Page 96 of Between Hello and Goodbye

Chapter Sixteen

Six months later…

“Faith, can I see you a minute?”

I looked up to see Cynthia Cross standing in the doorway to my office. Not her assistant, not a buzz from her office to mine, but her actual presence. Instantly, I was back in high school after getting caught breaking the rules. Which was frequently.

“Y-yes, of course.”

“My office, please.”

My assistant, Jess, looked up from the papers she was shuffling on the couch across from my desk, and we exchanged glances.

I stood and straightened my suit jacket. “If I’m not back in ten minutes…”

“I can have your Fendi?”

“The blue hobo with the silver buckle?Nevah.”

She chuckled. “Good luck.”

Jess could buy her own Fendi bags. I’d given her as many raises as accounting would allow, and she was getting ready to take on the role of account manager. I was going to miss her, but then I’d been the one who recommended her for promotion.

Because I just love doing hard things for the right reasons, apparently.

Well, not every hard thing. Asher was still thousands of miles away and neither of us seemed ready to change that, no matter how hard it was getting.

Not hard—torture.

I composed myself in front of Cynthia’s office, then peeked in. “You wanted to see me?”

While Terrance’s workspace was sleek and a little bit cold, Cynthia’s was welcoming and warm. Which was ironic because of my two bosses, Cynthia intimidated the crap out of me. Her office resembled a study in an old manor home with photos of her family, loads of books, and plush furniture.

“Faith,” she said from behind her mahogany desk. “Have a seat.”

I sat in the overstuffed chair as she fixed me with an intimidating expression. She reminded me of the actress Cherry Jones, with straight graying hair that touched her shoulders and piercing blue eyes.

“I have some good news,” she said tonelessly. “The Clio nominations have been announced. Your Zuma commercial has been nominated.”

“Holy crap,” I breathed, pushed back in the chair by the news. Terry had been talking it up for months, but now that it had happened, it touched me more than I expected. “Wow, that’s great. I’m thrilled and honored…”

“They are going to do simultaneous live award ceremonies in early February, each linked up via satellite,” Cynthia said. “One in London, one in New York, Chicago, Sydney, et cetera. And one here in Seattle. I don’t think I have to tell you that your commercial is a shoo-in for the Gold in its category but will more likely take home a Grand.”

“I don’t even know what to say.”

“I’m aware.” Her gaze sharpened. “Which brings me to my next point—the issue of you being made partner. We are still waiting for an answer.”

“I know,” I said. “I’m sorry…”

“It’s been six months, Faith. The only reason we haven’t offered the position to someone else is because there isn’t anyone else we want to give it to. But the time has come. Shit or get off the pot as they say.”

“If I don’t take it, will you fire me?”

“Does it have to come to that?” Cynthia cocked her head. “Is there a specific reason why you are hesitant to pull the trigger? You’ve been working steadily and impressively for nearly a year. A one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turnaround from your comings and goings of earlier. It would appear that you’re dedicated to this agency and to doing your best with every account we throw your way.”

“I am.”

“Well?”