Let’s pop the bubbly then! Except make it sparkling cider because I have an early morning yoga class tomorrow.

Atta girl.

“Evans,” a voice barks behind me, and I nearly drop my phone. James is scowling at me from over my cubicle wall, his ruddy cheeks barely clearing it. “My office, ten minutes.”

My heartbeat gallops. Could this be about the promotion? I’m not scheduled for a meeting with James to formally present my proposal until this afternoon.

Eight minutes later I’m standing at Barbara’s desk, a notepad, phone, and pen tucked against my chest. “Do you know what this is about?” I murmur.

She shrugs. “No clue, honey.”

“Mood?”

“Smug.”

“And that’s different how?”

She grins. “Not as much stink face as usual.”

My shoulders relax a fraction as I suck in a deep breath. “Here we go,” I mouth. Barbara gives me a mock salute as I knock on James’s door.

“Come in,” he barks.

I enter his office. He doesn’t look at me as I cross the room and fold myself into one of his square orange chairs. Instead, he clicks his mouse, eyes glued to his computer screen. After what feels like an eternity, but is probably only ten seconds, he removes his wire-framed glasses and tosses them onto the desk.

“I’ve reviewed your and Graeme’s proposals—” he begins, but a familiar voice from the phone on his desk cuts him off. My breath catches.

“Excuse me, James. Henley, I’m on the line too. Just wanted to let you know.”

“Graeme,” I acknowledge. My voice cracks and I clear my throat.

James squeezes his pale lips into a thin line. With deliberate slowness, he picks up his glasses, wipes the lens with a cloth he pulls from his shirt pocket, and settles deeper into his leather office chair.

“As I was saying, I’ve reviewed your written proposals and I’ve reached a decision. Graeme, congratulations. You’re our new director of digital marketing.”

“What?” I splutter. “I thought I’d have a chance to present—”

“That was before I read your proposal. Henley, what was your assignment?”

I swallow the bile rising in my throat. “To come up with a way to use digital marketing to increase sales for cruises in the Galápagos.”

“When you called me with your harebrained idea to solicit shipboard donations for a local nonprofit, I was skeptical, to say the least. I failed to see how supporting philanthropic efforts related to increasing sales. I didn’t say anything at the time because I wanted to give you a chance to prove yourself. But your proposal has done nothing to convince me that this is the best use of our company’s resources. It’s a cute idea, nothing more.”

“Are you serious? Her idea is fantastic, and if you can’t see that—” Graeme cuts in, but I talk over him before he can say something he’ll regret.