Tis The Season for Secrets (Village of Yule #2)

5. Juliet

I nstant gratitude washed over Juliet as a wave of heat hit her. Margot had remembered to turn on the heating. Unfortunately, she stumbled over her roommate’s discarded shoes and cursed aloud. There goes my plan to sneak in.

Margot, still in her dress from the night, was awake on the couch. The smudged mascara under her eyes and the pint of water on the coffee table beside her gave away just how much fun she’d had on the dance floor.

“Morning, sleeping beauty. You look truly ravishing in the morning– I don’t know how you’re single,” Juliet teased, hoping to deflect attention from her walk of shame.

“Don’t even start. I think I’m still drunk.” Margot winced, snuggling a fluffy blue blanket to her chest.

“What time did you get in?” The distraction seemed to be working. Juliet stripped off her jacket, and her feet cried out in relief as she took off her heels. She watched her friend place a gel hangover mask over her eyes and tenderly sip her water.

“Late, but I got you coffee from our favourite place. You’ll probably need to microwave it– I already chugged mine. Speaking of late, you look like you had a good night.” Margot eyed her neck, and Juliet’s hand flew up to cover the hickey. Damn.

“Coffee first,” she bargained, putting the mocha in the microwave.

“There’s also a raspberry muffin for you on the table. Now, tell me what or who you’ve been doing!” Margot sat up, tucking her purple elephant under her arm – her favourite hangover snuggle buddy. It was technically Juliet’s, but they shared pretty much everything.

“Spent most of the night reading Hugo’s manuscript that we went to so much trouble to get. Then I got snowed in and had to stay at the hotel. I had to bribe someone for their taxi just so I could get home!” Juliet opened the brown bag of goodies from their favourite twenty-four-hour bakery beside their apartment building.

Taking a generous bite out of the muffin, she couldn’t help thinking of the gorgeous man who’d been sweet enough to order her room service while she’d fled like a criminal from a crime scene. She’d tried to get his attention before leaving, but he obviously hadn’t heard her over the running water, and she’d felt too awkward to ambush him in the shower. Ms Baum had texted her again, reminding her to be in the office at eight sharp, and she’d panicked, knowing that she had to make herself presentable. She hadn’t wanted to ruin the memory of the night with an awkward goodbye anyway. Maybe it was better to let him continue to be the epitome of romance than allow him to spoil it by letting her down.

“I should’ve known you’d spent the night with a book! Still, I’m glad you didn’t venture out in the snow. I only got back because one of the clients I was with had a town car,” Margot said, sipping her water like it might hurt her if she wasn’t careful.

“I didn’t spend the whole night reading—” Juliet was about to tell her everything when her stomach dropped. “Shit! I left the manuscript in his room!”

Leaving Margot to gape, she ran into her room and hastily stripped off Will’s shirt and the dress. The clock by her bed taunted her. “How could I have been so stupid?! I don’t have time to get back across town to get the manuscript.”

“ His room? I thought you said you were at the bar!” Margot appeared at her doorway, her interest piqued.

“I met a guy. I don’t have time to explain, but I left the manuscript in his suite!”

“Oh God, please don’t yell. My brain might fall out of my ears.” Margot held her ears. “Take a deep breath and get ready. I’ll ring Reception and see if anything was handed in. What room were you in?”

“Thank you!” Juliet exhaled, delighted that her friend had the ability to stay calm in a crisis. “I was in Suite 3. Just ask to be connected to the room.” She didn’t want to mention that she only remembered Will’s first name, but she could tell Margot that he had a nice collection of freckles on his ribs.

Determined to focus on her monumental error, she shook away the memory and slicked her hair back into a high ponytail, even if tension headaches were no joke. Thank goodness Will had offered her the shower first, because she didn’t have time now. When she’d finished hiding her dark circles and the hickey with concealer and thrown on some mascara and blush, Margot came to lean against the bathroom doorframe, phone in one hand.

“I tried Reception, but they said there was nothing left in the suite and that the guest has already checked out,” she said apologetically, while Juliet grappled with a pair of wide-legged black slacks and a white cropped shirt.

Last night might have been heaven, but the morning was quickly going to hell. “Did they mention if any papers were left behind?” Surely he’d have left the manuscript for her when he realised she’d left it. “There’s no reason for him to keep it, and he probably assumed I’d come back and get it.” What if he trashed it when he realised I’d run out on him?! But he didn’t seem like the vengeful type.

Margot sighed.“Already asked. Housekeeping didn’t see anything, and there was nothing left in Reception for collection.”

“Great. Once Baum finds out I lost the manuscript, I’ll never work in the publishing industry again. It’s not like Hugo is going to hand me another copy after what happened at the party.” Juliet’s bag slipped from her shoulder as she lost hope. “Did they give you any contact details for him?”

“I tried, but they wouldn’t give out guest information. I could access their computer, but it would take me at least an hour to get into their system,” Margot offered, always willing to break a few laws for a friend.

“No hacking, but thanks for trying. Just pray for me – I’ll need a Christmas miracle to stop me from getting fired.” Juliet pulled on her long cream coat and grabbed her muffin on the way out. All those hours of humiliating work and fulfilling Ms Baum’s endless demands were about to end in disappointment because of a stupid, exhilarating moment of weakness.

Margot tried to console her. “Baum might give you another chance?”

“There is a greater chance of Santa Claus being real than Baum forgiving me for losing one of the most expensive manuscripts we have.” Juliet wrapped her red scarf around her neck, preparing for the cold – though nothing was going to be frostier than her boss’s wrath.

“Good luck!” Margot called, cut off by the closing door.

Juliet pulled her bag onto her shoulder and hailed a taxi. Surprisingly, it didn’t take long, and she couldn’t help wondering if fate was eager to see her fired. With the thought of losing her dream job turning her stomach, she rolled down the window, not caring about the snow drifting in. Her cheeks would be as red as her lipstick by the time she reached the office.

The morning streets were busy as the Christmas season grew closer, but she couldn’t get into the festive spirit. All she could hear was her father berating her for losing her job – a job he’d told her again and again was a waste of time, because she should have just come to work for Frost Industries.

After paying her fare, Juliet lingered on the shovelled path. It was layered with salt to keep her from slipping; a pity, because a twisted ankle might keep her from having to go into the towering office building. Staring up at the Harley & Rowe logo above the revolving door, she readied herself to head in for the last time.