47. Mandy
47
MANDY
L inda’s eyes are full of concern and remorse when the receptionist leads me into her office.
“Please sit down. Let me make you a cup of tea.” She ushers me to a chair. “I had no idea Jaxon was behaving that way. His mother is just beside herself. It’s just shocking behavior from him—he was always a charming little boy.” She stops herself. “Obviously, I did not know him as well as I thought I did.”
“Right.”
“Why don’t we go grab lunch or maybe a drink?” Linda offers. “I know it’s the middle of the day, but I’m sure you could use it.”
“I actually have somewhere I need to be after this, and I can’t stay long.”
“Oh.” Linda looks sad. “Mandy, I am very sorry about what happened. ”
“You don’t need to apologize for Jaxon’s bad behavior.”
“I should apologize for my own behavior. My judgment seems to have been compromised, and I took bad advice from him.” She smooths her hands on her desk. “I should have not let my own past cloud my decisions.”
I don’t respond.
“Since I understand you’re still likely trying to clean up the mess, I won’t waste any more of your time.” Linda clasps her hands. “I’d like to offer you a job.”
“Why me?”
“With this upcoming port-authority project, I could use someone to assist me. You’re knowledgeable about the project, qualified, and familiar with working with Rainier Equity.” She slides a folder across the desk to me. “It’s a very generous offer.”
My heart breaks all over again. This means Salinger took Scarlett up on her deal.
“You’re really giving Salinger the contract?” I ask quietly.
“You don’t approve?” Linda raises an eyebrow. “Speak now.”
“Salinger’s an asshole, but he’s a good investor.”
“So you’ll take the job.”
Do I want to deal with Salinger day in and day out and have to listen to people talk about his upcoming wedding? Watch him one day come to the office with a ring on his finger? The port build-out is going to take years. He’ll be a father by then, and I’ll be… childless and alone.
“I can’t.” I slide the folder back to Linda.
“Whyever not? You’re not seriously going to stay that man’s assistant, are you? You’re much too qualified. Besides, you don’t want to keep working for him if you’re sleeping with him. ”
“We broke up,” I admit, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice. I’m an adult, dammit.
“Probably for the best. Don’t want to shit where you eat, isn’t that the saying?”
“Something like that.” I hug my purse.
“I can understand not wanting to watch him parade every young thing through the office.” Linda’s eyes narrow, and she glares past me. “For god’s sake, Benji, another one? Really? And our daughter’s friend?”
I turn around to see Isaacs with Scarlett and a brown-haired young woman.
Linda rolls up her sleeves, stands, and opens the door to her office. “And you wonder why the board has no confidence in you, Benji. That girl is the same age as our Kate.”
“Mom!” the young woman with Scarlett shrieks. “That is so gross. Dad’s not like that.”
“She’s had a rough day, poor thing.” Isaacs pats Scarlett’s hand.
Scarlett makes a face and shoves his hand off her. “That will never happen. I have some standards.”
“She’s dating a lawyer at Hill & Collins, Mom,” Kate says. “Rainier Equity fired her. Can you believe it?”
“I thought you were going to marry Salinger?” I ask, confused.
“You’re marrying Salinger Svensson?” Kate’s eyes bug out.
“Gross, no, he’s old,” Scarlett snaps. “Stop spreading rumors.”
“Then why did you give him the contract?” I ask Linda slowly.
“I told you, my old roommate called me and informed me that Jaxon is a stalker and a liar. She told me I’d been unfair to Rainier Equity and asked if I might reconsider.” Linda sits back down at her desk.
“Can we give Scarlett a job?” Kate begs her mom. “Weren’t you looking to hire someone?”
“I was looking to hire Mandy, not someone who hasn’t finished college, has no real-world experience, and may or may not have been about to marry her boss,” Linda says tartly.
“Rumors,” Scarlett insists. “Isn’t that right, Mandy?”
I’m reeling. Salinger fired Scarlett? Salinger’s not marrying her? It doesn’t matter. He’s still an asshole, and I’m still out of a job.
I reach over and take back the paper with the job offer.
“You know, I think I actually would like to be your assistant, Linda.”
