Page 5 of Past and Present

Tuesday, December 11th

Marissa

“I need to know exactly what we’re going to get access to if we bring them into the fold. If I don’t like what I hear, I’m not interested.”

Marissa sat at her desk in her new corner office and spoke with one of the people helping her negotiate the deal to bring an existing web app under her brand.

“I can set up another lunch.”

Marissa was tired of lunches and wine and being the polished CEO. She wanted to roll up her sleeves and get back into the work she loved the most. That’s why she’d employed a team of negotiators to handle this side of the business for her.

“I think I would rather have them come here this time. And make it clear what I want and what I’m not willing to accept. If they can’t do that, then cut the talks and we’ll move on to finding another app to partner with. Make sure they know who else we’re looking at.”

The woman stood and straightened her skirt. “You got it, boss. I’ll put it on your calendar when it’s set up.”

Just then, her new assistant Cameron stuck his head in the door. “Lance is here, and he’s scowling at the candy. Should I send him in?”

Marissa laughed. “Yes, please.”

“Stop glaring at my candy,” she said as he stepped into her office.

“It looks like a goddamn candy factory exploded in your reception area.”

Marissa shrugged. “It’s festive, and it gives the development team a reason to get up and walk away from their desks every once in a while. Not to mention I like candy canes.”

She’d contracted with a local candy store to set up a candy bar with jelly beans, gummy bears, some chocolate, and some candy canes, the fruity ones, none of that peppermint stuff. She’d never understood how peppermint became the flavor of Christmas.

“Did you need something or did you just come to make faces at the candy?”

Lance shoved a hand into his pocket. “I was on my way down for a quick meeting at the coffee shop around the corner. Wanted to see if you were free.”

She shook her head. “I’ve got another meeting in ten minutes myself. I’m good for a kiss, though.”

Lance grinned and rounded her desk to drop a tender kiss on her lips.

Two hours later, Marissa was done with her meetings and ready to dive into her screens and code for the rest of the day when her assistant opened her door again.

“Um, boss. I thought you and Lance were taking the Friday before Christmas off for a trip.”

She frowned. “We are. What’s going on?”

She waved the man into the room. “Jill from upstairs just put a dinner on your calendar for Friday night with a Nathan Griffin.”

“Fuck.” This was a dinner she and Lance had been trying to land for weeks, but Jill knew the weekend before Christmas was off limits.

She pulled out her phone to call Lance who was three floors up working in his own office.

“I’ll take care of it, Cameron. Thank you,” she said while she waited for an answer.

“Mr. Moss’s phone, Jill speaking,” a feminine voice said in her ear.

She scowled at the phone. “I need to talk to Lance, please.”

“I’m sorry, he’s in a meeting right now and said he wasn’t to be disturbed.”

She clenched her fists. “Is Kimberly in today?”

“She stepped out for lunch. Can I take a message, Miss Sullivan?”

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