Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 24578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
And that makes me profoundly sad.
And incredibly grateful.
We lie quietly, neither of us sleeping as the minutes tick by. When five o’clock hits, I sigh.
“I should really go and pack up my things. We’re leaving in an hour.”
Without a word, Dylan climbs out of bed, and we get dressed. He walks to my room with me and watches with a sober expression as I fill my suitcase and a plastic laundry bag from the hotel since I have so many extra, borrowed clothes now.
When it’s all ready to go, I turn to him.
“I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I kind of don’t want you to go down with me. I’d rather say goodbye here. Privately.”
Dylan frames my face in his hands and sighs. “I understand. You are a brilliant, funny, beautiful woman, Maddie Montgomery. I had the best week with you.”
“I did, too.” I will the tears away as I smile up at him. “Thank you for everything. Sincerely. Iceland wouldn’t have been the same without you. Please, be safe on your travels. It’s kind of a scary world out there.”
“I’ll be safe,” he promises before pressing his lips to mine one last time. “You do the same, Maddie.”
I nod, purse my lips, and then reach for my bags. “Take care, Dylan.”
I just can’t say goodbye. I can’t bring myself to utter the word as I walk away and head down the hall to the elevator.
I don’t have to wait. When the doors open, Sophie and Haley are inside with their bags.
“Good morning,” Haley says with a yawn.
I don’t reply as I step inside and turn around in time to see Dylan disappearing behind the closing doors.
* * * *
I’ve been home for three days, and it’s time to return to work. I’m still jet-lagged and a little sad, so the idea of walking into the office and dealing with my boss isn’t exciting to me.
But a girl has to pay her bills.
I have my briefcase in hand and have just walked into my closet-sized office when my boss, Jim, follows me inside and shuts the door.
By the look on his round face, I can see he’s not happy.
“I’m fucking disappointed in you,” he says.
“Hello, Jim. My Christmas was lovely, thank you. And yours?”
“Don’t get cute with me. You had a job to do, and you didn’t do it. Now, we’re behind and might have to pay fines with the IRS for things that didn’t get filed in time.”
“I worked my ass off before I went on vacation,” I remind him. His face registers shock, likely because I’m standing up for myself. “I had all my clients filed and done. The fact that other accountants also went on vacation, and you expected me to do their jobs is completely ridiculous.”
“You don’t like it?” He puffs out his chest, and I know right here and now that I’m so done with this place. “There’s the door.”
I take a calming breath. “You know, I’ve worked here for a long time. I always did what I was told, worked far more hours than I was paid for—”
“You’re on salary!”
“And I never argue. I don’t make waves. And for all of that loyalty to the firm, you’re going to stand there and tell me to leave because I decided to take a real vacation for the first time in eight years? You know what? I’ll be walking out that door you so helpfully pointed out to me.”
Jim starts to sputter, clearly not expecting me to call his bluff.
“Now just hold on there.”
“No. No, I won’t. Life’s too short to work this hard for little to no reward. I quit.”
I gather the few things I have in my office, which isn’t much—I never really settled into the space with my stuff. And then I walk out.
And for the first time in a long time, I feel powerful.
Badass.
And maybe a little scared.
When I get to my townhouse, I call Josie.
“’Lo?”
“Did you work last night?” I frown at the dark TV. “I didn’t think you went back until tonight.”
“Jet lag.” She yawns in my ear. “What’s up?”
“I just quit my job.”
“What?” She’s awake now, and I can imagine her sitting up in bed as I relay what went down in my office this morning. “I never liked that jerk.”
“Well, I don’t work for him anymore.”
“Good. I’m really proud of you, Mad.”
“Thanks. I’m sure I’ll be proud after I’m done being terrified. I have a mortgage to pay, you know.”
“You have money saved. You’ll be okay for a little while. Now you can do what you want to do.”
“I want to be an accountant. I like it, Josie.”
“Well, you can be an accountant somewhere that appreciates you. It’ll come together. How are you otherwise?”
I sigh and sit on the couch, propping my feet on the coffee table.