Winter Mittens and Snowmobiles (Alpine Falls #1)

Chapter 1

Sadie

I should’ve known.

When my stiletto snapped half-way between my office building and Fifth Avenue this morning, that should have been a sign.

My best friend, Bailey, is always telling me about signs and how I should take better notice of them, but since she lives in a one-hick town in Wyoming, her experiences in life are somewhat different than mine.

I mean, in Manhattan, you can’t even see the sky.

It isn’t like that in Alpine Falls. I’m sure there’s a rainbow and birds tweeting every time you look up in that cheery little town, not like here.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the city. I love everything about it.

I’m a city girl at heart. But lately? Lately, things have gone from bad to worse, and don’t even get me started on my ex-boyfriend Duncan.

I may have dumped him six months ago when I found out he was screwing around, but the betrayal still stings.

One day when he lent his i-pad to me, I found multiple dating apps, naturally I snooped.

Sue me. Clearly, Duncan forgot all about how i-cloud works.

Needless to say, I swiped left on quite a few profiles.

Added to that, my roommate, Kelto — someone I trusted — hasn’t been paying the rent.

I’ve yet to have a showdown with her because I only just received the eviction notice THIS MORNING and, uncannily, she’s not picking up her phone.

Some may say Duncan was sign number one, Kelto sign number two.

I didn’t need sign number three to whack me in the face like a runaway tornado.

I should’ve known when my stiletto tried to warn me…

“Fired?” I gape at my boss.

“I’m sorry, Sadie, but we’ve had to cut back, and unfortunately those cuts start at the bottom.” Clarice Ruins, correction, Mrs. Ruins, lives up to her namesake. She sure knows how to ruin other people’s lives.

Wow. Just wow. Of course, the ad company I work for doesn’t start at the top, where all the executives are paid a trillion dollars to sit around the boardroom making stupid decisions; like firing me, no, no, they start with the bottom-dwellers.

The people who do all the work for a mere pittance.

I love this job, and my heart lurches in my chest at the idea that I’m fired. Just like that.

I swallow hard. “I’m not understanding, I’ve been here for two years, Mrs. Ruins.

I’ve created all the time saving procedures in the office, as well as reconfigured efficiency in the workplace using checklists and spreadsheets.

Did you know I reinvented the entire office filing system?

Before me, people just used to point at stacks of paper in manila folders on the desk.

” I barely come up for air, but this occasion definitely calls for putting my best foot forward.

“This isn’t just a job to me, this company, this place, it’s my life. ” Pathetic, but here we are.

And I’m freaking out that my rent money hasn’t been paid, along with Kelto who I gave the cash to, and I’m about to be evicted.

I need this job!

She quirks one of those thinly sculpted eyebrows and unsympathetically states: “It’s just a receptionist position, Sadie, you’ll find other work.”

Just a receptionist position? I’m the office manager!

I stare at her, and when my vocal cords find their strength again, I try hard to choke back the tears and imagine what I really want to do right now: leap over the desk and strangle her with her stupid pearls. “Just a receptionist?”

“You know I didn’t mean it like that. I’ll give you a glowing reference.” She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. She’s always disliked me. I’m apparently too ‘chirpy’.

I bite my tongue. Maybe there’s a possibility that I could take a lesser paid job… I go to open my mouth and she cuts me off.

“We just can’t place you anywhere else at this time. We acknowledge your efforts at Starbright Enterprises, but the company has had several setbacks this year. Having to cut costs somewhere is just how it goes in advertising.”

Don’t cry. Do not cry! They don’t deserve it.

“But—” I take a breath. I need her for a reference, and technically, she hasn’t been a bad boss, just an annoying one.

“I’ll make coffee. I’ll grab your dry cleaning.

I need this job, Mrs. Ruins. Christmas is right around the corner.

My roommate is MIA with the rent money. Me and Mindy will be out on the street.

You don’t want to see that happen, do you?

She’s sensitive. She doesn’t like loud noises and the smell of carbon dioxide. ”

“There are places you and your daughter can go,” she says sympathetically. “I can give you a couple of numbers…”

“Oh, no, wait. Mindy’s my cat,” I reply. “But I guess technically she’s the closest thing I have to a daughter.”

“I hate to cut this short, but I have several other appointments this morning.” Several other lives to ruin. There she goes, living up to her name again.

