Sienna,
I hope this email finds you well. I’ve been thinking about you, and I wanted to call, but I figured you needed some space. When things settle down, we can discuss the launch party dates. Keep me posted on your plans.
Best,
Ace
Honestly, I have been kind of avoiding him. I don’t know what to say to him. After all, it’s because of my relationship with Luke that we met in the first place. I’m sure Ace feels some kind of obligation to Luke even though he has no idea how much Luke hates him. I still don’t even know what happened after I left them all standing there.
I start to write him back but erase it. I can’t seem to say the right things. I need to talk to Abby. She’s good with stuff like this.
While I’m thinking about it, I hear Carrie’s door open and she thanks someone for coming in, saying she will be in touch. I get up from my chair and walk toward my door.
When she turns around, she sees me standing outside my office. Our eyes meet, and she doesn’t say anything. Her face becomes completely emotionless.
“Sienna, let’s conduct our review of Faith, Fashion, and Hope now. I have another interview in an hour.” She walks back into her office, and I follow her.
The discussion about the event goes pretty quickly because I’ve already taken care of everything. As usual. After we finish, neither of us says anything at first.
“Carrie, how could you do that to me?” I ask finally.
She looks out the window before speaking. “This is business, Sienna. It’s a shame you can’t understand that.”
“Business?” I say, feeling my blood pressure rise. “To betray me? After everything I’ve done for you and for this company.”
She purses her lips. “My mother built this company. Maybe in recent years, you’ve maintained relationships with clients, but it’s my name on that front door.”
I can’t believe she has the nerve to say this. I tighten my jaw as I hand her my resignation letter.
She stares at the piece of paper.
“So, the rumors are true. You’re going off on your own. Trying to spread your wings?” She gives a little snicker. “Really, love, do you think this is a good idea? You’re very good, there’s no doubt about that, but you’ve been successful because you have my name behind you.” She folds her arms.
She really has no idea what people think of her, and finally, after all this time, I have the opportunity to tell her. I sit back in my chair and fold my arms, ready to square off. I smile as I start.
“Only one thing that you’ve said is true. I am good at what I do, and yes, you gave me this job. But I’ve built my own success and reputation. The majority of our clients know you’re completely hands-off and have nothing to do with the planning their events. You think those stories of family reunions and out-of-state conferences were good enough reasons to miss important meetings? People see through you. We’re in this industry to make the most precious moments in people’s lives memorable and special. You have a reputation for being superficial and selfish. So, don’t sit here and compare yourself to me. I’m nothing like you and never will be.” I take a deep breath. “You’ve lost Nicole, Craig, and me. You’re a sinking ship.” She doesn’t say anything as I stand up to leave.
“You may be right, but I did get one thing out of this. I got Luke.”
Before I turn to walk out, I smile. “Well, you definitely got the short end of the stick.”
At this very moment, I feel as if the world has been lifted off my shoulders. I go to my office, collect the remainder of my things, and walk out of Carrie’s Classic Events and More. I know with all of my heart that I will never look back.
I call Craig as soon as I get in the car to tell him all about our conversation.
“I can’t believe she said that to you. Are you upset?” he asks.
“Do you mean about the Luke thing? No way. Little does she know that Luke was trying to convince me to forgive him and give him another chance. I know she doesn’t really care about him anyway. She’s all about making other people as miserable as she is. That’s why she sabotages other’s relationships. Think about what she’s done since we’ve been working for her. There are years of scandals following her.”
“So, do you think there will be any backlash from her?” he says worriedly.
“Maybe. I mean, I would never put anything past her. The good news is we have the Cantons behind us, and their connections alone will compensate for any negative press that she puts out.”
“I hope you’re right.” His voice is full of concern.
I try to convince him not to worry about it, but I know all too well that he’ll be losing sleep over it.
“Just take a few days to relax, and we’ll meet at the end of the week to plan our launch,” I say, trying to change the subject. “That reminds me, I also received an email from Ace Eckelund, and he wants to meet to finalize his party.”
“Oh, yeah, I can’t wait to plan that event,” he says cheerfully. “So, I guess you’re in the clear now to go out with him.”
“Um, no, I’m not. I already told you that I’m not in an emotional place to get involved with anyone. I think I need to be by myself for a while.”
“Hmm . . . I’m not so sure. He really likes you, and he is fabulous.”
I need to get off the phone before this conversation goes any further. “I’ll be in touch, and please just relax. We’ll be fine.” I hang up as the feelings of uneasiness begin to creep in. I hope I can take my own advice.
The next few days feel as if I’m in a dream world. I spend a lot of time cleaning out my apartment and moving things into my new office. I’ve been on the phone with my parents planning my trip to visit them in a few months. I also spend several hours sending emails to clients and friends informing them that I’m no longer with Carrie’s Classic Events and give them my updated information. I finally realize a few days later that I never sent a reply email to Ace. I attempt to write him back several times and finally decide to call him. For some crazy reason, I’m a ball of nerves when the phone starts ringing.
