Julia shook her head. “I have to be full-time. I need the benefits.” Make your ass invaluable. That’s what Kat had said. “Give me an assignment, any assignment, any department. I’ll make it happen.”

“I like your spunk.”

Is that what this is? It felt more like desperation. Julia scanned the room, looking for inspiration. Her gaze snagged on a box of key chains on Cleo’s desk. Promotional material for the newest TrendList segment, a travel adventure log rapidly growing in popularity. Julia pointed to the box. “What about ‘Take Me!’?”

“Hm.” Cleo tapped her chin thoughtfully. “I couldn’t give you much of a travel budget.”

“I’ll find something local.”

“You’d have to come up with an idea fast.”

“I’ll have a pitch ready for you by Monday.”

“Determined, aren’t you?” Her boss looked at her, assessing. “Tell you what, Julia. You bring me a pitch on Monday, and I’ll consider it.”

“Thank you.” Julia wanted to collapse with relief.

“You can thank me when I approve your pitch.” Cleo slipped back into her heels and handed Julia her coffee mug. “If I approve your pitch.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Excellent!” Cleo pressed her palms together, inhaling and exhaling deeply. “I feel ready to tackle the rest of my day now, don’t you?”

“Yep.” She grinned at her boss. With her shoes in one hand and Grumpy Cat mug in the other, Julia knew she must look ridiculous, but she didn’t care. She’d just been given the chance she needed to save her ass. “So ready.”

CHAPTER 3

JULIA

On Friday evening, Julia headed to Andie’s place. She was eager to share the results of her meeting with Cleo with her friends, but also nervous. Ever since her bizarre encounter with the editorial director, she’d been a ball of stress. In between meeting her current story deadlines, Julia had spent all her time brainstorming. Despite the confident promise she’d made to her boss, she was worried that she wasn’t going to have anything ready on Monday.

She needed a pitch, and that involved coming up with a story idea … and in this case, the story needed to be about a place. And not just any place but a freaking cool place. A destination that got readers excited, made them want to shout, “Take me!” But that was also local. Or at least local-ish. So far, nothing she’d come up with had felt unique enough to be worth pursuing.

Julia pushed thoughts about her job to the back burner. Maybe she’d wait until after her next meeting with Cleo to give her friends an update. She was determined to enjoy herself this evening.