“Hey there. It’ll be all right,” he says sympathetically. “Have you tried any other printing companies?”
“Yes,” I reply through my sobbing. “I just really wanted everything to go perfectly.”
“I’m sure it will still be a wonderful success. Just remember what a great cause it is.”
“I know,” I say through my sobbing.
He gets quiet for a few seconds. “Sienna, I have an idea. I can’t promise anything, but I’ll call you back.” He hangs up before I can respond.
What could he possibly do to help? He’s given me a tiny bit of hope though. I tell Nicole the good news about the seats. She seems very relieved to have that taken care of, but she and Craig look as defeated as I feel.
“Were you crying?” Craig squints his eyes.
“Yes, it’s shocking, I know. I’ve cried more in the past few weeks than I have in the past ten years.” I pause and look at Craig. “Anything?”
Craig shakes his head. “I’m so sorry. You told me last week to stay on top of the printing, but I didn’t.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“Yes, it is. I’ll take full responsibility.”
“Let’s just pray for a miracle,” I tell him.
I have a hard time concentrating the rest of the afternoon. I receive a text from Ace that said he was working on something and would keep me posted.
I’m just thankful that no other issues arise, but I keep reminding myself that tomorrow is another day. Carrie called Nicole and told her that she’d be here Tuesday or Wednesday.
I don’t get home until after eight p.m. Madison isn’t here, so I make some dinner and turn on the TV. I haven’t felt this lonely in a while. I know exactly what I need to do. I call my mom.
I end up talking to my parents for a couple of hours. I tell them about Palm Springs, Ace, Carrie, Faith, Fashion, and Hope, and the program issues. As always, they make me feel better by listening and giving me some advice. We talk about me meeting them in Florida in a few months, and I really feel so much better.
My dad made a great point that really rang true. He reminded me that I’ve been successful in my career because I know how to handle a crisis, and that I should remember why I chose this profession, which was to bring joy. He told me to focus on that, and everything will fall into place.
When I pull up at the office the next morning, I see Carrie’s car. I take a deep breath and mentally prepare myself. I’m sure she will spend a good part of the morning berating us on why her vacations should remain private. Then at some point, I will have to tell her about the programs. I still haven’t heard back from Ace. I’ve pretty much lost all hope.
When I walk in, I can hear her on the phone in her office. “I would’ve loved for you to escort me to the event. Remember what’s on the line here. There’s a lot at stake.”
I make some noise, and she quickly ends her conversation.
“Sienna, is that you?”
“Yes. Good morning.” I take a few deep breaths.
“Let me know when the others arrive, and we’ll have our meeting. I have to make a few more calls.”
I go to my office and text Craig and Nicole. They both show up within a few minutes. Poor Nicole looks like a deer in headlights. I remind her to breathe.
As we sit down in Carrie’s office, I speak up before she has a chance to. I figure I have nothing to lose at this point. “Carrie, I would like to start by apologizing. I take full responsibility for contacting you over the weekend. Please understand that with this very important event coming up in a few days, I’m trying to ensure that everything runs perfectly.”
Carrie stares at me. I think she’s surprised I spoke up. “Yes.” She hesitates. “Well, don’t let this happen again. You may think that I’m away strictly for leisure. But, that’s not always the case. I’m dealing with business more than you know.”
Success! I’m so glad I spoke up first. It’s really pretty sad that I had to remind her of the importance of this weekend and why I had to go to such lengths to track her down. You would think she’d understand that.
“I understand. Thanks, Carrie.”
The three of us stand up, but she holds her hand up to stop us.
“We’re not done yet,” she says firmly, and we all sit right back down in our chairs.
“Nicole, I’m especially disappointed in you. I gave you very strict instructions, and you went against them.”
“Carrie,” I interrupt. “Really, it was me. I practically had to get on my hands and knees and beg her to give me the information.”
She holds up her hand again. “She doesn’t work for you, Sienna. She works for me.”
I look over and see Nicole hanging her head. And then the unthinkable occurs.
“Not anymore, I don’t,” Nicole says, picking up her head.
Craig and I look at each other. What’s she doing?
“Since you have such a problem with me and the way I do my job, you can do it yourself because I quit. I would like to see how you do without me.” She stands up and walks to her desk.
I look over at Carrie who appears to be in shock. I’m not really sure what to do next. I stand up to follow Nicole, and Carrie doesn’t try to stop me.
She’s already cleaning out her desk.
“Nicole, don’t you think this is a rash decision? You’ve worked so hard on Faith, Fashion, and Hope. Don’t you want to see all your work come to life?” I plead with her to reconsider, but at the same time, I completely understand.
“You’re making a horrible mistake,” Carrie says, coming out of her office. “I’ll give you one chance to change your mind.”
Nicole continues to gather her belongings and doesn’t acknowledge Carrie. “No thanks, I’m tired of feeling unappreciated. And I’m tired of being your slave.” She turns to Craig and me as checks her desk drawers. “Good luck to you with Faith, Fashion, and Hope.”
“You will regret this,” Carrie says as she heads back to her office and shuts the door behind her.
