“The person who married us.” I cleared my throat and wondered if my face looked as hot as it felt. Because it felt like I had it pressed to a porthole of hell. “It was Celine Dion.”
Celeste stood up and slapped her hands on her desk. “I don’t care if it was Beyoncé herself. This is unacceptable. Shall I quote the fourth paragraph in theCelebrity Spinarticle?”
“I’m begging you not to.”
My boss shoved her red bifocals on her nose and proceeded anyway. “Lachlan Hayes’s bride is a brand specialist at the marketing firm Flair, based out of New York and Arkansas. The new Mrs. Hayes has spent her career fixing the images of others, and now she has quite an image adjustment of her own to deal with. Was it a drunk dare? A tipsy trip to the altar they now regret? A bender blunder? Or maybe…the two really are in love? Only time will tell.” The glasses came off, and without saying a word, Celeste demanded a response.
I blinked back tears, wounded by her disappointment. “I understand the wedding was in poor taste, but after all I’ve given this company, are you really going to fire me for finding love and getting married?”
“I said in our last staff meeting that I wanted no more drama. So maybe this weddingisthe best decision you’ve ever made and you’re blissfully in love. What mattersto meis that I specifically said if any employees of mine caused the tiniest dustup and found themselves on the news, in the news, or even news-adjacent, I would fire them immediately. Your wedding is your business, but when that wedding puts you on the homepage of TMZ, it becomesmybusiness. Had you gotten married in a cheap chapel without making national news, then I might’ve used this time today to hand you a gift card to Nordstrom instead of your walking papers.”
“If you’d only let me explain—”
“My only recourse is to follow through on my word. Otherwise I will look like a complete fool.”
“But Celeste—”
“Olivia, this pains me more than you know. I saw such great things for you. You have incredible potential, and I’ve always envisioned you racing up the Flair ladder. I wanted you by my side one day here in this very office.”
“Then make that happen.” When it came to this job, I had zero shame. “Please.”
“I’m sorry.” Celeste’s eyes met mine, and her stern face softened with regret. “I have no choice but to let you go.”
“I’ve given my life to Flair.” My volume ramped up with the hurt. “I’ve sacrificed almost every weekend in the last seven years. I’ve turned down headhunters offering me higher paid positions.”
Her chest rose on an indignant inhale. “Then you should have no problem finding another job.”
That was it? After all I’d done for Celeste? Her kids? After all I’d given to this company?
I would not cry in front of her. I didn’t cry at work—ever. But the unshed tears stung my eyes anyway. She was my mentor, my hero. I’d worked with her since I was an intern in college. After all that, where was the grace? Where was Celeste’s heart? “Okay, then, if there’s nothing I can say…”
My hero stood and gestured toward the door. “I’m afraid there isn’t one thing you could say to change my mind.”
It was time to throw my Hail Mary. “If you let me stay, I can guarantee Lachlan Hayes will hire Flair for his PR.”
“Well.” Celeste collapsed into her seat and pursed her lips into a wry grin. “I guess I won’t be firing anyone today after all.”
ChapterFourteen
LACHLAN
Backpack slung over my shoulder,I stood in front of the five-story building on 9200 Castle Drive Monday afternoon and took it all in. The future offices of Star Gazer.
If only my mom could see me now. I blinked back tears I’d deny ever shedding and gave a thoughtful glance toward the heavens.I made it, Mom.
This was mine—all of it. The building, the business within it, and the dream. My past self could never have envisioned the future possibilities. Yet here I was—ready to walk inside the empire I’d created.
But alone. Again.
Not to sound pitiful, but it would’ve been nice to have someone to share this moment with. I mean, I officially had a wife, but asking Olivia to see the office hadn’t felt right. She wasn’t allowed in my treehouse.
We’d owned the property for two months, and though much work had been done, a significant amount remained. Today was the first day I’d stepped back inside since I’d closed the deal. Sure, I’d driven by it a hundred times, but due to ongoing construction, occupancy had been out of the question. When I’d visited my friend Miller last year, I’d fallen in love with Sugar Creek and knew this was where home would be for the business and for me.
I pushed my hair out of my eyes and set my Converse to the sidewalk, counting how many steps from my car to the front door. Forty-five. Exactly forty-five steps to unlock the next level.
“Yard needs mowing,” said a voice behind me.
I twisted the key into the lock and grinned at the welcome addition to my one-man celebration. “Maxwell. What in the world are you doing here?”
