TWENTY-TWO
ANDREA
Subject: Formal Offer Letter (Final Terms, No Negotiation)
Miss Stone,
After much thought and consideration, I’ve arrived at a number for your salary as my executive assistant at Sweet Seasons.
It’s in your best interest to digitally accept this offer before your return to work tomorrow morning.
Thank you for your attention to this issue.
Harrison Cross
CEO, Sweet Seasons Coffee
Founder & Owner, Cross Industries
Ihesitated before opening the attached file, my stomach tightening as the screen loaded.
I scrolled through five blank pages, my pulse climbing with each swipe, before the numbers finally appeared.
Former Salary:69,998.00
(Cubicle assignment)
Proposed New Salary:695,000.00
(Personal office on top level)
My jaw dropped to the floor, and I stared at the screen until my vision blurred.
That number couldn’t be real…
I copied and pasted it into an email, then into a text message, just to make sure the zeroes stayed where they were.
This wasn’t survival money.
This was never-worry-again money.
Even though it was coming from a man who was Satan half the time, I couldn’t resist.
I immediately signed the acceptance form — and everything that came with it.
Walking away was no longer an option…
TWENTY-THREE
HARRISON
Several days later
“Explain what it is you do here again, Mr. Holmes.” I stared at the last employee on my re-interview list, the Latte Vibes Master.
“Happy to do that, sir.” He smiled, running a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair. “I deliver coffee to department meetings on time and I make personalized drinks for all the managers if they ask—always making sure to master the balance of ingredients properly.”
So, I did hear that right the first time.
