I think of Gertrude Weyland, and Jack’s certainty that his mother had something to do with the whole situation, but until I confirmed it, I couldn’t say for sure.
“I’ve never heard of anything like that happening here at Gilt, but I’m not going to let that stop me from going for it. It’s what I’ve always wanted.”
“Well, that’s good,” Landon says, “and you deserve it.” There’s a short pause. “I really can’t wait to see you tonight.”
I breathe softly, my fingers hovering over the soft petals of the flowers on my desk. I love him with an intensity that’s verging on desperation, and at that moment, it makes me almost afraid, because if anything happened, if anything changed, if I lost him again, I have no idea how I would bear it.
“I’m counting down the hours,” I tell him, making an effort to push all my fears aside. Nothing will go wrong, not if we’re both committed to building our relationship. I know I am, and I know that Landon is too.
Landon ends the call so he can start his meeting, and I inhale the sweet scent of the flowers before settling at my desk, wondering what I could send to him in return. I’m starting up my computer when I get an idea. I pick up my phone again, this time calling Chadwick.
“I’m not mad,” he says when he picks up. “First you break my heart, then you introduce me to your cousin and she finishes the job.”
“Chadwick!” I laugh, “Your heart’s the one in your chest, not the one in your pants.”
“She didn’t do anything with that one either.”
“Come on.” My voice is teasing, “You’re Chadwick Black, there are probably a hundred girls waiting for you to give them a call right now.”
He sighs. “How is she?”
I grimace. “Engaged.?
??
“Perfect!” he says grumpily, “I talked her straight into another man’s home and hearth.”
“We are all very grateful for that.”
“Well,” he pauses, “What can I do for you?”
“Are you still in town?”
“Yes.”
I tell him what I want, and by the time I’m done I can hear the excitement in his voice. “Of course,” he tells me. “I’d even do that for free.”
I purse my lips. “That won’t be necessary.”
“Okay,” he accepts. We make arrangements, and as I imagine what Landon’s reaction will be when I give him my gift, I can’t keep the excited smile off my face.
MY interview is set for late in the afternoon, before then, I manage to sneak out to keep my appointment with Chadwick. Back in the office, I fix my appearance and take a deep breath. Gilt Review is only two floors above us, so I take the stairs, and by the time I get there, I’m nervous as hell, but also very hopeful.
I’ll get the job, I tell myself, somehow sure that it’s my week of serendipity.
The offices remind me a lot of Gilt Travel. It’s the same layout, and most of the people are regular, literary types, not like the fashion gods and goddesses at Gilt Style. One of the receptionists leads me to the conference room, and I wave at some of the people I know when I see them in the corridor. They’re probably wondering what I’m doing here. I imagine they’ll find out soon, and then it won’t be long before my colleagues downstairs find out, then my boss Jessica Layner will surely hear about it. I smother the little sliver of dread. Jessica would probably have something to say about me interviewing for Review, something I might not like to hear, but I’m not going to let that stop me.
My interviewer is a woman in her mid-thirties, with a tired smile and a deep, husky voice. She introduces herself as Liz Buckley, the senior editor I’d spoken with earlier. For the interview, she asks me the typical questions, why I applied to the Review, what I think I can contribute, then we start to talk about the authors and stories recently published in the magazine, and since I’m a faithful reader, I know almost every issue by heart. She starts to look less bored, and after an animated discussion, she tells me to expect a call.
I get up and shake her hand. “May I ask why I got this invitation,” I ask, not wanting to leave without clearing that up at least. “It’s been two years since I applied.”
She looks surprised, as though she thought I would know. “We reviewed your application and decided you’d be a good fit,” she says.
I frown, knowing how unlikely that was. “Okay.”
She starts to pack up her things, leaving me no choice but to do the same. On my way back to my office, I decide to stop wondering and allow myself to feel good about the fact that I might just get the job I’ve always wanted.
As soon as I get back to the office, Landon calls.