“What the hell are you doing?” Craig asks. “You can’t leave. Do you have another job?”
“Not yet. I just can’t do this anymore. I know that I’m leaving at the worst time, and I’m sorry about that.” She sits down in her chair. “I’m sure I’ll regret it the minute I walk out of here.”
A few minutes later, she’s gone.
“I didn’t see that coming at all,” Craig says as he sits down in her chair. “What do you think she’s going to do?” he whispers, pointing toward Carrie’s office.
“I have no idea. But I’m worried. I still have to tell Carrie about the programs, and even worse, I’ll have to call the Cantons.”
I head back to my office to try to get something done before I have to break the news. I check my phone and see a missed call from Ace. I’m hoping that he’s calling with some good news. I don’t think I’ll be able to handle any more bad news today. I try calling him back and get his voicemail.
“Sienna, can you come to my office please?” Carrie calls over the intercom. Crap!
I head to her office.
“Do you still have the file of applications? I’ll be filling Nicole’s position as soon as possible. It’s not like her leaving us is a great loss. She’s easily replaceable.”
That was all she had to say. She obviously did not appreciate anything Nicole did for her. I retrieve the file of applications from one of the filing cabinet drawers and hand it to her. I want nothing to do with her filling Nicole’s position.
As I sit in my office feeling extremely overwhelmed, my phone rings. It’s Ace. I close my eyes and pray that it’s good news.
“Hello?” I say cautiously.
“I have some good news for you, but it’s going to be tricky.”
“Oh, thank goodness. What do you mean by ‘tricky?’” I ask.
“The printer that Venice uses will be able to print the job by Saturday. The problem is they do not have enough staff to oversee it. You�
��ll need to send someone to help. There will only be one person there as they are short-staffed and have a full workload. Someone will be there to fire up the jobs, but that’s it. Also, it’s located up north about an hour away. Can you send anyone?”
Okay, so this isn’t the ideal situation, but I have to make it work somehow. “Nicole just quit. Craig will be with the committee volunteers for set-up Thursday night and Friday. So, I guess I’ll have to do it myself. Thank you so much. I’ll get back to you with the details.” I hang up and try to calm myself down. I call Craig into my office and tell him what’s happening.
“Do you think this is going to work?” he whispers.
“I don’t know, but I have no other choice. You’ll need to hold down the fort here.”
His eyes grow wide. “You’re putting me in charge?”
Suddenly I feel like throwing up.
“I guess I am.”
I get to work scheduling the rest of my week. Things are starting to look up, and the best part of my day comes at five forty-seven p.m. when I receive the final file for the programs. So, the printing will start on Thursday with one day to spare. Another crisis resolved. I know this kind of stress comes with the job, but my nervous system won’t be able to take another jolt. What else could happen? Wait. I probably shouldn’t say that out loud.
At three a.m., I wake from yet another nightmare. In the dream, I’m on my way to the event, but I have to stop at the printers. The event is due to start in an hour, and I still don’t have the project done. On my way, I get stuck in the elevator. I call Luke for help, and he tells me that he’s working so he won’t be able to help me. I end up missing the whole event. When I wake up, I’m crying and dripping with sweat. Madison comes running in my room.
“Are you okay?” she asks as she sits down on the bed. “You were screaming for help to get you out.”
My heart is still racing.
I tell her about my dream and the events of the last few days. I also tell her about Ace stepping in and trying to help. If we pull everything off without any more hitches, it’ll be because of Ace.
“You do like him, don’t you?” she asks.
I hesitate. “Yes, I do. But the timing is all wrong. After this weekend, I need to figure out where Luke and I stand and if we still have a chance. Before you ask, yes, I do still love Luke. I’m just not sure we’re meant to be together.”
Madison and I stay up talking for a while before I finally manage to get a bit more sleep.
The next day, Carrie is in the office again. I know I always complain about her being gone, but really, I hate her being here. I get less accomplished with her around. I tell her that I’ll be overseeing all printing on Thursday, and Craig will start décor and set-up Thursday night. She hardly shows any interest in what I’m saying.
Later, I have a really productive meeting with the catering team, and Mrs. Canton is very gracious and happy with the finalized menu. What a relief. After I leave the meeting, my spirits are lifted. Luke sends me telling me that he’s still planning on coming Saturday night. It feels a little awkward because I’m still trying to decide if I want him to come with me. We haven’t spent any time together since the whole Palm Springs mess. On the other hand, I do need a date, and at least he’s making an effort.
When I open my email, I’m surprised to find an email from Ace.
Good Afternoon,
I hope everything is looking up. I wanted to let you know that I have some availability for the next few days. If you need any help, I would be happy to oversee things at the printers. I know you’re short-handed and extremely busy right now. Let me know if I can assist.
Best,
Ace
Ace is so nice that I’m starting to have serious doubts that he’s for real. Maybe Luke was right all along. Maybe he’s a master at knowing exactly what to say and do. I don’t know what his ulterior motives could be, but if he has any, he truly is a genius.
