Page 2 of My XOXO Holidate
“Fine, you’re not boring.” Mia lets out an exasperated breath. “I’m not talking about rushing into something else.”
My annoyance with where this is going ratchets.
Mia sits on the edge of her chair. “You’ll go to the ball though, won’t you?” She doesn’t move as she waits for my response.
I sigh dramatically. “Yes, I’ll go, but I’m not making any promises that I’ll have a good time.”
“Yay! It’ll be fun!” Mia pops up out of her chair and claps. She flings herself onto the couch and wraps her arms around me. “You’ll have a good time.”
Leave it to Mia.
I slipthe nightgown over my head. The manilla envelope is set aside, but the paperwork practically glows like a beacon in the night.
My stomach drops as I see the words written across the top of the form. In bold lettering:Petition to File Bankruptcy.
Why am I torturing myself?
At this point, I’m safe. I won’t need to do anything as drastic as declare bankruptcy, but I keep the paperwork in my daily sight as a reminder. It’s a reminder of how close I was. I must account for every penny if I want to live a life free from my past. Free from the debt that’s brought me down.
I’ve been working like crazy at my job and paying down my debt. I’ve made tremendous progress. This is the first month since I’ve been here that I’ve been able to help with the rent and food. I’m almost finished paying off one credit card and I’ll start putting bigger payments on the second one until I get it completely knocked out. Mia has been great. Super. Letting me stay here while I get my finances sorted out has been not only a blessing but my saving grace.
I pull the blankets up close to my chin and the sound of the wind outside calms me.
Wonder what the masquerade ball will be like. Maybe my date will be my Prince Charming.
My dress is a long, red, satin gown with a low-cut sweetheart neckline. The top is fitted and shows off my curves. The bottom of the dress is flowing and makes me feel like a princess. I fell in love with it the minute I tried it on. Since I’ve been on this tight income, being able to buy this dress as a treat to myself feltwonderful. Thankfully, it was on a clearance rack with a huge markdown.
My eyes drift shut, and I dream of my beautiful red gown and my Prince Charming.
2
Sam
I swirl in my leather chair to face the floor-to-ceiling windows of my plush downtown office. From this spot, on the seventeenth floor of the Old Century Building, I can observe the comings and goings of the busy city below.
The streets are filled with taxi cabs as they pick up and drop off their passengers. My favorite hot dog vendor is in his usual spot on the corner of East Tenth Avenue.
I could go for a hot dog today.
There’s a tap on my office door and I whirl around to face my desk. Candace, my administrative assistant enters with a small stack of folders pressed against her chest.
Her blonde hair is in a messy bun and she’s wearing her usual dark-colored pencil skirt. “I have accounting working on those numbers you asked for. Do you want me to email those to you?”
“The Brighton accounts?”
She nods and sets the folders on the edge of my desk.
Candace has worked for me for the past several years. In her mid-twenties, she has been my saving grace. Efficient, punctual, and a hard worker. When I hired her, she was fresh out ofcollege and eager to make her way here—in one of the largest investment companies in New York.
“That’d be great, Candace.”
“Well, don’t worry about things here while you’re gone. I’ll handle everything.”
I smile. “I have no doubts about that.”
She grins. “What time’s your flight?”
“Bright and early tomorrow. Seven.” I straighten some papers on my desk.