Chapter 8 – Georgia
EIGHT
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO
GEORGIA
Three Weeks Before Christmas This Year
My mother used to say, “Always give your all, no matter what type of job you have.”
While my sister believed that advice and applied it to her life, I was happy to use my father’s amendment instead: “Find a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
I have both of their words engraved on a locket, and I’m twisting it through my fingers as I board one of The Grace Estate’s trolleys.
When I make it to the main lodge, I walk inside the lobby and inhale the familiar scent of sweet balsam and crushed pine.
This is going to be the best Christmas ever.
“You have an appointment waiting for you in the lobby, Miss Grey.”
“With who?”
“It’s a different Miss Grey.”
Confused, I follow her to the lobby and spot Savannah.
“You don’t need to schedule time with me,” I say. “You can just call.”
“It’s about my wedding.”
“What about it?”
“I wanted to give you our complete list of requests.” She hands me a box full of binders. “I color coded everything, included tabs for research, and I ranked the businesses based on the number of reviews.”
“I don’t see the point in asking me to plan your wedding if you already did all this.”
“I only did the ‘research’ part,” she says. “You have the eye for the experience part. Plus, I figured since our ceremony is right around the corner, that you could use a little help.”
“Your wedding isn’t for another two years, Savannah.”
“So, does that mean you’ve started looking into the best seating arrangement angles for the photographer?”
“I’m looking into getting a DNA test to see if we’re actually related.”
Don’t say ‘no,’ don’t you dare say ‘no…’”
“Is that a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’, Georgia?”
Her fiancé, Garrett, suddenly steps into the lobby and walks toward us.
“What am I missing?” he asks.
“I was just thanking the universe for bringing you into my sister’s life,” I say. “And oh look!”
I point at the green and white bough hanging above them. “Mistletoe! Maybe if you kiss her, it might help her be normal for a change, and she can enjoy the holiday.”
He kisses her lips, but he holds up a briefcase instead of whisking her away.
“I brought an additional system since we plan on doing a lot of work while we’re here,” he says. “Did you bring the Cannon files?”
“Yeah, and I brought the Parish ones, too, since we’re almost halfway done with those.”
“Okay, I give up.” I step back. “You two are officially a lost cause.”
I walk away before their toxic corporate energy can rub off on me.
As I’m walking to the front desk, my cousin Taryn rushes toward me.
“Your fiancé has to be the sweetest guy ever.” Taryn sets down flowers and a gift box. “Open it.”
“No, I’ll wait until later.”
“Don’t you want to know what it is?”
“I already know what it is.”
“How?”
Because I sent it to myself. “I just know him very well.”
“Well, I don’t, so open it.”
“It’s another diamond charm for the bracelet he gave me.” I fake a smile. “He sends me one every month, remember?”
“Oh, right.” She stares at the box. “You know what, I’ll unbox it live for all my social media accounts and bring it right back!” She’s halfway down the hall before I can stop her.
Sighing, I flip through my newest magazine subscriptions, stopping when I reach GQ: Business Edition.
Under the headline, “It’s Mr. Reiss’s World: We’re All Just Living In It,” Dominic stares at me with ocean-blue eyes and his signature smile.
Wearing a custom black suit and silk red tie, he makes me remember all the times I was close to him in the office. All the time, he gave me the perfect opportunity to take advantage.
I thumb through the pages and read his interview, learning nothing I don’t already know, until I reach the last line anyway.
“Rumors are still swirling about his long-term, on and off again girlfriend, Amy Prescott. Our sources say he’ll be engaged to be married any day now!”
A pang of jealousy assaults my chest, and I google his name.
I know he’s not mine, that we technically never “dated,” but I can’t help but feel like he could’ve told me about this.
His business is clearly thriving without me, especially since my replacement is a Harvard graduate who loves her job.
Yet, The Grace Estate was recently awarded its first-ever triple diamond of hospitality award with me at the helm, so I like to believe that I’m doing far better than him since our “breakup.”
He’s not yours, Georgia. He’s never been yours…
I decide to focus on something else for the day, but before I know it I’m calling the VIP customer service line for Reiss Enterprises. It’s the private one for top customers, and all the complaints get sent directly to the shareholders when it’s time to grade the CEO.
It’s petty, but I still owe him for firing me. At least, that’s how I try to justify things whenever I make this call at least twice a month.
“Thank you for calling our direct line at Reiss Enterprises,” a soft voice answers. “On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the highest, how would you rate your most recent transaction with us?”
“One star for everything.”
“Everything?” The woman gasps.
“Yes, everything.”
“Um, well…” She pauses. “Is there something we can do to make it right?”
“I’d like to leave a few notes about the CEO.”
“Tell you what, Miss,” she says. “I’ll switch you over to the direct line right away so you can leave a message.”
“Perfect.”
Soft holiday music comes over the line, and I pull up my Pinterest boards while I wait.
“Hello, Georgia.” Dominic’s deep voice cuts through “Jingle Bell Rock, ” catching me off guard.
“This isn’t me,” I say. “This is…Someone else.”
“Okay, then.” There’s a smile in his voice. “Hello, someone else.”
“Hello, sir.”
“Is there something you’d like to elaborate on regarding your one-star claim?”
“Yes. The CEO of your company sucks and you should quit before the holidays so he won’t have the chance to ruin your life.”
“Thank you for your feedback, Miss. I appreciate it.”
“You’re not welcome.”
“How are you doing this month?” he asks, his voice low.
“I’m not finished giving your CEO my review yet.”
“I’ll assume it’s as glowing as all the others you’ve left.”
“No, I was planning to complain about something different this time.”
He lets out a low laugh, and butterflies take flight in my stomach.
“It’s good to hear from you this week,” he says. “For a moment, I thought you’d finally moved on and forgotten about me. I was about to call you to see if that was the case.”
“Sir, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You call me twice a month for small talk, and I call you three times, but you purposely ignore each one and send me a text…”
“That doesn’t sound familiar to me.”
“My day is going quite well by the way.” He changes the subject. “Thank you for asking.”
“You’re welcome.” I tap on my screen. “Well, I have a pretty hectic afternoon ahead, so I’ll let you return to your life.”
“Wait,” he says. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something since last year.”
“Yes, I stole all the supplies in my office before coming home.”
“I already knew that.”
“Yes, I really do hate you.”
“So, why do you keep calling me?”
“I guess I’m hoping to get a voicemail one of these days that says karma has finally served you with a lightning rod death.”
“Hmmm.” He laughs. “Is that how you really feel about me?”
“I don’t have any feelings for you.”
“I think you like hearing the sound of my voice,” he says. “And I think you miss me.”
“I promise that I don’t.”
“If it means anything, I’d like to see you in person as well,” he says. “I can send a jet for you since I believe we have some unfinished business.”
“I think you’re confusing me with Amy.”
“No, I know the difference between the two.”
“Yeah, you’re dating one and harassing the other.”
His laugh sends my heart racing again. “Whatever you’ve been reading about me, please stop.”
“Tell her I’ll stop calling your line whenever you make it official.”
“I’m not entertaining that conversation,” he says. “If I sent a jet for you tonight, would you get on it?”
I hang up before I can even consider the idea.