“A promotion?” I stiffened and sat up straight.
“Yes, I should’ve promoted you a year ago. No more babysitting spoiled celebrities. You will be swimming in the big pond, darling, with the big fish. The bicoastal pond.” She paused.
“Bicoastal?”
“Yes, our client list in the entertainment industry is growing, which means Laramie needs to have a presence in Los Angeles.”
My heart raced in my chest. Nina was telling me everything that I would have wanted to hear six weeks ago. Getting fired from the Laramie Firm had felt like the end of the world. A few short weeks later, my world had completely changed. My cell phone mostly lived in my bedside drawer. The only heat my hair experienced was my morning shower, and I hadn’t worn a five-inch pair of heels since… since the day Nina fired me.
I looked at Dan for some sort of guidance. Though he’d been paying careful attention to my conversation—it was impossible not to hear Nina through the earpiece—his expression didn’t give me a clue as to his opinion on the situation. I closed my eyes and drew in a deep, calming breath.
“Nina, I am so flattered that you thought of me for this amazing opportunity—”
“Good, when can I—”
“But I’m sorry. I can’t accept it.”
“Look, Emma, I was twenty-nine once. I’m not sure what you’ve been doing with yourself for the last month or so, but you need to consider this offer very carefully because offers like this don’t come around often, if ever.”
“I understand, but—”
“I’m going to give you six weeks. We’re launching the new office in the new year, and I want you there. Six weeks. Think about it.” Nina ended the call before I could refuse her again.
A fit of hysterical laughter started in my belly until I was laughing so hard I almost dropped my phone. I was in complete shock.
I could only shake my head in response. I had just said no to the woman I’d idolized and who’d also terrified me for the last five years. If I didn’t recognize myself before, I definitely didn’t now. A heady rush of endorphins mingled with disbelief flooded my body, making me feel like I was floating.
I turned in Dan’s lap to straddle him, grabbed the sides of his confused face, and pressed our lips together.
After the game, we ended up at Erica’s for a late lunch to celebrate my continued unemployment and India’s win against New Zealand. I had just taken a too-big bite of my patty melt when we were approached by a slightly older, statuesque, and curvy woman who seemed to be a little too dressed up for the middle of the day. It reminded me of my daily uniform of sheath dresses, shaved legs, and sky-high stilettos—another reason I was glad I’d turned downNina’s offer. This woman almost reminded me of Teddy’s mother, except she was a few shades darker and wore bright red lipstick. Mother Baker would never.
“You must be Emmaline. I’ve heard so much about you.” She stopped in front of our table just as I was grabbing my water glass so I could choke down my bite of food. She wore a warm, genuine smile—which didn’t remind me of Teddy’s mother—while she waited patiently for me to finish.
“If it was all good things, then it’s true,” I joked, causing her to chuckle and playfully slap me on the shoulder. “And I prefer—” I almost told her that I preferred to be called Emma, but I stopped myself.
“You prefer what, dear?” she questioned.
“You know what? Nothing.”
She smiled and continued speaking.
“Well, I was here picking up lunch for my husband, the mayor.” I shot Dan a look and his beard did an almost imperceptible twitch as he continued to focus his attention on the mayor’s wife. “And I saw Dan here”—she touched his shoulder—“so of course, I knew the beautiful woman he was sitting with had to be the one and only Emmaline Walters.” She paused for an awkward few seconds before she shot Dan a pointed glance.
“Ah, Emma.” He straightened up and cleared his throat. “This is Belinda Cole, our town’s first lady. Belinda, you already met Emma—um, Emmaline.” He raised an eyebrow at me.
“You two have cute little names for each other already.” She wrinkled her nose and looked between me and Dan before she sighed. “I’ve actually been meaning to reach out to you, Emmaline. Theword around our little town is that you are an experienced event planner.”
“I guess you could say that…” My background wasn’t in event planning, but as a PR rep I’d worked closely with Atlanta’s top planners and had even hosted some small events. I was sure whatever Belinda was teeing up for me couldn’t be more complicated than a cocktail party.
“Wonderful!” She clapped her perfectly manicured hands together and almost squealed. “I am formally inviting you to join the planning committee for our annual Harvest Festival.”
“I’m sorry.” I’m glad I wasn’t eating anything because I would have surely choked. “Did you say festival?”
“Mm-hmm.” She nodded excitedly. “It’s the biggest event in the county, and this year I want it to be really special. Something the Kings would be really proud of.” Her expression softened and she squeezed my wrist. “We’re really glad to have you here, Emmaline. I know I haven’t had a chance to run into you until now, but I hear the stories. You’re gonna be good for this place.” She patted my wrist, and her look was so sincere that I felt my eyes prickle.
“Belinda, I would be honored to help plan the festival,” I said with a firm nod. “When is it?”
“The second week of October.”
