"Joanna! Sorry, dear…" Blake said as he looked past me. "When did you get back?" He took her hand as she walked up and stood beside me.
If I felt sick before, I must have looked deathly ill at that moment.
"Hello, Blake," she said, giving the man a peck on the cheek. "I got home this afternoon. I wasn't going to come after having to take care of my mother after her surgery, but I decided it was just too important to miss." She turned to me. "Hello, Paulette. I hope things ran smoothly while I was gone."
I mumbled nothing in particular and she took it as consent that things had, indeed, gone well because she said, "Good, good. But things will be back to normal tomorrow, won't they, Blake? I've heard we have most of the layout set up, so I'm glad I'm back before we send it off to the printers so I can take one last look at it."
"Yes, I'm very glad about that," he said with a laugh. "And our little Paulette has asked me to read an article she wrote."
Joanna's eyebrows rose. "Oh, is that so? What about?"
The man shook his head. "I'm embarrassed to say that I only caught a portion of what she said. I'm sorry about that, dear. Something about a building being torn down?"
Joanna's face looked like she had eaten a sour grape. "That wouldn't be the Hanover Building, would it?"
"Yes! That was it," Blake said. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Joanna, but Trad O'Hare is here and I really need to talk to him. You ladies have a nice time."
I hoped the floor would fall underneath me at that moment as she glared at me. "I thought I made it clear that that particular bill wasn't going anywhere," she snapped. "Don't you trust me?"
"I wouldn't," came a voice from behind me.
"Alex?" Joanna's mouth was hanging open. "What are you doing here?"
Alexandra put her arm around me. "I'm here by way of invitation," she replied.
If Joanna looked angry before, the ferociousness on her face now made her seem a kitten purring earlier. "How dare you," she hissed.
"How dare me?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest. But I was sick of being pushed around. First Jason, then Joanna, and finally Brook. But no more. "I saw the notes you made on what I gave you," I said, my voice raising. "You were going to steal my idea, write the article, and then take all of the credit for it."
"You can't prove that," she hissed. "And keep your voice down. How do you know that I wasn't going to help you with the article."
I walked to my bag and grabbed the file folder I had taken from Joanna's apartment. "Because you made the mistake of writing a tiny note in the corner of one of the pages," I said as I took out a page and handed it to her. In the corner was written ‘Don't show Paulette.’
"I can't believe how you haven't changed a bit," Alexandra said with a sneer. "You are still the same conniving bitch you have always been."
“Alex…” Joanna said, her voice pleading.
“You know, I’ve always hated you calling me that.”
I looked back and forth between Alexandra and Joanna before it finally hit me. Joanna had mentioned something when she asked me to cat sit. "Alex? This is the Alex that didn't like cats?"
Joanna glared at me. "You're fired."
I knew it would happen, I just had hoped that it would have happened after my article went into the magazine. My head dropped and I fought back the tears. "That's fine," I mumbled.
"What's this?" Blake said as he joined us. "I can hear you all the way across the room. What is going on?"
"That article Paulette is going to give you?" Joanna said angrily. "She stole the idea from me."
Blake gasped. "Is that true?" he asked as his eyes moved to me.
I shook my head but the only proof I had was in Joanna's hand. I had one chance to get this right. "Look at that paper I just gave her," I said frantically.
"This is nothing but notes, my notes, about the Hanover Project Bill." She ripped it up and stuck it up under my nose. "My notes."
It took every ounce of my willpower to not slap the woman. My evidence was right there, and there was no way she was going to hand it over to Blake.
However, Blake eyed us both. Then he put out his hand. "Let me see that," he said, his voice firm.
"But Blake..."
"Now."
Joanna handed him the ripped page and Blake looked over each one until he stopped and looked up at her. "Why would you not want to show this to you own assistant?" he asked, his voice clearly not brooking lies.
"I...Well...I knew she..."
"What? What did you know about the woman you hired? Are you saying you knowingly hired someone who would steal ideas?"
"Well, no...Blake, you must understand..."
He turned and looked at me. "Oh, I think I understand completely." He placed the torn pages in his jacket pocket. "Joanna, you will clean out your office first thing tomorrow morning. You're fired."
His voice echoed through the silent room full of people.
