"When would I start?"
"After New Year's, but you may want to come in before that just to get a feel for the place. Stop by tomorrow and check it out."
"Thank you," I said.
After I hung up, I looked out the window at the snowy city below. I would miss this tower, and I would miss Jack. I sighed. I knew it couldn't have lasted. I wondered if I should have waited for other offers, but I had been receiving emails from the credit card company that I was almost at my limit. I couldn't afford to wait for the potential perfect job offer. I had to take what was offered now. If I didn't like it once I started, I could apply for a job at another restaurant later.
"Oh, Chloe!" Nina said as she walked in. "I'm so sorry!"
"No, you deserved to win," I insisted then started to cry. "It's okay, honestly. I was just offered a job at a Brooklyn restaurant."
"That's wonderful," Nina said. "Is that what you want?"
"I really just wanted to stay in New York City, so this helps me achieve that."
"I thought you wanted to own a bakery," she said.
I exhaled. "I don't know if that's ever going to happen. I'll take this job and work for a few years and see where it goes."
"What about Jack?" she asked.
"What about Jack?" I countered.
"Brooklyn is a bit far away," she said.
"It is?" I asked. I honestly didn't know.
"You need to be more familiar with the city if you're going to live here," Nina admonished. "It’s a good hour by train, and that's if the subway is running on time. And an Uber or a taxi from Brooklyn is also really expensive unless it's at some weird time."
"I don't have any other options right now," I told her.
"You should slow down and think about this. You might have more offers after Christmas," Nina said.
I shook my head. "I need money now, and I need to start the New Year certain of where I'm going to be. This will be good," I assured my friend.
She hugged me. "One day soon, you'll have your bakery. Or even a restaurant."
"I don't know if I could handle that," I said.
"You can cook!" Nina insisted. "Besides, cooking regular food is so much easier than desserts. You'd be great at it."
"Only if you come work with me," I joked.
"Totally. You let me know when you start your restaurant. I am so there."
I hugged her. At least I had gotten one good thing out of the contest—a best friend.
60
Jack
Iwaited around in my penthouse after the contest, hoping Chloe would show up, but she never did.
My phone rang. It was Mark Holbrook.
"We need an answer from you on the lease," he said. "I want to get this locked down before the break between Christmas and New Year."
"Yes, I understand," I said, cursing myself for yelling at Chloe. I needed to find some way to smooth things over between us.
