Page 53 of The Singles Club

To: Hall, Vivian; Murphy, Becky

From: Vega, Carlos

Subject: Your Before Feature

Good morning, my lovely ladies.

I wanted to be the first to congratulate you on the success of your before feature. Pam is getting swamped with emails and calls… but my favorite part is the small spike in sales since posting it. The idea was brilliant, and you have thousands and counting looking forward to your after article.

But also, a recipe for disaster if all doesn’t go as hoped or planned.

So please, whatever you do, don’t screw this up.

XO

CV

* * *

Vivian

The sky was one big sheet of grey, and I walked through the doors, trying to shake off the morning chill. Our receptionist Pam was sitting at the front desk, her hair in a high ponytail, which usually meant one of two things: she either woke up late, or she was in a bad mood.

“Good morning,” I chirped.

She didn’t look up from her computer. “Mmm.”

Okay, bad mood Pam. She was probably not happy with all the calls and emails she’d been getting about our before feature. I knew what could help snap her out of that mood.

“So, don’t keep me in suspense. How was your date with Hot Mr. UPS Guy?”

Her hands froze over the keyboard, and she looked up at me, lips tight and eyes ready to spit daggers.

Not good.

“Apparently, he is Hot Mr. UPS Guy with awife.”

Oh no.

“Pam, I’m so sorry.”

She turned away, going back to her typing. “It’s not your fault. You didn’t know Derek was a jerk.”

“Still, I feel bad. I helped you get a date with him.”

She grunted. “Don’t remind me. I just hope Derek changed his route, because I amnotsigning for any packages he delivers.”

“If he does show up, call me. I’ll come out and deal with it.”

She nodded.

I headed to my office and started up my computer. Pam’s situation bothered me. It was their fourth date… which meant she most likely slept with him on the third one. Whenever I gave advice on dating, the no-sex-until-the-third-date rule was something I swore by. Next time someone came to me, I’d have to add a warning label for guys like him.

Becky walked into my office, and by the look on her face I knew something was wrong.

Great. It was going to be one ofthosedays.

“What is it?” I asked.