Joanna straightened herself and thrust out her chin. "Very well, take the word of this...assistant over mine. I can get a job anywhere."
Blake's usually jolly voice was gone. "Not so long as I have anything to do with it," he growled. "Now, this party is for employees and their guests only. You are trespassing, so I'm afraid I must ask you to leave."
Joanna shot me one more glare before stalking away.
When Blake turned to me, his face softened. "I'm sorry you had to go through that," he said as he took my hand in his. "It had to be hard for you. But you still made a bad situation work for you. That takes a lot of nerve."
I knew I was blushing. Alexandra's face was filled with pride.
***
"I'm so proud of you, you know," Alexandra said into my hair as she kissed the top of my head.
I looked up at her. "Me? Why's that?"
"It took guts to call out Joanna in front of all those people."
I laughed. "You realize that my mind completely blocked out 'all those people' and I just exploded, words tumbling from my mouth unchecked, right?"
"That sometimes is the best thing to do. Don't be afraid to speak your mind."
I said nothing for a few minutes, my mind reliving past experiences when I had spoken my mind. Most of the time, I just made a fool of myself. "I don't speak elegantly," I said finally. “I'm not very good at getting my thoughts out verbally like some people. That's why I like to write; that seems the only way I can share my thoughts at a higher level. Because just talking, well, you've heard me..."
"You underestimate your abilities, Paulette," she said softly. "You are much more articulate than you give yourself credit for. Even so, your writing shines."
That brought on thoughts of Blake's reaction to my article. As soon as Joanna had left the party, he asked me for a copy and sat down to read it right on the spot. His reaction had floored me.
"This is very good," he said when he had finished. "You are a gifted writer."
"Th-thank you," I stuttered.
"Let's meet tomorrow and talk about your place in the magazine," he added. "I'm sure we can find a place for you."
For so long getting into an apprenticeship program had been my dream, and now that I was basically homeless, I found myself extremely sad as I considered turning down the position.
My face must have shown my apprehension because he said, “You seem reluctant.”
"Well…you see…I'm actually having some financial problems right now, so my income is really all I have..."
I felt a tap on my shoulder. "Can I talk to you for a second?" Alexandra said quietly. Her expression was insistent. "Would you excuse her, Blake?"
My jaw dropped. Was she trying to mess this up for me?
He smiled. "Of course. I just saw Nathan Chancellor come in, so I'd better go welcome him. He's one of our biggest contributors..." He made his way to a man in a pinstripe suit with an obvious toupee on his round head.
Alexandra and I walked to a quiet corner and sat in a pair of chairs next to each other. She put her hand on my knee
and once again I thought I would lose myself in the depth of her eyes. But at that moment, I had more to worry about.
“You just pulled me away from my boss, who was talking about my future with the magazine,” I hissed.
"Yeah, I know, but…Look, we've only been dating for a really short time, but..." She took a deep breath. "Why not move in with me? I have the room, and you can take on the apprenticeship program without worrying about money."
"I couldn't do that!" I said, aghast. "I can't just move in and take advantage of you."
She laughed. "How about this, then...you take the apprenticeship position and you apply for a private grant that I just developed in the past two minutes?"
"Oh, stop that," I said playfully.
"No, seriously. It will be a write-off for me, and you will get the money for living expenses.” She squinted her eyes and her hand squeezed my knee. “I can think of all kinds of ways you can make it up to me."
Several minutes later, I was setting up an appointment with Blake for the following day. Everything started moving in a whirlwind and I felt lightheaded.
“Maybe we should go home,” Alexandra said with a smile.
I wanted nothing better than to go home with this woman.
I had set up the appointment with Blake before Alexandra and I made a quick exit from the party, heading straight to the apartment. However, once there, the weight of the day drained away any energy we had, which led to our current position in bed.
"Are you sure you want to take on my welfare case?" I asked.
Alexandra laughed. "You're not a welfare case. I see it as an investment. I help you out a little, you get that high-level reporter job, and I get to be seen with a famous female journalist. It's a win-win for me."
I sat up and looked down at the woman who had helped me change my life. "I won't let you down," I said. "I promise."
"Oh, I have no doubt in my mind," she said and then pulled my head down so our lips touched.
