could find myself trying to land clients alongside the rest of the employees. Faith Clarkson had no concern for my problems.
“If you like, you can stay with me when you first get to London,” she offered. “I have plenty of room, and it would be great fun to have someone around! I can help you find a place.”
“That would be great, Hillary! I would love that.”
When I mentioned Tiziana wanting all of us to gather more regularly, she said, “Well, with her record and yours, I’m sure we’ll get into mischief whether we like it or not.”
I suggested that we spend the holidays in London.
“That would be fabulous, since I’m not sure I’ve ever done that. We’ve always gone away. My mother finds it such a bother.”
When we ended the call, for the first time in a very long time, some of the knots that riddled my muscles felt like they were working their way loose. While I would be closer to Des, it would be incredible to be closer to my friends. There was the added bonus that I wouldn’t have to see Faith Clarkson on a regular basis.
Chapter Five
BETWEEN CARRYING ON with my regular tasks at work and building the new team, I was swamped. I had been gone so much that my roommate Taylor had to come to my office just to see me.
Plunking down in my guest chair, a cloud of her favorite perfume settling around her, she said, “If I wasn’t so envious of your moving to London, I’d almost care about the way the old battle-axe has been working you. Look at you! You’re skin and bones, and not in the I-want-to-be-America’s-Next-Top-Model-kind of way.”
It was true: over the last three months, I had lost quite a bit of weight, and there were ginormous bags under my eyes. Normally I would have been excited about shedding a few pounds. These days, there was rarely time to sit down and eat. When I did, my stomach couldn’t handle much.
In general, my grooming had hit an all-time low, a very noticeable and not good thing in New York City. I leaned back in my chair and used a couple of pencils to hold back the hair that kept falling into my eyes.
“Well, the good news is that I’ve saved all kinds of money and will be able to afford a fabulous wardrobe in England,” I bragged gently. I knew that Taylor would love to be part of the team moving to London and the new subsidiary.
“What am I going to do without you?”
“Well, on the good news front, I won’t really be moving out for a while, since your mother wants me in both places at the same time for the first few months. The bad news is that you’ll just have to come visit me in London or finally marry Marcus.” I picked up my cup of coffee and took a big gulp.
Sidestepping my last comment, she said, “Is that all you consume these days? You need a break and some decent food. I have a great idea! Easter is just around the corner, and my family is going to the Hamptons. Why don’t you come along? It will be much more fun with you there. My parents are arriving late, leaving early, and the house is big enough you’ll only have to see her at one or two meals.” By the time she took a breath, the tone of her voice had gone from energetic to begging.
I felt deep creases in my forehead where my eyebrows squinched together. I had been to her family events before, and they were just a tad tense. The only silver lining, other than Taylor, was that her boyfriend Marcus would be there. He was hilarious, a fact that drove Faith Clarkson to madness. Okay, there was another silver lining.
“You know the only reason you want me to come is that your mother will give Marcus a break and send all her nasty glares my way. No, thanks. I would rather stay home and eat my chocolate bunny all by myself,” I declined ungraciously.
Taylor laughed. “That’s only partly true. However, and this is a great however, Marcus is bringing his friend Liam with him. He’s drop-dead gorgeous and, with all the trauma of the last few months, I thought you might enjoy a
“If you like, you can stay with me when you first get to London,” she offered. “I have plenty of room, and it would be great fun to have someone around! I can help you find a place.”
“That would be great, Hillary! I would love that.”
When I mentioned Tiziana wanting all of us to gather more regularly, she said, “Well, with her record and yours, I’m sure we’ll get into mischief whether we like it or not.”
I suggested that we spend the holidays in London.
“That would be fabulous, since I’m not sure I’ve ever done that. We’ve always gone away. My mother finds it such a bother.”
When we ended the call, for the first time in a very long time, some of the knots that riddled my muscles felt like they were working their way loose. While I would be closer to Des, it would be incredible to be closer to my friends. There was the added bonus that I wouldn’t have to see Faith Clarkson on a regular basis.
Chapter Five
BETWEEN CARRYING ON with my regular tasks at work and building the new team, I was swamped. I had been gone so much that my roommate Taylor had to come to my office just to see me.
Plunking down in my guest chair, a cloud of her favorite perfume settling around her, she said, “If I wasn’t so envious of your moving to London, I’d almost care about the way the old battle-axe has been working you. Look at you! You’re skin and bones, and not in the I-want-to-be-America’s-Next-Top-Model-kind of way.”
It was true: over the last three months, I had lost quite a bit of weight, and there were ginormous bags under my eyes. Normally I would have been excited about shedding a few pounds. These days, there was rarely time to sit down and eat. When I did, my stomach couldn’t handle much.
In general, my grooming had hit an all-time low, a very noticeable and not good thing in New York City. I leaned back in my chair and used a couple of pencils to hold back the hair that kept falling into my eyes.
“Well, the good news is that I’ve saved all kinds of money and will be able to afford a fabulous wardrobe in England,” I bragged gently. I knew that Taylor would love to be part of the team moving to London and the new subsidiary.
“What am I going to do without you?”
“Well, on the good news front, I won’t really be moving out for a while, since your mother wants me in both places at the same time for the first few months. The bad news is that you’ll just have to come visit me in London or finally marry Marcus.” I picked up my cup of coffee and took a big gulp.
Sidestepping my last comment, she said, “Is that all you consume these days? You need a break and some decent food. I have a great idea! Easter is just around the corner, and my family is going to the Hamptons. Why don’t you come along? It will be much more fun with you there. My parents are arriving late, leaving early, and the house is big enough you’ll only have to see her at one or two meals.” By the time she took a breath, the tone of her voice had gone from energetic to begging.
I felt deep creases in my forehead where my eyebrows squinched together. I had been to her family events before, and they were just a tad tense. The only silver lining, other than Taylor, was that her boyfriend Marcus would be there. He was hilarious, a fact that drove Faith Clarkson to madness. Okay, there was another silver lining.
“You know the only reason you want me to come is that your mother will give Marcus a break and send all her nasty glares my way. No, thanks. I would rather stay home and eat my chocolate bunny all by myself,” I declined ungraciously.
Taylor laughed. “That’s only partly true. However, and this is a great however, Marcus is bringing his friend Liam with him. He’s drop-dead gorgeous and, with all the trauma of the last few months, I thought you might enjoy a
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