Chapters (47)
- Cover
- Dedication
- 1: Gemma
- 2: Gemma
- 3: Gemma
- 4: Gemma
- 5: Celeste
- 6: Gemma
- 7: Gemma
- 8: Gemma
- 9: Celeste
- 10: Gemma
- 11: Gemma
- 12: Gemma
- 13: Celeste
- 14: Gemma
- 15: Gemma
- 16: Gemma
- 17: Celeste
- 18: Gemma
- 19: Gemma
- 20: Gemma
- 21: Celeste
- 22: Gemma
- 23: Gemma
- 24: Celeste
- 25: Gemma
- 26: Celeste
- 27: Gemma
- 28: Gemma
- 29: Celeste
- 30: Gemma
- 31: Celeste
- 32: Gemma
- 33: Gemma
- 34: Celeste
- 35: Gemma
- 36: Gemma
- 37: Gemma
- 38: Gemma
- 39: Gemma
- 40: Celeste
- 41: Gemma
- Epilogue
- Acknowledgments
- Discover More
- About the Author
Daphne, who is not only white but also—if the office gossip is true—very rich, will probably fit right in from the start. My stomach turns at the thought.
I’m about to shut down my computer and leave the office for the day when I get Celeste’s reply.
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Modern in Love in Focus Project
Hey, Gem. Nice to hear from you. I’m fine with being on the project if you are. Talk to you soon.
-C
Fuck. I read the email over and over again, as if my life depends on the few sentences. No, I’m not fine with any of this. But it’s not like I have a choice. Not really. Evelyn is dead set on keeping Celeste. Like I said I would, I’ll just have to deal with my own discomfort.
It’ll be the biggest project you’ve ever worked on at Horizon, I remind myself.
I take a deep breath. The only thing I can do at this point is rip off the Band-Aid. I hit reply and write up another email.
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Modern Love in Focus
Hi, Celeste. Great! Then why don’t we meet up sometime after Thanksgiving to talk more about our visions for the project, expectations, etc.? Let me know your availability.
-Gemma
In almost no time at all, Celeste sends me a list of her available days and times. Unfortunately, things are going as smooth as they can.
I glance up from the email chain and realize it’s half past five. No way am I working overtime to schedule things with Celeste. On a Friday, no less. She’ll have to wait until Monday morning.
I shut down my computer and head out for the weekend.
The days before Thanksgiving fly by in a blur, like they usually do, with everyone in the office either slacking off or working in hyperdrive before the holiday. I’m in the latter camp, and I hustle to get as much done as I can, including finalizing my meeting time with Celeste. Since she isn’t coming back from LA until a full week after the holiday, the earliest time we can meet is the next Friday night. Which isn’t ideal, but it can’t be helped. We’ll have to start working on the project ASAP after we meet.