I arrive at the printers Thursday morning and spend the majority of the day making sure the printing goes smoothly. By the evening, I’m so bored, I have a massive headache, and I know I’m getting sick. Just when I’m about to reach my breaking point and go home, Ace shows up to save the day as any hero would.
“What are you doing here?” I exclaim.
“I know you told me not to come, but I thought the least I could do was relieve you so you could get some dinner,” he says warmly.
“You came all this way so I could get dinner?” I say sarcastically. Now I’m convinced that this guy can’t be for real. He must be some kind of perfect man-robot. I’m so shocked that I don’t know what to do next.
“Truthfully, I just felt bad,” he replies. “You’re doing all of this on your own, and you were kind enough to help me find a gift for my mum. Which, by the way, she loved. I have the time to help, and I believe in this great cause. So, here I am. Just tell me what to do.”
I really could use a break, so I take him up on his offer considering he did come all his way. I show him the few things he needs to know and leave to get some food and headache medicine. When I return, he’s on the phone, and I hear him talking about numbers and proposals. I really do love his accent; I could sit here all night and listen to him talk. I know I have to stop this madness, but I don’t understand why fate keeps bringing him into my life over and over again. On the other hand, we did agree that we’re just friends, so I guess this is harmless.
“Thank you so much for coming tonight,” I say as I sit on one of the desks after he finishes his phone call.
“I really wanted to help. I hope I’m not being to forward, but I enjoy spending time with you,” he admits.
I smile through my feelings of guilt. I know nothing has happened, but I can’t help but feel guilty because I feel the same way. “I enjoy spending time with you, too,” I admit as I look at him.
Ace opens his mouth to say something else, but he stops and changes the subject.
“How many more have to print?” he asks as he walks over to the machine.
“It looks like I have a few more hours to go,” I say, looking at the computer screen. “You really don’t have to stay. Someone from the staff is going to come back in a few hours to shut everything down and lock up.”
Ace doesn’t reply. At this point, I’m so torn because I want him to stay, but at the same time, I know he should leave.
“Why don’t you go home?” he says. “I can finish here and bring everything to the hotel in the morning. You really don’t look well,” he says, giving me a concerned look.
I must look as terrible as I feel, but I have to see this through until the end. “I appreciate the offer, but this is my project, so I need to be here,” I say. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you this week. You’re the hero in all of this.” I stop as I’m suddenly overcome with emotion, or it may be pure exhaustion.
Ace must see that I’m uncomfortable with our growing attraction, and I know he’s feeling the same.
“I’m glad I could help. Are you sure you don’t need me to stay?”
I shake my head.
He hesitates for a moment then quickly leaves.
Once he’s gone, I lay my head down on the desk and let out a huge sigh. Our plan to stay just friends and fight our attraction is failing miserably.
The rest of the evening is a complete blur. I end up staying at the printers until two a.m., but somehow, I manage to have everything done by our Friday morning deadline.
The next day, I show up at the hotel to set up around lunchtime. I’m pretty much a walking disaster. I’m completely exhausted, my cold has gotten worse, and I’m losing my voice.
Craig takes one look at me and says, “Wow, you look horrible.”
“Thanks,” I say, struggling to talk.
“Ohhh, and you sound even worse,” he says, making a face.
I can always count on Craig to be brutally honest.
“I was at the printers until two and didn’t get home u
ntil after three. I felt so horrible that I took some cold meds to try to sleep. I’m so nervous, and I haven’t slept well in weeks.” I sit down at one of the tables and put my face in my hands.
“Well, you need to move your germs somewhere else and not all over these tables,” he demands.
I try to give him a dirty look, but he’s right. I look around, and the room is really shaping up to be beautiful. Candles, lilies, and mirrors make up the centerpieces on silver and gold linens. I ask if Carrie has made an appearance yet, and he tells me she walked-through the room, moved a few things around, and then left for an appointment with her psychic. I guess a quick walk-through is better than nothing.
We continue to work on the set-up into the evening. I survive on caffeine and sinus medicine. We finish a little before eleven p.m. and head home to try to rest up. Tomorrow is the big day. Somehow, we managed to make it, and everything has fallen into place beautifully—other than me being on death’s door. I’m feeling pretty confident that it will be a success. Sheer Happiness here I come.
Chapter Thirteen
That was pretty much was the worst night’s sleep I’ve ever had—if you can actually call it that. It was more like several small catnaps between a ton of coughing fits. I should probably buy stock in Kleenex tissue. I can’t believe I’m this sick, and to top it off, I have full-blown laryngitis. It must be true when they say stress is the silent killer because, after today, I may not make it.
The big day has officially arrived. It’s funny that most women consider their big day to be their wedding day. I doubt I’ll be this nervous on my wedding day. Whenever that may be—probably many, many years in the future. I call Craig to make sure he’s awake. I’m pleasantly surprised to hear him very cheerful and full of energy. He carries on a bit about how horrible I sound and tells me that I probably shouldn’t stand close to anyone tonight.
“I plan on taking as much Vitamin C and cold medicine as I can without overdosing. On top of that, I’ll mix in a lot of caffeine, and I should be good to go,” I tell him.
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