12 to 22 by Jen Calonita

Author:Jen Calonita [Calonita, Jen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2022-08-16T00:00:00+00:00

10

Blake has two more meetings after our breakfast one, so Reese and I say goodbye and take an Uber to the office, where our first stop is definitely going to be the beauty closet. I just hope it’s easier to get into this building than it was One Eighty-Five.

“This place looks like my dermatologist’s office,” I say as Reese and I walk into the palatial lobby and approach the security area. “But it’s much bigger.”

There is a huge water fountain in the middle and photos of Blake that cover every wall. There’re also a lot of pictures of a chunky bulldog that I assume is Ronald. People are coming and going, electronics are beeping, and the water feature is loud, but I still say hi to everyone I see. This is really exciting. I’m a co–marketing director! Whatever that means.

“Good morning,” I say to the security guard at the first stop. “How’s your day going?” He just looks at me. “It’s nice out, right? Bring your umbrella with you, though, if you go outside between one and two, because it’s supposed to rain.” The security guy looks at the guard next to him. “Hi!” I say to him as well. “How is your morning?” He recoils slightly. Strange. “This is my sister, Reese. Can she have a pass to come up?”

“Whatever you want, Miss Lancaster,” the second guy says, handing the pass over and stepping away from me. “Sorry about making you wait the other day. It won’t happen again.”

“No problem,” I say, noticing as he goes to an intercom on his desk and whispers something into it. The first guard waves us over to an open elevator, which whisks Reese and me upstairs.

As the doors open, I hear someone shout, “She’s here!” I can hear chairs scraping, and then I see a woman come racing toward me.

“Harper, hi. Good morning,” she says, stammering slightly. “We weren’t expecting you for another half hour. Otherwise, I would have had your coffee order waiting for you, but I swear, I can have it here in five minutes.”

I blink taking in her frizzy, thick brown curls. I know her! “Saya?”

“Morning,” she says, sounding nervous.

“You work here too?” Maybe all the Cambridge Street Girls work at Face of Beauty. I have a sudden image of Celia and I employing our entire friend squad. That has to include Ava and Zach. I wouldn’t leave them behind.

She steps back. “I know I messed up that delivery at Fenway yesterday, but you did change it three times—not that it’s ever your fault—but I promise everything you need today will go as planned. Just give me another chance.” She whispers, “Please don’t fire me from this internship. I need it for credit.”

“Fire you?” I glance at Reese, unsure what is happening.

That’s when I hear frantic barking.

A familiar-looking bulldog comes tearing toward the elevator doors.

“Ronald, right? Hi, buddy!” I exclaim. I put my hand out to pet the dog, and he starts to snarl. I press myself against the back wall in horror and look at Saya as I stand protectively in front of Reese.

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