My ears perked up. This was good news! I had never been invited to a potential client meeting before. “I would love to.”
Meredith crossed her arms and looked down at her feet. “I know you were hoping to be named account manager for the Sampson project. And to tell you the truth, I nearly gave it to you.”
I waited for her to continue.There’s no way she’ll admit it was my pregnancy that changed her mind—that would be illegal. But we both know that was the deciding factor.
“In the end, I just thought Tina was a better fit. But this account could be very big for us, if we get it. And of all the associates, you have the most direct experience.”
My stomach fluttered. Good news, indeed. “Meredith, I would love to work on this project. At my previous agency, I worked on the launch of the Tavern in Telegraph Hill, and it was very successful.”
“Yes, I remember you telling me about that during your interview. That was good work. So, dress nice, and meet us in the lobby of the Alto Lounge a little before six thirty Sunday.”
“I will. Thank you so much for the opportunity!” I smiled. Sam winked at me. “I won’t let you down.”
As I walked home, I was still beaming. This was another chance to be promoted to account manager—and for an account that was way better than the Sampson project.Maybe I can still get that raise before the baby comes.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket to call my mom and tell her the good news, and to let her know I’d need to leave her place earlier than usual on Sunday. As I did, a text came through from Max.
How did the ultrasound go with your mom?
I gaped at the message.With my mom?I thought.What?Rather than text him back, I called him. He picked up right away.
“Hey, Savannah. How did the ultrasound go? Did your mom enjoy it?”
“Are you joking with me right now? Where were you?”
“What?” He sounded confused. “What do you mean? You said you could only bring one person and that you were taking your mom.”
“I texted you yesterday to say my mom was sick and couldn’t make it, and I invited you. You said you were coming to pick me up at the office. Then you didn’t show.”
“What? I never got any texts from you. I would have been there in a heartbeat.”
“You replied to the text! You said you would love to come, and would pick me up at my office at eleven thirty! I waited so long for you that I almost missed the appointment.”
“Savannah—the last text I got from you was Sunday night.”
I stopped walking in the middle of the sidewalk. “So you don’t know that Madison showed up?”
“What? Madison was there?”
“Max, she showed up right in the middle of the ultrasound. She said you asked her to go in your place.”Should I mention that she had to be escorted out when she refused to leave?
He sighed. “Listen—there must have been some sort of misunderstanding.”
Misunderstanding? Is that what you call this?I ground my teeth together in frustration. He was completely blind to the real Madison. Not to mention, more text messages mysteriously disappearing?
“I’ll figure out what happened,” he promised. “But, most importantly—how did it go?”
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to calm down. “It went really well. The sonographer said everything looks great.”
“Oh, that’s great. I really wish I could have been there.”
“Well, I have the DVD of the ultrasound. Do you want to come by and watch it?”
“Yes! Oh my God, yes.”
“Okay. Well, you’re welcome to come by anytime tonight. But please—just you.”
“I’ll see you in a little while.”
