Page 3 of Tis The Season for Secrets
Margot reappeared, changing her studs for some gold hoops from Juliet’s dresser. They shared everything. Juliet dreaded the day one of them moved out; at this point there was no way of telling what belonged to whom. “Also, please remember that you’ve already found two bestselling authors for Ms Baum. If that doesn’t convince her to promote you, nothing will. I’m sure other publishing houses would love to hire you.”
“I’ve put in too much work to go somewhere else. I must believe that good things come to those who wait. One more week, and that position is mine.” Juliet finished her makeup with winged liner and a red lip to match her dress. Heading to the kitchen, she put her debit card in her clutch. “Once I find my heels, we can go.” She darted down the hall to their overflowing shoe cupboard and fished out some chunky black satin heels. “Found them!”
“The taxi is downstairs,” Margot muttered, taking a careful bite out of some toast so she wouldn’t smudge her lipstick. “I’ve put your keys in your clutch.” Margot confirmed, pulling on her thigh high boots.
Meeting Margot by the door, Juliet felt a moment of regret as she saw the manuscripts on the couch. I’ve got all of tomorrow to finish them. A few hours of fun can’t hurt,she reasoned.Locking the door behind them, she tried to get into the party spirit, deciding to forget about work and the mystery chest under her bed.
The taxi’s dashboard read 10:45pm as they pulled up to Bryce Hotel. After paying, Juliet and Margot darted out of the sleet and into the plush, five-star hotel’s glittering lobby. A few guests at reception looked them over questioningly; they were wearing much less than anyone else, even with coats.
“We should’ve had a drink before we left to warm up,” Juliet said, breathing into her cold hands as they passed a cosy yet crowded bar just off the lobby. What she really wanted was something to settle her nerves. Social anxiety had been Juliet’s lifelong companion: a side-effect of being the illegitimate daughter of the Frost family, and the years of gossip and judgement that came with it. Margot had been her saving grace –shedidn’t care about Juliet’s last name. Margot liked to use society to her advantage, but let very few people into her life. A trait they shared.
“I know, my fingertips are blue. I can’t wait for summer,” Margot groaned. “Bikinis and the beach are much more to my liking.”
In the elevator, Juliet’s heart started to pound as Margot started listing off all the important people who’d be attending. However, there was no turning back as the reflective copper doors opened onto the top floor with a loud ping. They were walking down the carpet-to-ceiling cream corridor when Juliet’s phone vibrated in her tiny purse. The two suited security guards posted outside the party shot her a warning glance. Clearly, phones weren’t welcome at this exclusive event. The Bryce Hotel’s golden stag logo embroidered on their jackets told her they were hotel security, not just hired by those throwing the party.
“Oh no you don’t.” Margot peered over her shoulder at the phone. “You can’t bail out now.”
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m just going to read the message to make sure it’s nothing important.” Juliet moved down the hall and away from the guards’ heavy stares.
Baum: URGENT MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION. Hugo didn’t send in his draft last night as promised, and it’s already a week past his deadline. If we’re to publish his biography by next Christmas, we need that draft NOW! Have it on my desk by tomorrow morning, so I can prep for the editor meeting Monday. If successful, we can discuss your promotion. He’s hosting a Christmas party tonight before he heads to London, and we CAN’T miss this opportunity. Bryce Hotel, Suite 4.
Juliet stared at the text in disbelief.Baum knows dangling my promotion at the end of an impossible task would lure me into the office on a Sunday. There’s no way I can turn down this chance to get out of the non-fiction department,she thought, trying to figure out how the hell she was going to pullthis off. Harley & Rowe had been trying to get Hugo’s book deal secured for the last two years. Another reformed rockstar (just Hugo, no last name required) telling his trainwreck-to-sober journey to repair his tattered reputation.Hopefully, being in the Christmas spirit will inspire Hugo to hand over his pages. That’s assuming he even has them.Of course, Baum assumes I don’t have plans… not that I wouldn’t have dropped everything for a chance to get an inch closer to my dream job.Well, now she had to find some other swanky Christmas party to attend. Luckily, she was all dressed up already.
Then it hit her. Her head snapped to the number on the hotel door behind her.It readSuite 4.
What are the chances?! At least I don’t have to bail on Margot.She glanced at her friend, who was busy charming the security guards into letting them keep their phones, as they’d been invited on business and couldn’t possibly work without them. Juliet quickly tapped out a reply to Ms Baum while Margot negotiated. Not that it was proving difficult; the guard with a questionable eyebrow piercing and tattooed hands was looking at Margot like he would give her a kidney if she asked.
Juliet: Consider it done.
“All done, and as promised, I’m staying,” she said, snapping her clutch closed with her phone tucked safely inside.
“Are you serious? I thought if Baum was texting you this late it would be an emergency?” Margot asked quietly.
“An emergency of sorts,” Juliet agreed. “Baum wants me to pick up a manuscript from Hugo – who just so happens to be throwing this party.”
“Whaat?! No way! You totally owe me for dragging you out here, then. In that dress, Hugo won’t be able to say no to you.” Margot whispered.
“Ew,” Juliet shuddered, “don’t even joke. He is over twice my age.”
The men, who hadn’t smiled once, opened the door for them. The night had only just begun, yet the party was in full swing. An oversized flatscreen played Hugo’s music videos on repeat at a volume that made conversation a struggle. She wasn’t surprised, given his legendary ego.
“Funny how you don’t seem surprised. Did you arrange this somehow?” Juliet asked quietly as they walked to the champagne bar, receiving welcoming nods and a few stares. “It’s quite the coincidence that you received an invitation to such an exclusive party the same night I’d have to find my way in.”
Margot suddenly seemed far more interested in the décor of the suite. Every expensively designed corner was littered with ashtrays overflowing with cigarette stubs and lipstick-stained champagne flutes.
“How could I? I can’t read Baum’s mind, and I’d never want to,” she scoffed, still looking away.
Juliet grabbed two full flutes from the bar and handed her one so she’d be forced to meet her gaze.
“Stop staring at me! You’re making me nervous.” Margot sipped her champagne, scanning the room for potential clients. Her evasion told Juliet exactly what she needed to know.
“You hacked Baum’s email again! After the interview incident, I told you not to do that again,” Juliet gasped. She’d be fired if they were caught.
“It was only her work email.” Margot rolled her eyes. “I didn’t see anything personal. Anyway, that time was an emergency. You wouldn’t leave the apartment or change out of your pyjamas because she was making you sweat about whether you got the assistant position.” Margot sipped her champagne.
“I haven’t been reduced to staying in my pyjamas this time. Why now?”
“I should’ve told you before I did it,” Margot admitted, “but Baum’s been overworking you for months, using this promotion as an excuse. I got pissed off when it seemed like she kept moving the goalposts, so I thought I’d just… check in. One small line of code, and I saw that the uppers at Harley & Rowe were giving her a hard time about failing to get Hugo’s manuscript, when they’d already paid his insane advance. What I didn’t expect to find was that Baum told her boss she’d entrusted the collection to you, as a test of whether you were up to muster! I wasn’t going to let her throw you under the bus. I figured if you turned up on Monday with the manuscript then she’dhaveto promote you, and then you could get away from her once and for all.” Margot’s cheeks flushed angrily, and she hugged her friend.
