"Good luck," I said with a quick kiss the next morning on the sidewalk in front of Jackson's apartment. We hadn't gotten much sleep last night. Jackson had been anxious about the audition and I had been anxious about everything, from Janet's presentation to what would happen once Jackson got on that plane.

"Thanks. I'll call you tonight, although I'm not sure what time since I don't know what my schedule will be like."

"No problem. Just text me when you land so that I know you got there safely."

Jackson pulled me in for a longer kiss, his lips soft and gentle on mine.

"I love you."

"I love you too, Jackson."

Jackson hailed a cab for me and I waved as the cabbie drove away. I turned to look through the rearview window and saw Jackson hail his own cab to take to the airport. I turned back and sighed. It was going to be hard not having Jackson around all week, but maybe it was good to get used to it in case we had to have a long distance relationship.

I pushed thoughts of Jackson out of my head when I got to work. I was surprised that I had beaten Janet to the office since she was always there before me, but it was understandable with everything going on with her mother.

"How was your weekend?" Celeste asked. We had a routine where I would tell her about my weekend and then she would complain about her husband. It was funny, because I knew that regardless of what she said, Celeste doted on her husband. I routinely overheard her conversations with her husband on the phone since she sat right next to me and they were positively lovey-dovey.

"It was good. The Hamptons was amazing. And I think I ate my body weight in lobster."

"All I did was sit around a hot apartment and watch my husband clip his toenails on the coffee table," Celeste complained loudly. I stifled a laugh at the image her words conjured up.

I started to get nervous when it was ten-thirty and Janet still hadn't arrived. Her meeting was at eleven o'clock and although Canonfield's office wasn't very far away, it was still cutting it close. Especially with traffic.

I was debating whether to call Janet on her cell phone when she rushed in, looking harried and stressed.

"Emma, can you come into my office?" she said as she walked quickly past me and into her office. I grabbed the disk with the presentation and followed her.

"I didn't think I was going to make it on time," Janet said, pushing her hair out of her face and grabbing a file folder from her desk. She kept her bag with her laptop inside slung over her shoulder, clearly not intending to sit down before rushing over to Canonfield's office.

"Do you have the presentation on disk? I don't want to have to wait to download it from my email."

"Here you go," I said, handing it to her.

"Great. I have to get out of here. Wish me luck!"

I was barely able to get out "Good luck" before she was gone. I prayed that she would make the meeting on time since I knew her superiors were watching her closely with this account.

I tried to busy myself with work, but my mind kept drifting to Jackson. It was a five-hour flight to L.A. so he was still in the air, but I couldn't help wondering how he was feeling. I was hoping he wasn't too nervous. No matter what my reservations were about what the distance would do to us, I fiercely hoped that Jackson got the part. I wanted him to be happy, even if it meant that my happiness was dimmed.

It was almost one o'clock and I was discussing lunch options with Celeste when Janet returned. She had an unreadable look on her face as she approached me and I couldn't tell if the meeting had been a success.

"Emma, come into my office."

Her tone was odd and I tensed, hoping nothing had gone wrong. Celeste raised her eyebrows at me, clearly hearing Janet's odd tone as well.

I followed Janet into her office, closing the door behind me and sitting down. We usually kept the office door open but I had a feeling that Janet wanted it closed today.

She sat down heavily in her chair and propped her elbows on her desk, folding her hands in front of her.

"Emma, when I opened the presentation, none of the changes had been made."

I froze, looking at her disbelievingly. I had checked the presentation over and over again, making sure every detail had been perfect. I couldn't accept what Janet was telling me now.

"There has to be some mistake," I said, shaking my head. "Janet, I checked and rechecked the presentation. I know I made all the changes."

Janet sighed heavily, looking more disappointed than angry. Her disappointment in me hurt more than anything else.

"The meeting was a disaster. The points I was making didn't match up to the presentation. I didn't realize the changes hadn't been made until I was a third into the presentation. Those last minute revisions were because Canonfield made some changes in the direction they were going with their new products. Now it looks like Mass Comm didn't listen."

I clenched my hands into fists on my lap, not knowing what to say or do. It felt insufficient to keep protesting that I had made the changes. Worse, it sounded like I was calling Janet a liar.

"I don't know what to say, Janet. I could have sworn I made all the changes."

Janet leaned back in her chair, looking tired and worn out. I remembered that a failed presentation wasn't the only thing on her mind.

"I can't tell you how disappointed I am, Emma. I really trusted you. You were doing so well and I really thought this was the right place for you."

I could feel my eyes filling with tears and I desperately tried to keep them at bay. The last thing I needed was to humiliate myself by bawling.

"I wish I didn't have to do this, but I have no choice. I have to let you go."

I nodded jerkily, shocked by her words. I took a deep breath, willing my tears to subside. I spoke when I was in control of my emotions again.

"Will you be okay? I mean, did you lose Canonfield as a client?"

Janet looked pained by my question. "I'm not sure yet. I have to wait to hear back from them."

"I guess...I guess I'll leave now," I stuttered, rising unsteadily from the chair.

Janet nodded, massaging the furrow of her brow. "That's a good idea. You can collect your things and H.R. will be in touch with you about the termination process."

I walked to the door and opened it but before I stepped out, I turned around. "Is your mother okay?"

Janet looked at me silently before answering. I had no idea what was going through her mind. I hoped she didn't think it was some last-ditch attempt to try to wheedle a way to keep my job. I knew that was impossible. I just understood how painful it was to have a parent in the hospital. How quickly you could lose them.




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