“Missing you. He still talks about you all the time.”
“I miss him too.” After Gloria fired me on the spot, she’d refused to let me see Preston. Besides Lollie, I was one of the only constants in his life, and it tore at my heart to know he probably thought I’d abandoned him. Luckily, my little chat with Gloria in the park cured that. Although with my new job, I won’t get to see him nearly as often as I’d like. I know what it feels like to be abandoned. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.
“He keeps asking about the wedding, you know.”
I rub my forehead, creases wrinkling under my fingers. “Wedding?”
“The one hismotherannounced at the gala. He told me all about it. He says you and Niall are getting married. He’s been practicing walking you and Sophie down the aisle in front of all the mirrors.”
I should’ve seen this coming. Beyond Niall and me, I should’ve realized there are two other innocent lives we tangled up in our web of deceit. During our planning and fake courtship, Sophie and Preston had forged a real friendship. Not the fake kind Niall and I forced, but one based on innocence and honesty.
“The ceremony might get a little awkward when the groom doesn’t show up.” I manage a dry laugh and cross the street to my new office building. “He hasn’t returned my calls for weeks, Lollie. It’s over. I blew it.”
“I refuse to believe that.”
“You’re a hopeless romantic, you know that?”
“So are you.”
“I used to be. But I’ve decided that stuff’s not for me anymore. I’m over it. Done.”
“You’re right. I mean, those kind of movie kisses and happily ever afters don’t happen in real life. Especially like that dumb kissing scene inThe Notebook, which is the worst movie of all time.”
“Oh my God, shut up!” I yell as I pull open the door to the skyscraper that will be my new home from eight to five every workday. “The Notebookis the greatest love story of all time. That kiss? Holy shit, that’s the greatest kiss in movie history, Lollie, what’s wrong with you? The thunder? The rain? The boat? Are you kidding me? They’re all wet and he tells her it’ll never be over, and she goes to scream at him and he shuts her up with a kiss! No happily ever after trumps a shut-up kiss.”
Silence beats a few moments before I hear her smugness through the line. “Told you—hopeless romantic.”
Letting out a frustrated scream, I pull the phone away and yell into the mouthpiece. “I’m hanging up on you now.”
As I make my way to the elevators, I make a mental note to throw out all my copies ofThe Notebookwhen I get home.
***
I’m single-handedly keeping Starbucks in business.
Two weeks into my internship and I think I’m about to break a record for most hours worked. I’m not kidding. Beyond my classes and homework, I live, eat, and breathe Tate & Cane. I’m the first one in the office on Monday morning at dark o’clock and the last one to leave on Friday night. Sometimes Vince and I even work on Saturdays.
Yes, I said Vince. I’m personal assistant to Vincent Tribiotti. Don’t get any ideas. We’re strictly professional. I know he has a reputation, and trust me, I’ve even seen it in action a few times. However, Vince has been nothing but on the up and up with me. Maybe it’s because he respects me. Maybe it’s because I was fake engaged to his best friend for four weeks. Who knows.
At least he has the decency to never mention Niall, and for the most part, I haven’t had to deal with seeing him around the office. Niall’s job keeps him on location most of the time and out in the public eye. Vince and I work behind the scenes on projects, and that’s just fine with me. I don’t need any reminders of what I lost.
“I need projections for the Halpert account, Laken,” Vince says, taking the double espresso I brought him on my morning coffee run. “I need them bound in a report along with graphs, pie, bar, line, all that shit. I need it all.”
My brows rise. “By one o’clock? Are you serious?”
“Come on, Laken. You’re resourceful. You can do this. If we’re going to save this account, I need you with me.” Stopping in the middle of the hallway leading to the breakroom, he settles a hand on each of my shoulders and holds my stare. “Are you with me?”
“I’m with you, I’m with you…” I nod emphatically while wondering when in the hell I’ll have time to breathe, much less get all this done before noon.
With ten minutes to spare, I close fifteen folders and pack them up, ready to make Vince shine in the meeting. I’ve done my job, and hopefully I’ll be able to ride his coattails far enough for someone to notice me. That’s all it takes around here—to get noticed. Then you’re gold.
I follow Vince into the meeting and take my seat beside him. He gives my hand a pat as he stands up and addresses the Halpert delegates.
“As you know, we’ve worked on your account for many years, and while our relationship has always been a mutually beneficial one, we thought it was time to shake things up a bit.” Moving stealthily from chair to chair, Vince charms everyone, and I smile at his presence. For all his faults, the man can work a room like nobody’s business.
“Shake things up how?” an older man representing Halpert asks.
“I’m glad you asked, Joel.” Vince throws his hands out and mimics a big screen. “I’m thinking a larger scale marketing campaign like no one has ever seen before. And with the help of my amazing assistant,” he lays a heavy hand on my shoulder, “and artwork by a photographer that will blow you away with his eye for detail, we’re going to take the market by storm.”
