Page 103 of A World Without You
“Buy something you love,” he says. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”
Later that night, I put on the fitted emerald dress I bought at a boutique on Fifth Avenue after work, pairing it with a thin gold necklace and matching bracelet. I wear my long, auburn curls down my back and my makeup is bold and smoky around my eyes, with flushed cheeks and nude lips.
When I walk down the stairs of my parent’s house, Bennett is waiting for me in a tux I already knew he was wearing, but the nervous way he chats with my parents and the shy way he looks at me as I approach him makes about a thousand butterflies take flight in my belly. I hope my smile gives nothing away. He’s just Bennett. My lifelong lifeline, the boy who knew me as a girl, the one I could always count on no matter the circumstance. The one who makes me laugh when I should be crying. The realist in the midst of my bizarre and fanatical dreams. My grounding wire when my mind is electrified.
When he catches my gaze on the bottom step, he bites his bottom lip and looks away.
“You ready?” I ask.
When Dad looks at me, he looks prouder than he did on my wedding day. Mom hugs me, and it really all becomes embarrassing and cliché. I’m going to a work party, and my parents are acting like my entire life is about to change.
I almost laugh, but then I look at Bennett, the left side of his face glowing in the Christmas lights from the tree in the living room, and think,this is where I make a change. This is where my life starts again.
––––––––
WHEN WE ARRIVE AT THEFairmont in downtown Seattle, we’re only twenty minutes late. I hang on to Bennett’s arm as we make our way up the travertine steps to the restaurant where the party is taking place. The chandeliers are dimly lit, and Christmas lights and garlands dance around the room.
The scent of pine and nutmeg waft through the air, and soft Christmas music hums through the ornate walls of the hotel. I spot a few familiar faces and several I’ve never met.
Joe spots us quickly. “Lynnette!” he shouts. “You came!”
“Olivia,” Bennett corrects, irritated, because his incompetence with my name is getting irritating.
Joe shakes his head. “Right. Well, anyway. We’re thrilled to have you on board.”
My jaw goes slack. “I didn’t get the position yet. Applications don’t even open until the New Year.”
It’s true. There’s been chatter about the position but nothing has officially been posted yet.
“That’s a formality. I talked to Barry Wellington himself, and he and Phil Goldin let me in on some information.” He moves in closer like he’s about to tell me a secret. “You, my dear, are the next Senior Project Manager of Marketing.”
I don’t let the excitement in my gut overcome my expression. “Well, that’s...”
“A Christmas miracle!” Joe says and Bennett winces, but I’m convinced he’s about to laugh.
“Wow, Joe, am I that unemployable?” I tease and he barks off a laugh.
“Unemployable? No. The sneaky underdog of the season? Absolutely. But I’ll tell you, you came highly recommended by someone very important to Phil and Debra, which means you’re very important to Barry, so as much as I want to tell you that you have some big shoes to fill, I’ve already been silenced and assured you will do more than fill the spot.”
I smile at Joe’s praises then glance at Bennett next to me, stoic yet thoughtful, as he listens. “Yeah, well, Bennett has always been on my team. He knows how to talk me up—”
“Not from Bennett,” Joe says, and Bennett swallows. “I mean, he has your back of course, but he’s in finance, not marketing.” A soft smile spreads across Bennett’s face as my gaze dances from him to around the room, wondering who could have that much sway in me getting the position. Then I spot him across the room, dressed in a fitted tux with a beautiful blonde dripping from his arm.
“Colin,” I whisper softly, just as Joe confirms. “Colin Hamlin had nothing bad to say about you. I’ve never seen him more confident in anyone before, and we’ve run several campaigns through his company over the years.”
My head starts swimming in slow motion, but my gaze stays on Colin across the room. He’s chatting and laughing with his bride-to-be and Phil Goldin, the VP of Marketing. The crowd of party-goers slows and parts, so he remains in my direct line of vision like a cinematic moment until finally our eyes meet.
With one look, it’s as if he knows exactly what news I was just told. A small smile traces his lips, and he raises his glass of champagne to me from across the room. I mouth the wordsthank you,and he nods once before returning his attention to the people right next to him.
“Congratulations, Liv. You deserve it,” Bennett says, interrupting my exchange with Colin.
I smile up at him.
“Liv!” Joe shouts. “That’s why I could never get your name right.”
I tilt my head in confusion.
Joe slaps Bennett’s lapel and says, “This guy is always calling you Liv or Livvie and I could never remember it because you are Olivia to everyone else.”
