When Mya turns to look at her, Anya drops her eyes back to her computer screen. “Figured I’d say what we’re all thinking.”
Mya sighs. “She’s right. This guy is not an easy client to deal with so usually Milo and I handle him together and leave the rest of the team out of it. There’s no reason we should all feel like shit.”
“That bad, huh?”
“Unfortunately, yes. He wasn’t always like this which makes it so weird. He’s a fashion designer so maybe it’s to be expected. Aren’t they always super demanding
and with diva-sized egos?”
I can’t pretend I’m not a little scared to start with a client from hell, but one of the major points of working with the marketing executives is to find out if I have what it takes to work in the industry. Watching how two seasoned professionals deal with a tough situation is valuable experience for me.
“If you don’t mind me being there, I’d still really like to help. I’m sure watching how you and Mr. Hamilton deal with a difficult client will be a great learning experience for me.”
Mya nods once. “Good point. I’m impressed. After lunch, I’ll bring you up to speed and give you some notes to review before tomorrow’s meeting. If you keep this up, you might be working here on our marketing team one day.”
Once Mya walks away, Anya gives me a thumbs up.
“Did you hear that? Or did I just hallucinate?” The idea that I might actually get hired on the marketing team is too much for me to handle. Mirage is an exclusive agency. They only handle high-end clients, usually Fortune 500 companies and celebrities. This is not the kind of place where you get hired straight out of school unless you’re Ivy League.
“I heard that,” Anya holds up her palm for a high-five. “You’ve got this in the bag.”
“Not quite.” I bite my lip. “But what I have is a chance. As long as I don’t do anything to screw it up. Which is a real concern. I have a long history of screwing up at the worst possible moment. And if this client is as bad as she thinks?”
“He is. I’m not going to lie. But there’s one good thing about the client from hell. He’s grade-A eye-candy. Seriously. You need to have a drool rag handy.”
“That good, huh? I thought you had your eye on a certain someone else.”
Anya purses her lips. “Maybe I do. Maybe I don’t. But that doesn’t mean my eyes don’t work. You’d have to be dead not to lust after Mr. Lavin. Trust me, you’ll understand once you see him. Just try not to make eye contact or you might turn to stone.”
I take a deep breath. I can do this. First, I’ll get lunch and then I’ll come back refreshed and ready to go. Once Mya gives me some notes to review about the client, I can spend this evening studying up.
Nothing is going to ruin this for me. Especially not some random asshole.
The afternoon passes quickly and by the time five o’clock rolls around, I’m worried my brain is going to explode. Mya is so patient and explains any marketing terms that I’m unfamiliar with but even with her help, it’s obvious that I’m completely out of my depth.
Not that I thought this job would be a cakewalk but I definitely thought the marketing classes I’ve already taken would have given me more to work with. Instead all I’ve discovered today is how much more I need to learn.
I trudge up the stairs to my apartment, ignoring the slight burn in my thighs. Ever since I moved in, I’ve been determined to keep using the stairs. At least I can make it without feeling like I need an oxygen tank now.
When I walk in, Ariana looks up from her perch on the couch and smiles politely. Oreo barks at the sight of me and then goes back to sniffing her butt.
Yup, that’s about how welcome I feel around here.
“Hey there. You’re home early.”
Ariana shrugs and then clicks another button on the remote. “I changed shifts with another nurse.”
She doesn’t volunteer any other information and I take that as a hint not to ask. At first, she was a lot more welcoming and seemed like she’d be a cool new friend. But over the past few weeks, she’s withdrawn a lot and I’m starting to wonder if she regrets allowing me to move in. Especially since she only did it as a favor to Mya, who was her previous roommate and her best friend.
I’m sure living with me is nowhere near as much fun as living with her bestie.
“Do you want me to move out?” I blurt before I can debate the wisdom of poking a sleeping bear.
Ariana looks up in surprise. “What?”
Well, it’s already out there now so there’s no point in trying to walk it back. Maybe clearing the air will make things less tense around here.
“You seemed really friendly when I first got here but then less so over the last few weeks. If you’re regretting letting me move in, I’d rather know so I’ll have time to find something better than that scary motel I was staying in before.”