“You look gorgeous,” I tell him.
Josh’s proposal tonight is a Christmas party for a gaggle of cheering office girls, a treat paid for by their generous boss. And boy are those girls in for a treat.
“Thanks, baby. What are your plans?”
I’m on my own tonight – no proposal for me.
“I might order in a pizza and binge someWhispers.” Shame Tiff’s out on a proposal – we do love our pizza nights.
“With a side of chicken wings?”
I grin. “Of course.”
“Tell you what, order an extra pizza. I think I’ll be ravenous when I get home. Sixteen office girls to service.”
“Sure will.” Bri at the pizza house on the corner always gives us extra freebies anyway. She says we’re her best customers. Best tippers, more like.
I kiss my gorgeous boyfriend goodbye, and give his gorgeous ass a smack before he walks out the door.
I change into my red satin PJs and I’ve just sent my pizza order through, sitting cross legged on the sofa when I get a ping through on The Agency app from Orla.
Fancy a chat?she asks, and I reply with a smiling emoji and ananytime.
Holy shit, she takes me up on it.
I take a deep breath as the blank video call window with the O in the centre starts up. It was bound to happen sooner or later. My proposals must have gained some kind of attention by now.
“Ella! How are you doing?” she asks, and I greet her with a massive smile.
“Very well,” I laugh. “I guess you’ve seen my proposal list.”
As I speak the words, I get a stab of terror, because what if it’s not ok? What if it’s freaking out everyone at The Agency now I’m hitting such big bucks?
“Is that acceptable?” I ask her. “I mean, the clients. I’m accepting the proposals and getting the reviews in just fine, it’s just whether things are weird. For you. Am I allowed to take them?”
She laughs.
“Relax, sweetheart. Every proposal you get in your inbox has already gone through our system. Our clients have been checkedout and vetted and the policies put in place before they reach you. You have nothing to be worried about.”
“Phew,” I say.
“How are you finding it, honestly?” she asks me. “There is climbing the ranks and there is climbing the ranks. You’ve shot to the top of the league in quite a dramatic fashion, and that’s an understatement.”
I take another breath at her words.
Climbing the ranks. What a phrase.
I remember when I first saw The Agency’s naughty list and I registered the group of hardcore entertainers at the top, with all the boxes ticked. I was fascinated by the big bucks there for the taking, and the ratings there to be strived for.
I wanted to be the best I could be. And here I am. My second Christmas now approaching since I joined The Agency, and I made it. I really made it.
Late at night sometimes, when my incredible boyfriend is already asleep beside me, I still get a flash ofwhat the fuckthat blows my mind.
“It’s been a crazy year,” I reply to Orla. “Understatement of the whole entire century.”
“No shit.” I can hear from her voice that she’s smiling. “This is supposed to be an informal yearly review, but your stats speak for themselves. I don’t think you need any coaching somehow.”
“People can always still learn,” I reply. “Any tips and tricks are always welcome. Throw them my way.”
