Page 79 of A Very Bossy Christmas

Cindy is singing “Don’t Stop Believin’” into her karaoke machine at the reception desk when I arrive at Sentinal. She pauses the music as soon as she sees me, but it’s not because she’s embarrassed to be caught singing. She’s staring at my storage box and looking very concerned.

“Hi,” she says. “Are you leaving us?”

“Yeah. Don’t stop singing, though. You sounded great.”

She completely disregards my compliment. “Oh no—Maddie. Why?”

“Oh, you know. This job just isn’t a good fit for me.”

“Did he fire you?”

“No. It was my idea.”

“Oh. Did things get…complicated?”

I look around to see if anyone is within earshot.

“No one else is here,” she assures me. “Otherwise I wouldn’t be singing… Did things get weird after McSorley’s?”

“No, not at all!” I did not mean to yell that. “It’s just time for me to move on.”

She twists her lips to one side. “After two months?”

I look away because there isn’t much else that I can say.

“Well, I won’t keep you, but I’ll miss you. Stay in touch, okay?”

“I will, definitely.”

As I’m walking away, she says, “You know, he went through seven other assistants here before he hired you.”

“I’m well aware of that, yeah. He’s pretty demanding.”

“Yeah, but I mean…you’re the only one he actually made stay late with him.”

“I am?”

“He’d always send the others home early because it was easier for him to do everything himself, he said.”

“Oh.” I stare down at the empty box in my hands. “I didn’t know that.”

Fuck you, nose tingles.

“I didn’t even know the poor guy could smile until two months ago.”

Not now, tear ducts!

“Yeah, well…hopefully his next assistant will be even better for him,” I manage to say through the lump in my throat. “Oh, and Cindy… Don’t tell him I told you this, but Declan was your Secret Santa.”

Her eyes widen, her lower lip quivers, and now there are three women in Manhattan that I know of who are all teary-eyed over that asshole.

When I’m almost done packing up my personal items, I get a call on my cell phone. It’s my former boss, Artie. Maybe he’s finally going to do me a solid and come out of retirement so I can work for him again. “Hello? Artie?”

“Happy holidays, honey.”

It warms my heart to hear his voice. “Happy holidays! Is everything okay?”

“Well, that’s what I was calling to askyou, Maddie. I just got off the phone with a recruiter. She was confirming that she could use my recommendation letter for you. Don’t tell me you’re leaving Declan already.”