Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 37751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
“I wanted to give you our complete list of requests.” She hands me a box full of binders. “I color coded everything, included tabs for research, and I ranked the businesses based on the number of reviews.”
“I don’t see the point in asking me to plan your wedding if you already did all this.”
“I only did the ‘research’ part,” she says. “You have the eye for the experience part. Plus, I figured since our ceremony is right around the corner, that you could use a little help.”
“Your wedding isn’t for another two years, Savannah.”
“So, does that mean you’ve started looking into the best seating arrangement angles for the photographer?”
“I’m looking into getting a DNA test to see if we’re actually related.”
Don’t say ‘no,’ don’t you dare say ‘no…’”
“Is that a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’, Georgia?”
Her fiancé, Garrett, suddenly steps into the lobby and walks toward us.
“What am I missing?” he asks.
“I was just thanking the universe for bringing you into my sister’s life,” I say. “And oh look!”
I point at the green and white bough hanging above them. “Mistletoe! Maybe if you kiss her, it might help her be normal for a change, and she can enjoy the holiday.”
He kisses her lips, but he holds up a briefcase instead of whisking her away.
“I brought an additional system since we plan on doing a lot of work while we’re here,” he says. “Did you bring the Cannon files?”
“Yeah, and I brought the Parish ones, too, since we’re almost halfway done with those.”
“Okay, I give up.” I step back. “You two are officially a lost cause.”
I walk away before their toxic corporate energy can rub off on me.
As I’m walking to the front desk, my cousin Taryn rushes toward me.
“Your fiancé has to be the sweetest guy ever.” Taryn sets down flowers and a gift box. “Open it.”
“No, I’ll wait until later.”
“Don’t you want to know what it is?”
“I already know what it is.”
“How?”
Because I sent it to myself. “I just know him very well.”
“Well, I don’t, so open it.”
“It’s another diamond charm for the bracelet he gave me.” I fake a smile. “He sends me one every month, remember?”
“Oh, right.” She stares at the box. “You know what, I’ll unbox it live for all my social media accounts and bring it right back!” She’s halfway down the hall before I can stop her.
Sighing, I flip through my newest magazine subscriptions, stopping when I reach GQ: Business Edition.
Under the headline, “It’s Mr. Reiss’s World: We’re All Just Living In It,” Dominic stares at me with ocean-blue eyes and his signature smile.
Wearing a custom black suit and silk red tie, he makes me remember all the times I was close to him in the office. All the time, he gave me the perfect opportunity to take advantage.
I thumb through the pages and read his interview, learning nothing I don’t already know, until I reach the last line anyway.
“Rumors are still swirling about his long-term, on and off again girlfriend, Amy Prescott. Our sources say he’ll be engaged to be married any day now!”
A pang of jealousy assaults my chest, and I google his name.
I know he’s not mine, that we technically never “dated,” but I can’t help but feel like he could’ve told me about this.
His business is clearly thriving without me, especially since my replacement is a Harvard graduate who loves her job. Yet, The Grace Estate was recently awarded its first-ever triple diamond of hospitality award with me at the helm, so I like to believe that I’m doing far better than him since our “breakup.”
He’s not yours, Georgia. He’s never been yours…
I decide to focus on something else for the day, but before I know it I’m calling the VIP customer service line for Reiss Enterprises. It’s the private one for top customers, and all the complaints get sent directly to the shareholders when it’s time to grade the CEO.
It’s petty, but I still owe him for firing me. At least, that’s how I try to justify things whenever I make this call at least twice a month.
“Thank you for calling our direct line at Reiss Enterprises,” a soft voice answers. “On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the highest, how would you rate your most recent transaction with us?”
“One star for everything.”
“Everything?” The woman gasps.
“Yes, everything.”
“Um, well…” She pauses. “Is there something we can do to make it right?”
“I’d like to leave a few notes about the CEO.”
“Tell you what, Miss,” she says. “I’ll switch you over to the direct line right away so you can leave a message.”
“Perfect.”
Soft holiday music comes over the line, and I pull up my Pinterest boards while I wait.
“Hello, Georgia.” Dominic’s deep voice cuts through “Jingle Bell Rock, ” catching me off guard.
“This isn’t me,” I say. “This is…Someone else.”
“Okay, then.” There’s a smile in his voice. “Hello, someone else.”