“Hello.”
“Hi. It’s Sienna.”
“There you are. I was starting to wonder if you had left the country or gone on holiday.”
“A holiday sounds perfect right now. I’m actually planning a trip to Florida to see my parents in a few months,” I say excitedly. My nerves start to fade a bit. He really does put me at ease.
“I’m really sorry for taking so long to write you back. So much has happened, and I’ve been trying to sort my life out.” I tell him about giving my resignation and my conversation with Carrie. He listens so intently and finally speaks up after I finish.
“I actually wanted to talk to you about that. After you walked away that night, I got into a heated discussion with both Carrie and Luke. He was very remorseful, but she wasn’t even the slightest bit fazed by it.”
“I know, and I’ve been feeling awkward because you and Luke are friends.”
“We haven’t been friends for a long time. I know he has never forgiven me for what happened in Barcelona. I actually apologized for that the other night, but he really didn’t care to hear it. At least I made an effort.”
“You’re right. He hasn’t forgiven you. In fact, ever since we ran into you at Venice, he’s done nothing but badmouth you. I probably should have said something sooner, but it never felt right. I’m sorry.” It feels great to not have that hanging over my head anymore.
“Can I be honest about something else?” he asks. “I promise it was never my intention to try to come between you. All those times we ran into each other were a mere coincidence. I wanted to clarify that especially after he made those accusations.”
“I know,” I say quietly then quickly change the subject. I’m just not in a place to talk about that right now. “Anyway, I do want to set up a time next week to talk about your party.”
He takes the hint, and we set up a time to meet. We hang up s
hortly after. I feel both relieved and disappointed. I know I’m making the right decision, but there’s a very small part of me that would love to see what could happen with him. It’s probably just one of those rebound things. I’ve never actually had one of those, but I imagine this is what it feels like.
Not long after I get off the phone, Madison comes home with dinner and a bunch of new baking supplies.
“Get your apron on. I have several hours of baking ahead of me, and I need some company.” She starts unloading bags and rushing around the kitchen excitedly.
“Sure. But what’s this about?”
“Exciting news, someone from Abby’s party has a friend who has a bakery in Beverly Hills. She took pictures of my cookies and sent them over. They want to feature my cookies in their bakery, and I need to make some prototypes,” she says proudly.
“Wow, that’s awesome.” I start unloading bags, and I see that she has bought ingredients to make our favorite dinner—Teriyaki Chicken and Velveeta Shells & Cheese. For some reason, I start to cry. Ugh, here I go again.
“What’s wrong? Oh no, I’m so horrible. I just come in and start talking. I didn’t even ask if you are doing okay.”
“No, it’s fine. I actually had a really good day. I’m just going to miss all of this.” I wave my arm around the kitchen. “I’m going to miss baking and hanging out. So much is changing, and I just need to get used to it.”
“We will still bake and hang out all the time. Cole travels a lot, so I’m going to need some company,” she replies as she pats my shoulder.
“You know I officially resigned a few days ago,” I finally tell her.
“Yes. We haven’t had a chance to talk about that,” she says softly.
I tell her all about my conversation with Carrie and my meeting with the Cantons. I don’t say anything about talking to Ace because I know she’ll start pushing me to go out with him, and I don’t want to think about that right now.
“I still can’t believe she said those things to you. She’s a horrible person. Was she always this bad?” she asks as she gathers all her tools and ingredients.
“No . . . well, kind of.” I hesitate. “She’s gotten a lot worse in the last year or so. I think she’s just really lonely, and as much as I can’t stand her, there’s a part of me that feels sorry for her,” I say thoughtfully.
“I guess. So, are she and Luke a couple now?”
“As far as I know, they aren’t because Luke was practically begging me to forgive him the other day. They must have some sort of ‘business’ arrangement going on. But you never know what the truth is.”
“This is insane. You should go on a talk show or call the tabloids,” she says, laughing.
We spend the rest of the evening making cookies and hanging out. Much to my relief, Ace never comes up in our conversations.
Chapter Fifteen
A few days later, Craig and I meet in our new office. This is really happening, and I’m getting more and more excited.
The very moment I walk into the office, I feel rejuvenated. Until now, I never realized what I’d been missing working at Carrie’s. It’s not that it was a terrible place to work, but it wasn’t a happy place either. When I walk through the door at Sheer Happiness Events, that’s exactly how I feel. I’m opening boxes when Craig comes in. He brought bags of snacks and drinks to give us sustenance.
“Wow. Do we really need all this junk food?” I say, unpacking the bags.
“I don’t know about you, but I need it for when my blood sugar gets low.”
He’s so full of it. He just likes junk food.
“Anyway, I have good news. The date is set for the launch party, and the Cantons are taking care of everything. We only have to do the invitations. I started going through our lists of contacts. So, let’s get to work on those invitations,” I say, showing him the list I created.
