Page 19 of Naughty Heart

“Well, you know I’m happy to brainstorm ideas with you and Pam any day of the week, but I’m afraid if it’s Monday through Friday, it’ll have to be after five o’clock,” I shared, my lips twitching.

Cheryl was going to lose her mind once she figured this out.

For the second time since we’d gotten on the phone, Cheryl hesitated to respond. There was no question she was trying to work out why I would have said something so strange.

“What do you mean? Did you already find something?”

“I did.”

“How is that possible?”

I couldn’t miss the curiosity and shock in her tone. Truth be told, I couldn’t say I didn’t understand it. If the roles had been reversed, I certainly would have had a difficult time believing she could have gone from being fired on Friday to a working woman on Monday.

“I went out in search of a job on Saturday morning.”

“And you just happened to find one that quickly?” she pressed. “Where did you go?”

“Downtown. I took a stack of resumes and decided I’d go into as many of the businesses as I could to see who was hiring. I went into the bookstore, the spa, and the coffee shop. That’s where my hunt ended.”

“Nice. So, they were hiring at the coffee shop, then? Do they have any other positions open?”

It was all I could do not to burst out laughing. Cheryl was going to be positively giddy when I told her the truth. “Not exactly. I actually didn’t get a job there.”

“What do you mean? I’m so confused.”

I swallowed down the excitement threatening to bubble out of me long enough to share, “I’m currently employed as the personal assistant to the vice president of Westwood’s.”

“Westwood’s? You mean, Westwood’s, the chocolate company.”

“They manufacture more than just chocolate, but yes, that’s the one,” I confirmed.

The silence stretched between us briefly before she begged, “Tell me how this happened. I feel like you’ve just landed a job that’s substantially better than the one you had.”

It was at that point I could no longer hold myself back. I let out a laugh. “Cheryl, you have no idea.” I paused a moment, allowing myself to relish in the positive vibes I’d been feeling all day long, but I didn’t take too long, because Cheryl wanted answers. “It all started when I wound up in Malcolm Westwood’s lap.”

“What?!”Cheryl shrieked.

Deciding it was best to just cut to the chase, I went on to tell Cheryl about how it all went down on Saturday. I shared how Malcolm had initially reacted, the fact that my resumes had gotten scattered everywhere, and how I’d been utterly humiliated, scurrying to get my resumes and get out of there.

Of course, I went on to tell her how Malcolm had stopped me outside with one of my resumes in his hand and explained his company was hiring.

And finally, I revealed how I’d arrived at Westwood’s today, intent on giving the interview all I had to give, when he pretty much hired me on the spot.

“This is incredible. I thought I had good news to share!”

“You did. Your news is definitely the best news of the day,” I assured her.

“So, is tomorrow your first day, then?”

I laughed again. “Technically, today was my first day. Though, I didn’t really do a whole lot of work. Essentially, Malcolm took me around the entire Westwood campus and gave me a tour. He thought it was important for me to understand everything about the company I’m going to be working for.”

“So, you got paid to go on a tour of a place most people have to pay to visit?” she inquired.

“Pretty much.”

“Ugh, you’re so lucky. I’m really happy for you, even if I feel a little jealous.”

Not believing I deserved all the glory, I noted, “I think we both have something to feel good about. You’re getting married, Cheryl. How incredible is that?”