” Linda says as she sees me walking in. “It’s so good to see you. How are you?” She walks out from behind her desk and gives me a hug. “Gosh, you look great.”
I do look great. I wore a new black suit with heels so I’d feel more confident about this meeting.
“Thanks, Linda, you too. I’ve missed you.”
She pulls away and gives me a sympathetic look, glancing over both shoulders before speaking in a low tone. “I’m sorry about the promotion.”
I wave a hand, trying to look like I’m over it. I’m not, though. In reality, I have a sick, churning feeling in my stomach.
“It’s okay. Is she in?”
Linda knows who I mean—Jane is the universal she in this office.
Nodding, Linda leans in and says, “Monica’s been asking her for the Mammoths account since you got it. I think she wants to get a hockey player boyfriend out of it.”
My stomach churns double time at that. I trust Dane, but just the thought of Monica trying to charm him makes me stabby. I hate the idea of them alone in a hotel room, even if he was wearing pants and a snow parka because he’d still look sexy as hell.
“Well, she got what she wanted. As usual.”
Linda glances back over one shoulder, then the other. “She’s in, but there’s a staff meeting starting at eleven thirty.”
Ah, the old eleven-thirty staff meeting. I don’t miss those. Jane doesn’t even order in lunch on those days, even though that meeting time forces people to skip lunch.
“Should I ask her if she can see you?” Linda’s eyebrows disappear beneath her bangs. “Or maybe you should just attend the meeting.”
I smile. “I’m not attending the meeting. And I’m not asking her permission to talk.”
“Oh, but--”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she knows I didn’t run it by you.”
Poor Linda constantly worries about losing her job. Jane gets pissed when people walk into her office without going through her first to get scheduled. Linda goes from passive to assertive quickly when it comes to that, feeling like it’s somehow her fault.
If Jane knew Linda’s the one who told me about Monica getting the promotion, I’m sure she’d do something to make Linda’s job a little more hellish.
I turn and walk across the open office area, the cubicle dwellers’ domain. Though I get a few waves and nods, I get more curious looks. Everyone knows I was in line for the promotion to senior publicist.
No one has to know I’m shaking inside. I look fabulous. All the nice things Dane says about me are playing on repeat in my head. I’ve got this.
Jane’s office has a glass door set inside a glass wall that’s open to the entire main office area. I’m sure my coworkers are not so covertly watching as I grab the door handle, open the door and walk inside.
She looks up from her computer at me, peering over the rim of her glasses. “Josie, I’m busy. You’ll need to schedule time with Linda.”
“This is the only time I’m available.”
Yeah, I just said that. Her lips part with surprise.
“What have I done to make you hate me so much?”
I tried so hard to keep my voice level, but my emotions crept in. I’ve wanted to ask her that for years but never had the guts.
“The workplace isn’t appropriate for crying.”
Her tone is a mix of pity and condescension that makes me swallow my anxiety and steel myself.
“I’m not crying. Do I have feelings? Yes, I’m human. And when my own family member repeatedly does hurtful things to me, I feel hurt. Mission accomplished.”
“In this office, I am your boss, Josie. Not your aunt. You know--”
“No, that’s bullshit. I’m not the one crossing that line; you are. You crossed it a long time ago and I’m just calling you out.”
She stands. “You’re on very thin ice right now. I suggest you take a day at home to process your disappointment and return to the office tomorrow.”
“Tell me why you took me off the Mammoths account.”
“I don’t owe you an explanation.”
My smile is satisfied. “That’s what people say when they don’t want to be honest. Tell me, boss to employee, why you did it. I was doing a great job.”
Her laugh is humorless. “A great job sleeping with the client? That’s so unprofessional and you know it. I could have fired you for it. Maybe I should have.”
Before Dane, I would have been mortified by this conversation. Ashamed. But I’m a different woman now. I know my worth.
“Yeah, Dane and I developed feelings for each other. It just started. But in no way did it affect my ability to do my job. Everyone in the organization likes me. And you sent Monica in there? She complains constantly. The team doesn’t want to be around that on every road trip.”
She holds my gaze in silence for a few seconds. “That’s your problem—you just want everyone to like you. You’re too much like your mother.”
“Finally some honesty.”
She points at me and raises her voice, her face reddening. “Watch yourself, Josie.”
“That’s all I’ve done since the day you hired me.” I fight back the lump in my throat. “Since years before that, actually. I admired you when I was growing up. Not that you care. I wanted to be like you. Why do you think I’m here?” I gesture around the office. “You told me when I was in high school that I could own a business one day, like you, and I?—”
I look away, unable to continue.
“You’re not tough enough for this business.”
I scoff. “Monica’s not tough . She’s a bitch. But she kisses your ass and you fall for it every time.”
“I hope this hockey player is worth losing your job.” Her tone is loaded with smug satisfaction. “You won’t be able to manipulate him like your mother manipulated my brother, you know. You’re one of a thousand to him. He won’t even remember your name at this time next season.”
“I quit. And it’s not about him; it’s about me. I deserve better than this. Every single person out there”--I point at the main office area and glance out there, where I see half a dozen startled expressions of eavesdroppers--“deserves better. Linda shouldn’t have to pay for your pastries and eight-dollar coffees when you don’t send her with enough money and no one should have to take calls in the evenings when it’s not even urgent. And here’s an idea— be nice . Treat people who work here like people whose personal lives matter. When Andi’s mom was sick last year, you made her quit instead of working part-time and you lost a great employee over that.”
She sniffs and looks away. “I know it all seems so easy when you aren’t the one behind this desk.”
“I know it’s not easy. But if you want to get loyalty, you have to give it. I’d rather wait tables full time and be treated with respect than put up with this place.”
She points. “There’s the door.”
“I’m starting my own business.”
The words poured out of my mouth before I had time to think about them. I can practically feel Dane beside me, encouraging me to not just walk away but fight .
My aunt laughs. She actually laughs .
“Good luck with that.”
“Thanks. I’ve already got an investor.”
She narrows her eyes. “Which you spread your legs for.”
Even with as far as I’ve come, it hurts. Cruelty from the only family I have left cuts deep, but at least I know now that this is all she’s capable of.
You need to do this. You’ve got a great mind for it. I’ve got your back.
Dane’s encouragement propels me to stand up for myself in a way I never have before.
“You said Dane won’t remember my name in a year, but you know what? You will. You’ll curse my name every time you walk into this office and find out I signed one of your clients or secured another top-tier account. I’ll have the best people in the area working for me because they’ll know they’re part of a team with a boss who values them. You can keep Monica; she’s worthless anyway.”
My heart is pounding harder than ever before as I turn and open the door to the office, blood rushing in my ears.
Holy. Shit. I just did that.
I keep my chin up as I stride back across the office. My coworker Damian is crouched down in his cubicle, out of sight as he grins and gives me a thumbs-up. Another colleague, Erin, is holding up a piece of paper for me to read with a message written in black marker.
That was fucking AMAZING!!
I smile because it was amazing. I was amazing. And while I’m terrified about whether I can really do this, I’m also excited. Hopeful.
“I’ll send someone to pick up my things,” I tell Linda.
She nods, not willing to risk being seen talking to me, but the smile she’s fighting gives her away.
What will I name my new company? I think about it as I step back onto the elevator. I suppose FJG Publicity lacks subtlety, so I’ll have to pass on that one.
It sure has a nice ring to it, though.