“You will have time to clear out your desk, and hand over your pass at security downstairs. The severance email will be sent today. Again, I’m sorry, Sailor, it really is unfortunate.”

“It’s Sadie.”

“Oh.” She clears her throat. “Sorry, yes, of course, Sadie.”

I don’t like the way she says my name like I’m a hick. I’m from Colorado, thank you very much.

Tears spring to my eyes. This is really happening. I nod. Holding it in is going to be harder than I thought. I stand, albeit on wobbly legs, and my broken stiletto doesn’t help matters.

I leave her office, and now I have to face the walk of shame.

I hold my head high, though it’s hard to walk with authority when half my heel is missing.

Whatever. It’s as good a walk as I can muster.

Several heads turn my way as I pass by, some have sympathetic smiles on their faces, others don’t even give me the time of day.

When I get back to my desk, I stand there looking at it.

“What happened?” Veronica whispers. We share a desk. In my haste, I forgot to ask what was going to happen to Veronica. She’s nice. A little ditzy, but pleasant all the same.

I shake my head, then use my finger to indicate a slashing motion across my throat. She gasps. “Am I next?”

My bottom lip wobbles. “I don’t know,” I say softly. “I was in too much shock to ask.”

Just then, the intercom buzzes, and Veronica jumps in fright.

“Veronica? Could you come to my office?” Mrs. Ruins says loud and clear.

My eyes go wide. No way. Veronica was technically hired after me, but she doesn’t deserve this. Who’s going to run reception? Do they think it runs itself?

Clearly, we’re not at the top of the food chain, that much is clear.

“Oh, no,” Veronica mouths. “Shit!”

I lean down, pressing my hands to her shoulders. “I know it’s hard, but whatever you do, don’t crack in there. Don’t give them the satisfaction. I’ll wait for you downstairs, okay? We can hand our passes in together and leave this stinking shithole with our heads held high.”

She nods. “O-okay. Wait, do you think it’ll come to that? Who’s going to answer the phones?”

I shrug. “I hope not, but that isn’t our problem right now.

I don’t see why you’d be staying and not me, they start higher and work their way down.

Besides, I taught you everything… there’s no way that…

. that…” I trail off. Oh. I also know Veronica’s pay grade is less than mine, but that doesn’t mean anything.

They wouldn’t. They wouldn’t amalgamate my job and her job into one, would they?

She winces. “I knew I should’ve called in sick today!” she whines.

“Just keep your head up, and your spine straight,” I tell her. “Nobody is better than us just because they wear a suit, remember that.”

She stands, running her trembling hands down her skirt to straighten it out. “I’ll text you after,” she says, taking off the same way I just came. “I’m going to need your support to get through this, Sadie. I’ve never been fired before.”

“You’ve got me, I promise.” I salute her. “Over and out, just remember, don’t let Ruins smell your fear.” Okay, a tad dramatic, but she’s young. I feel bad for her.

She’ll take it hard.

We’ve had a good working relationship this past year. It’ll be sad for her to hear the dreaded words and realize the company doesn’t give two hoots about their lowlife employees, but that’s just how these conglomerates are. They’re spineless.

I head to the break room to grab my bag and find a box to pack my things into. I don’t care what they say; that stapler is coming with me, and my bobbing cat head. It was a present from Bailey. Screw it, I’m taking all of the colored paper clips too.

Half an hour later, I’m taking the descending elevator, a lump in my throat as I contemplate what’s next. I can’t even bear to think about it.

Just to screw with them, I took my message board with me too. It’s tucked safely under my arm. I paid for it, it’s coming home with me. The coding system I reinvented? Yep, at the bottom of my bag. Good luck finding anything without the colored grid I made. I really am that petty.

I sigh when the elevator opens. Handing my security badge over, I take one long, last look around the place I’ve called home for two years for the last time.

I step out onto the chilly early November morning, barely having time to pull my coat around me when a cab flies past, spraying water all over me. I gasp, the freezing, murky water drenching me. Sign number four, or is it five?

My phone dings as I flip my wet bangs out of my eyes and read the text. My eyes widen. What in the world?

Veronica

Hey Sadie. Guess what? I’m not fired! I got a promotion!

I steel my jaw, glad I stole the cookie tin from the break room while I was at it.

Those bastards promoted her above me?

I drag my feet up the sidewalk. I can’t even catch the bus; I need to save every dollar I can because I’m not only jobless, but probably homeless too!

Merry fucking almost Christmas to me.