Celeste would fire me on the spot if she even knew. “Fine, okay. Now start talking.”
Katarina’s focus went back to her flashing screen. “There’s an opening in the New York office. Mom said she’s promoting someone from Sugar Creek.”
“For what job?”
“I wasn’t interested enough to catch that detail,” Katarina said.
“I’ll make sure the barista throws in extra chocolate sauce and sprinkles.”
“A senior brand manager.”
Senior brand manager. That was the role I’d been gunning for the last two years. “This is excellent intel, Katarina. Thank you for sharing.”
Alexander leaned forward, his salesman face peeking around the seat. “Stop at the bagel place, and I’ll share my secret recipe for slime.”
Hanging a left turn, I smiled. “Very tempting, but darn, we’re short on time.”
I was so ready for a new challenge and to prove to Celeste I was future vice president material. This new role would take me straight to the New York office of Flair, but more importantly, it was happening right on schedule.
Look out, world. Olivia Sutton, is on her way!
“Olivia?” Alexander called.
“Yes, sweetie?”Nothing will get in my path. Nothing can stop me now. Ain’t nothin’ gonna break my stride!
“I forgot my science fair project,” he said. “We gotta go back home.”
I leaned my elbow on my window and sighed. “I’ll turn around.”
ChapterTwo
OLIVIA
An hour later,my voluminous dress and I finally stepped into the offices of Flair, Inc. Prior to getting the taxi demand from my boss, I’d awakened this morning with a sense of curious unease, stretching my arms with an energy that Red Bull wished they could bottle. Something was in the air, and it was more than the shifting winds of September, more than the leaves outside changing into their fall garments of red and gold. Turned out the feeling had been spot-on.
So today Celeste would announce a promotion opportunity at her marketing firm. I hadn’t worked sixty-hour weeks for the last three years for nothing. This new job had my name written all over it, and it was more than time. I’d been passed over for the last two promotions, but there was no way my boss wouldn’t pick me this go-round. Had I been more than qualified for the other jobs? Yes. But Celeste was my role model, and Ihadbenefitted from more time under her wing.
The coffee shop on the first floor of our office building served their drinks hot and their gossip scorching. It was already abuzz with Flair employees looking for that caffeinated high to jump-start their morning.
I practically floated on air as I swished my way to my friend and fellow brand manager, Elton. “Happy morning to you.”
Dark eyes narrowed behind black-framed glasses. “Is it?”
I bent down and scratched the chin of his Standard Poodle. “And good morning to you, FeeFee.”
Celeste ran Flair much like a trendy Silicon Valley tech office. Pets were allowed daily, each floor contained two nap pods, and at least once a week someone got run over by an indoor scooter. The office boasted an outside playgroundfor the adults, and every Friday ended with a five o’clock happy hour. Some days this place was a circus, but I still counted my lucky stars Celeste had plucked me for a college internship years ago and put me to work.
I couldn’t contain my secret any longer. “I have news.”
He tilted his head and gave my outfit serious consideration. “Is it that you won prom queen?” Elton’s hand swooped in my direction. “Honey, what is this?”
“I’m Queen Elizabeth—the early years.”
“The sensible pumps are a nice touch.”
“Thanks. I like to be authentic.” People got PhDs in less time than it had taken me to put together my thematic outfits over the last nearly-seven years. “Why aren’t you dressed up?” My friend wore his usual slacks, button-down, and bowtie.
“What are you talking about?” he asked.