“I totally forgot to tell that Nicole called me the other day. I told her everything that’s been going on and about us resigning. She’s still looking for a job,” he hints.
“Are you trying to ask me something?” I say, smiling.
He shrugs.
“I’m not opposed to Nicole coming to work here. My only concern is that we’re just starting out, and I can’t pay her much to start.”
“That’s exactly what I told her,” he replies innocently. “She says she totally understands.”
“I’ll think about it. There’s just a lot going on right now. Let’s get things off the ground first.”
We spend the afternoon finishing our invites and get them sent out before I leave to meet Abby for dinner. We’re going to finish the plans for her baby shower. As soon as I see her I smile. She’s now sporting a huge baby bump, and I can’t believe how quickly it’s grown since I saw her last.
“You look so cute,” I say as I put my hands on her stomach.
“I’m huge already, and I still have several weeks to go. Our little Ace is going to be a big boy,” she says as she fondly cradles her belly.
Of course, I give a big sigh at the sound of his name. I’m sure I’ll get used to it someday.
“Now, tell me how you’re doing, and be honest. This is just you and I talking.” Abby always knows the right things to say. She’s going to be the best mom.
“I’m doing good, believe it or not, even after everything that’s happened. Today I went to my new office, and it was the best feeling.” I take a sip of my water. “I don’t really know how to explain it. I feel open-minded about the future and an even bigger sense of accomplishment,” I say excitedly.
“That’s so awesome,” she says, smiling. “And are you really okay with the whole Luke thing, or are you just putting on a really good act?”
“Oh, it definitely wasn’t easy finding out about Luke and Carrie. It was devastating, actually. But looking back, things hadn’t been good for a while, and we just stopped progressing.”
Abby listens intently, shaking her head.
“I knew something was off, but I kept fighting it. I didn’t want to be single again. On top of that, everything started changing. Everyone I love is moving forward in his or her relationships. Madison got engaged, and I have to find a new place to live. My brother got engaged. You’re starting your family. I think part of me was just holding on for dear life. I gave almost a year to this relationship, and I wanted to give it every chance to work.” I stop and think for a second then smile. “In the end, as hard as it’s been, there’s a part of me that’s relieved. Anyway, now I’m single again, and I’m thinking of going on The Bachelor. If anything, I can travel to some awesome destinations and get some free shoes,” I say with a laugh.
“That’s not a bad idea,” Abby says excitedly. “Aside from all that’s happened, just think of all you have done. You’re following your dream right now. You’re embarking on something that most people think about but never follow through with. You’re in a career that you love, and you’ve built lasting relationships with people that will make you successful in more ways than you will know.” She leans in and gives me a hug, and I tear up again.
“Oh, no. Did I make you cry again?” she says, handing me a napkin.
“It’s not your fault, I guess this is part of the new me. I actually cry now,” I say with a giggle.
Our food comes to our table, and we start eating.
“So, about that whole being single thing,” she says, wiggling her eyebrows.
“No. Please don’t try to set me up with anyone. I really need some time to be on my own. I don’t want to have to go through a bunch of awkward first dates. When the time is right, I’ll start dating again.” I take a bite of my salad.
“I wasn’t talking about setting you up with anyone new.” She hesitates. “What about you and Ace? Have you even thought about that?”
“What does this have to do with your baby?” I say with a grin.
She gives me a look. “I see what you’re trying to do, and no, we’re not changing his name,” she sa
ys firmly. “Don’t try to avoid the question. The last time we talked about this, you admitted that you really like him. The only reason you were against it was because of Luke. That’s obviously not an issue anymore. So?”
I let out a big sigh. It’s easy to not be completely honest with Craig or Madison, but Abby can always see right through me. “I admit the thought has crossed my mind. But, at the same time, I think it’s too soon. I don’t want to jump into something else yet,” I say, putting down my fork. “I’ve made one bad choice after another with men. I need to break the cycle, and I think I need to go to therapy.”
Abby laughs hysterically. “What? Why do you think you need therapy? Just because you and Luke broke up? Think of what would happen if every person ran to see a shrink after ending a relationship. It would be madness.”
“I’m glad you think this is so funny,” I say, feeling frustrated. “Don’t you think seeing your boyfriend and your much older boss making out is a pretty good reason? That was all I could see when I closed my eyes for a week straight. I may be emotionally scarred for life.”
“Okay, you have a point. I understand you think you need time to move on, and you may be right,” she says unconvincingly.
I groan because I know she’s not done yet.
“You’re one of my best friends, and you know I’m always honest with you.”
I brace myself for what she’s about to say next.
“I think you knew things were over with Luke, and you were forcing something that you knew deep in your heart was not right, and I think you liked Ace from the second you met him.” She sits back in her chair, obviously very proud of her observation.
I sit for a few minutes trying to take in everything she just said. Maybe she’s right about some of it.
[Event to Remember 01.0] An Event to Remember...or Forget Page 18