“Assistant? Good heavens.” Linda presses a hand to her chest. “No, Mandy, I need you to be a project manager. I need someone to be my right hand, keep all these morons in line. Why don’t you take a few days and start next Monday? Don’t worry about Jaxon,” she adds. “I believe he’s on a one-way flight to the Alaskan wilderness. His grandmother is very disappointed. I would expect you’ll be receiving several apology notes from the Pendleton family. I was told they were quite upset after the meeting this morning.”
“That sounds like the best news I’ve heard in a while,” I admit, signing the job offer. “Oh,” I add, “do you think I could hire an assistant?”
“You can put together an entire team. I think you’re going to need it.”
“A job offer, making more than I’ve ever made in my entire life,” I tell Jess.
My friend was waiting for me in the car, having declared that she wasn’t leaving me alone.
“Let me see the offer!” she demands.
I trade Jess the job offer for my Starbucks. “I can move to a nicer apartment. Sure, I’ll have to bring my sister—probably both of my sisters—but it’s so worth it! I can get a bathtub! I can finally save for retirement!”
“Are they hiring?”
“Yes! That’s the best part. We can work together.” I clap my hands. “And we’re going to need assistants.”
“Mwa-ha-ha-ha!” Jess rubs her hands together then swings the car out into traffic. “My own assistant.”
I sigh happily. “Everything’s so much brighter now, so much better. It’s sunny in Seattle, I have a job, and I’m going to get my dog. Jaxon’s going to Alaska, Salinger’s not marrying Scarlett—”
“He’s not?”
“Nope.” I smile and turn on the radio.
“You’re extremely pleased about that for someone who’s been calling for his head.” Jess grins at me from behind oversized sunglasses.
“Make no mistake, Salinger is still on my shit list, especially since he left me in jail. I’m never going to get clean. I’m traumatized from having to use that shared toilet.”
Jess makes a gagging sound.
“Poor Pepper’s going to need a bath when we get her out. I bet she’s so scared. I should have gone to her first! I’m a terrible dog mom. We have to stop at Olive Garden on the way home.”
“The Puppuccino isn’t enough?” Jess asks .
“I bet she didn’t eat anything all weekend.”
“Try to keep it together, Mandy. You’ll see Pepper in a second.”
But the lady at the front desk of Animal Control frowns when Jess shows her a picture of Pepper and explains that we’re here to pick her up.
“We already turned over custody of that dog,” the animal control worker informs me. “There was a judge’s order. A lawyer came and picked her up.”
“Oh no!” I wail. “Jaxon took Pepper!”
I cry all the way back to my parents’ house. “She’s not even going to get her Puppuccino.” I sob.
“Just have some tequila. I’m going to find out where the hell she is,” Jess promises me as she pulls up in front of my parents’ house. “We’re going to call Linda. We’re calling the National Guard.”
The front door flies open, and my mom ushers me inside.
“Will you look at this gift basket we received from the Pendleton family?” she gushes. “It’s even monogrammed! And such a nice note. Oh, why are you crying, Mandy? Salinger told them all about Jaxon, and Mrs. Pendleton is very sorry. See?” My mom rubs my arm. “Everything worked out.” She holds the note up. “Look at that penmanship. I’m always telling you to improve your penmanship. Isn’t that beautiful handwriting?”
“I follow one of the Pendletons on Instagram. Her clothes are so amazing, and she had the snarkiest Insta post about Jaxon,” Amy tells me.
“It doesn’t matter.” I sob. “Pepper is gone. Someone took her.”
“Where’s my gun? Patrick!” Gran hollers .
“Someone let your grandmother buy a gun?” Jess looks concerned.
“She’s not supposed to have one.” My mom runs after Gran.
Jess grabs the box of wine and pours me a glass. I curl up on the couch, clutching my wine.
Lauren throws a blanket over me. “We’re going to shame the Pendletons on social media and get Pepperoni back, don’t you worry.”
“Maybe you should call Salinger,” Amy suggests. “He owes you, right? Bet he could rescue Pepper.”
“Maybe,” I admit. “But that would mean I would have to actually see him, and I don’t know if I can stand it.”