1 Chapter 1
Molly knew she was stalling. As she paced the crowded sidewalk in front of the Magellan Hotel on trendy Union Square, her thoughts flew in a thousand different directions. She did not want to go up to the reception. Yet to avoid it would be cowardly. And give rise to even more talk. She'd been the victim of enough gossip for the last three months. She really, really didn't want to add to it today!
Another cab swerved to the stop before the hotel's main entrance and when the uniformed doorman stepped to the curb to open the door, Molly recognized Harold Satten and his wife. He was one of Justin's cohorts-a fellow account executive at the firm they all worked for, Zentech. Just her luck they spotted her at almost the same time she saw them. Another couple on their way to the Zentech event.
The same event she should have arrived at some ten minutes ago.
"Hello, Molly. This is the place, isn't it?" Harold asked joining her on the sidewalk.
"On the twenty-fifth floor," she confirmed, smiling a polite acknowledgement to Harold's wife.
"Shall we go?" he asked
"I'm waiting for someone" Molly replied, the lie rolling off her lips with unaccustomed ease
"Oh, I thought you were alone"
Sheesh, she thought, refraining from making a face with effort. Did the entire world know about the big breakup? Well, of course they did. Brittany made sure of that. Poor Molly. Brittany hadn't meant to come between Molly and Justin, but when they fell in love, what were they to do, she asked anyone within ear-shot-- usually when Molly could also overhear.
"No, I'm waiting for someone"she repeated, glancing up the busy street as if seeking a familiar face.
"We'll see you up there, then" Harold said.
Holding her fake, polite smile until they were out of sight, Molly sighed. Yes, they would see her. It was a command appearance . And ordinarily she would have been thrilled. It was her design concept, after all, and her innovative ideas for the account that had been pivotal point in signing one of Japan's huge conglomerates, Hamakomoto Industries,to the lucrative contact. Steve Powers was the account executive,but it was her artwork that clinched the deal.
And hadn't that made Brittany furious? The two worked in the art department of Zentech, a high-tech, full service company that led the way for innovative concepts for businesses. And from the first day Molly had started, Brittany Taylor had it in for her.
After almost seven years, Molly would have thought she'd have grown immune.But Brittany's deliberately luring Justin had been the final straw. Molly would not give into the pitying glances and murmured condolences on her breakup with Justin.
No more miss nice girl, she was fighting back!
