Read Online Up to Date (Better Date than Never Book 8) by Susan Hatler - Free Book Online

wouldn’t put it so harshly. But, yes.”
    My brows furrowed. “How long have you known about this?”
    She raised both palms in the air. “Rich just told me this morning. I didn’t want to say anything to you earlier because you had that interview with Sacramento Living at lunch.”
    I crossed my arms. “That’s very considerate of you.”
    “This wasn’t my decision, Ginger. You have to believe me.” She clasped her hands together. “Rich is cutting costs across the board. You’re not the only one we had to lay off today.”
    That got my attention. “Who else?”
    “We let Melinda Morgan go this morning. She’d been with the company for years.” Her expression crumpled and she rubbed her hands over her face. “This is the worst part of my job. I hate it.”
    “At least you have a job.” I tossed back. How would I pay my bills? I didn’t have jack in savings. Mary Ann only paid her half of the rent when her mood struck. My sight blurred and I yanked the sides of my hair. I was so screwed. “How did Melinda take it?”
    “Who knows?” She leaned back in her chair, shaking her head. “She acted just like always, perfectly put together and poised.”
    Unlike me, who was pulling out wads of hair and copping an attitude with one of my good friends.
    I sighed, dropping my hands in my lap. “I know this isn’t your fault. I’m just thrown, I guess. I’ve never been fired before.”
    “Laid off.” Her voice was gentle. “I totally understand. Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”
    I slumped back in my chair. “You can erase this day so it never happened. Well, not the entire day. Jenna loved how I designed Greg’s den. She said I have a unique flair and took a gazillion photos for her magazine article.”
    And that kiss with Greg will be forever etched in my mind. . . .
    “I don’t know if now is the right time to say this.” She bit her lip, then eyed me cautiously. “But maybe this will end up being a good thing. Maybe it will help you make the transition into decorating faster.”
    “Except that I have no clients.” Then I remembered that Jenna had asked for my business cards. Guess I needed to have more printed than I thought. “I have a lot of thinking to do.”
    She nodded, then handed me a white envelope. “Your final check.”
    I picked up the envelope, gripping it between my fingers. “This was a nice place to work . . . for awhile, anyway.”
    “It’s rapidly going downhill.” She curled her upper lip. “Who do you think is getting all of your job duties?”
    “Better too much work than no income.” I gave her a meaningful look, then sighed. I suppose if I had to get canned, better that it come from a friend. Although Kaitlin’s sympathetic gaze made me want to make her feel better. What a mess. I inhaled deeply, slapped my hands on my thighs, then stood. “I wonder why Rich is making all of these changes. Not that it concerns me anymore.”
    “No idea.” Kaitlin rose to her feet, then skirted around to the front of the desk, her delicate features downcast. She pulled me into a hug. “I’m really sorry.”
    “Thanks.” With my chin on Kaitlin’s shoulder, my head began to spin. Greg’s kiss circled my mind. Jenna’s praise. Getting fired. I’d worked so hard to keep my life organized and practical. Then, in one day, a tornado had hit and everything was spinning out of control. My eyes burned. “I’ll be okay.”
    “I know.” She patted my back, pulled away, then sniffled. “Do you want help collecting your things?”
    “Sure.” Sucking in a deep breath, I dabbed the corners of my eyes. “That would be great. Thanks.”
    My legs felt like bricks as I trudged to my soon-to-be former office. I’d been fired. Canned. Kicked to the curb. This totally threw me off guard. Suddenly, my nerve-racking decorating project had become a do or die situation. The pressure was on to make it more sensational than ever in order to acquire clients. Fast. If not, I’d