At that moment, I knew my life was finally headed in the right direction. The doors were opening in my professional life just as they were in my love life. Alexandra was someone I had always dreamed of but never thought I could have. She taught me that I was worthy—worthy of anything I wanted in life.
I could have it all.
***
Alexandra held me close as we lay in bed together, fully clothed and not saying a word. The extreme emotional roller coaster that was my day left me exhausted and it took everything in my power to lift my head to kiss her.
Talking to Daisy was a roller coaster ride within a single conversation. She screamed with excitement when I told her about getting into the apprenticeship program, but whined when I told her I’d be moving in with Alexandra.
“But I was loving having you around,” she had said. “It’s not fair!” I pictured her stomping her feet like a child. She probably did.
“I know, sweetie, but we’ll still see each other. Remember our pinky promise?”
I heard her sniff. “Yeah,” she replied reluctantly. “Well, I’m still holding you to it.”
Laughing, I said, “Oh, I know you will.”
"Are you sure you want to take on my welfare case?" I asked Alexandra as my mind returned to the present.
Alexandra laughed. "You're not a welfare case. I see it as an investment. I help you out a little, you get that high-level reporter job, and I get to be seen with a famous female journalist. It's a win-win for me."
I sat up and looked down at the woman who had helped me change my life. "I won't let you down," I said. "I promise."
"Oh, I have no doubt in my mind," she said and then pulled my head down so our lips touched.
At that moment, I knew my life was finally headed in the right direction. The doors were opening in my professional life just as they were in my love life. Alexandra was someone I had always dreamed of but never thought I could have. She taught me that I was worthy—worthy of anything I wanted in life.
I could have it all.
Chapter Twenty
“Paulette, come in,” Blake said after I knocked on the door jam to his office.
I took a seat in the chair across from him and waited as he finished typing something on his computer. Then he turned toward me and his usual warm smile spread across his face.
“I’m sorry about what happened with Joanna,” he said. “But that is in the past and I want to talk to you about the future.”
“Thank you,” I said. I already pictured myself in the apprenticeship program finally getting the guidance I had dreamed about for so many years.
“I was thinking that a great place to start you off would be with the municipal section of the magazine.”
I groaned inwardly. Another Jason. “So, I’ll be working with Greg Holden?”
Blake’s laugh resonated around the bright office. “Oh, goodness, no,” he said, still chuckling. “I let him go last week. He was a horrible writer.”
I had not even heard about his dismissal, which was odd since gossip could travel faster than the speed of light in most offices. At least it was Blake who commented on the man’s writing and not me.
“Is it true you did most of the work on that parking garage article last month?” he asked with a tilt of his head.
“Yes, at least for his part. Joanna did the rest.” I could feel my face heat up.
“Don’t be embarrassed. It was good writing.” He shifted his bulk in his chair. “So, that’s two articles you have provided to us.”
I laughed. “I guess so.”
“Do you think you can do it again?”
I was stunned. “I know I can, sir,” I said firmly. I had believed it for a long time now, so it easily rolled off my tongue.
“Then how about you enjoy your weekend and then on Monday you move your things into Greg’s old office.”
My jaw dropped. “I’m sorry, what? You want me to take over the section?”
“Well, yes, if you’d be willing to, that is.” He stood and grabbed a page from the printer behind him. “You will be supervised by Samantha Pho, I’m sure you’ve met her already.”
I nodded numbly. She worked with the state government section of the magazine.
“Then, all I need from you is your signature on this new salary form and we’ll be ready to go.”
I thought I would fall over when I saw the figure listed under ‘salary’. It was at least twice as much as what I was making as an assistant. “I…I don’t know what to say…”
His Santa Claus belly jiggled as he laughed again. “Just say yes.”
“Oh, yes! Absolutely!” I leaned over and signed the acceptance letter, tears rimming my eyes.
It had finally happened.
Ten minutes later, I was on the phone to Alexandra who suggested dinner in LoDo and then after-dinner drinks as a way to celebrate.
“Yes, and I know what I want for dessert,” I said breathily.
She giggled. “Oh, that’s on the menu with the nightcap,” she said.
“I love you, Alexandra,” I said as my heart contracted.
Her voice sounded strangled when she replied, “And I love you, Paulette.”
I could not wait to get home to celebrate my new life with the woman I loved with my heart and soul.
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