Page 82 of The Problem with Princes
What did he just say?
ChapterTwenty-Five
I sitat the kitchen table eating a bowl of Cocoa Puffs for dinner (can you eat dinner at two-thirty in the afternoon?) My head droops and I nearly fall asleep in said bowl of Cocoa Puffs, when an email notification rattles my phone. My heart gives a little jump, hoping it might be from Ty after the little bomb he dropped last night. Any ideas of sleep had vanished with those three little words. Meaning 4 am came way too early. I’m going to take a nap so I will be wide awake when Ty calls tonight.
I pick up my phone, a huge grin on my face. I know it likely isn’t Ty. He never emails me. And I’d already received the email from the Atraxian government first thing this morning. It consists of a rather lengthy form I need to fill out. Apparently becoming a Countess is not a quick thing, nor for the faint of fingers. There will be a lot of typing in my future. I have daymares of my college application essays.
My smile drops as soon as I see the sender’s name. Mr. Wainwright? What can he want? I tap on the name to open the email.
Miss Martindale,
In light of the new information that has come to my attention about your involvement in saving the life of Prince Tyrone of Atraxia, the board and I have decided to offer you your job back. We would be honored to have someone of your integrity and bravery working for HCF Strategies Group. Please come meet with me tomorrow at 9 am to discuss your future with our company.
Yours truly,
Jamison Wainwright
Really? He sent an email? I am tempted to reply back and tell him exactly where he can shove his job, but then a whiff of coffee drifts off my hair. No amount of washing has banished the smell. I drop my head onto my arms and release a primal yell at the faux-wood tabletop. I want more than anything to tell him to shove his job. To tell him I don’t need his company or sorry excuse of a definition of integrity. But the truth of the matter is, I do. His unfavorable recommendation, up to this point, has been the primary reason I’ve been unable to find a job in my field. I’m pretty certain of that. But what’s to say if I decline the job, his recommendation will be any more favorable? He literally holds me hostage.
When will the fates or gods or whoever it is who thinks I need humbling take a vacation from me and allow me to move on with my life?
My phone dings and I growl. “What now?” I yell at it.
I lift my phone and squint at the screen. The Monster app logo appears in the corner. That’s odd. I haven’t had so much as a nibble on my Monster profile in months. Has Mr. Wainwright hunted me down there, also?
Texie comes and sits down next to me. She starts on a big case tomorrow, so she took a half day off to ‘mentally prepare’. “What’s wrong? Why are you yelling?”
I lift my head and stare at her. “I just got an email from Mr. Wainwright. “In light of the new information that has come to his attention,” I do my best impersonation of his voice, even though Texie has never met him, “he’s offering me my job back.”
She sits back against her chair. “He did that via email? What a loser.” She scrunches up her nose. “Did you tell him where to shove it?”
I sit up in my seat. “I want to. But I don’t feel like I can turn it down without a better option.” I hold up my phone. “And now he’s stalking me on Monster.”
I open the app and hold it out for Texie to see.
She grabs my phone. “Uh, Gee. This isn’t from HCF.”
“What?” I pull it back and look down. I have a request for more information for a Senior Research Analyst and Liaison position. But it isn’t the job that has me staring. It is the company. Or rather the country. The position is working for the government of Atraxia.
I pull up the listing and stare at the skills required. People skills- check, research and analytical skills- double check, educating public through media and advertising campaigns- tentative check.
I look over at Texie. It’s almost as if this job was custom designed for me and my skill set. “They’ve requested further information from me.”
She claps her hands. “Gee. That is so great! What company is it? I saw they were in Atraxia.”
I’m suddenly suspicious. “What have you done, Ty?” I mumble.
“What does that job have to do with Tyrone?”
“It’s for the government of Atraxia.”
Her mouth forms an O. “You think he had them create a job, so you’ll go back?”
“It may not have just been created, but,” I nod. “That’s exactly what I think.” I want to be livid with him, but I just can’t muster it. I mean, I’m irritated. He promised he wouldn’t do anything about my job. Okay, I guess he hadn’t promised not to help me find a new one, just that he wouldn’t do anything about my old job. But this still feels sneaky. And kind and thoughtful. Had he figured out a way to make us both happy?
“That is really sweet, Gee. It’s like the ultimate compromise.”
I nod. “I know. But can I really be happy knowing I was hired only because of who I know?”
