By Monday, I was mobile again, but it still hurt to move my left arm. The back of my shoulder was sporting a black and deep purple bruise the size of a small cantaloupe. If the arnica cream was working at all, I would've hated to see the site without it.

When I got to work, on my walk down the hallway to my office, Audrey called my name. Well, she called out for Lily, anyway. It was the first time my metaphorical testicles didn't shrink at the sound of her voice. We'd bonded, I was almost sure of it, and the icy chill I seemed to feel whenever we crossed paths had officially faded.

"Good morning, Audrey."

She didn't look up from her laptop screen. "Jana Carter released another live video this past weekend. They showed a clip of it on Good Morning America today."

I blinked. "Um..."

"Where are we at with it in our marketing plans?" It was obvious she was struggling to maintain her volume and tone. The icy chill returned with a quickness.

Sure, Jana Carter was a trendsetter in Nashville. She was bordering on legend status in country music and had sold something crazy like thirty million albums worldwide. I got that. But why, oh why, was she ruining my Monday with her stupid live videos?

"I talked with Ava about that last week," I said. "It's all set up and ready to go. We just need to send out a couple of teaser clips inviting fans to watch—"

"For Jake," she said, cutting me off.

I nodded. "Well, yeah." Wasn't that what we were talking about?

She turned her palms up. "What about everyone else?"

I looked around the room like everyone else might be standing behind me. "Huh?"

She finally looked at me. Nope, glared at me. "Have you figured out how we can implement it to use with all of our other clients?"

"Uhh..."

Sitting back in her chair, she folded her arms over her chest. "You've been working here for a while now. I assumed you would know that I expected to be able to implement this marketing strategy for everyone we represent."

For a flash, I considered giving her the "when you assume, you make an ASS out of U and ME" speech but I didn't. Instead, I forced a smile. "I'll get started on it today as soon as I run last week's online activity report."

"Thank you. I'd like updated marketing plans no later than Friday. Before, if at all possible. Please keep me abreast of your progress."

I stood from the chair.

"And Lily?" She stuck her finger out at me. "Keep this in mind for the future. I'd like to avoid embarrassing mistakes like this for the duration of your tenure at this firm."

Anger threatened to boil over inside me, but I bit down on the inside of my lips and scurried out to the hallway. I stalked to my office, opened the door, then almost slammed it behind me. At the last second, I twisted around and caught it to prevent the bang that would echo back to Audrey, and smashed my fingers in the doorjamb instead.

I swore through clenched teeth, the worst of all cuss words, as blinding tears pooled in my eyes. Then I danced around my office, hugging my wounded hand to my chest and chanting profanities. My fingers were bright red, and a perfect line was etched across my knuckles.

"Lucy?"

I spun toward my door which had bounced open off my fingers.

West Adler was standing in my doorway.