The Spinster's Club

Cece Five

Okay, this was getting to be a habit. I'd drunk more in the last few days then in all the rest of my life. It had to stop. This was not me. From now on I'd stick to beer, because I hated the taste and I hated the smell and no way would I ever get drunk on beer and make a damn fool of myself.

I never did go back to Barron's; I was in no shape. I had no idea who'd won the contest and for awhile there, I didn't care. But as my body became more mine and less the liquor's, I began to hope Carlos had done it, because he by God deserved it.

I hadn't heard from him. I told myself it really didn't matter. I had no desire to branch out into soap opera scripts and besides, it was stupid to even think of it because I didn't speak a word of Spanish. And Carlos himself had evidently decided he didn't need giant pixies in his life, or maybe this was punishment for not supporting him and his voice.

Didn't matter. I had a deadline to meet and it was looming closer and closer. I had no time for soap operas, Spanish or otherwise. And I had to think up some adventure as well as a new job and hell, I'd just hire an escort and let him do the fuckability honors. Those boys had a standard to keep, so I was sure he'd do well by me. I just had to not be lying when the girls asked me for a report. I didn't consider leaving certain facts out to be lying.

My phone sang "Here Come the Judge" by the Magistrates and I groaned. Lord, I hated that song, but it exactly suited how I felt about my esteemed editor, so I left it alone.

"Hey, Margo," I sighed. "What did I do now?"

"It's not what you did, it's what you aren't doing! I'll have Darcy back to you in the next couple of days, but where's the next one, Cece? I should have it in my hot little hand, I should be able to punt Darcy to you and start straight in on...what did you decide to call it, anyway?"

"Untitled," I said.

"Cece," she groaned. "You're too much of a professional to be doing this. Pull yourself together and get on the ball or there will be sanctions!"

"I'm in the middle of a personal crisis." I tried to sound dignified and sure of myself but it was hard because it was totally my fault. Margo might be the editor from hell but she was always in my corner and she definitely made me a better writer. "I will finish Untitled, there's only a couple more chapters to go and I will definitely find it a title so the powers that be can sneer at it and give it another one and I will dive right into the edits you send. I promise. Go easy on the sanctions or I'll run away from home."

"Darling! No need to get so dramatic. I'll take you at your word and expect the book by – shall we say Wednesday?"

Wednesday. Three damn days.

"Sure Margo, Wednesday it is. Bye now, gotta get to work."

I hung up on her and tried not to sink into a puddle on the floor. Yup, Margo was always in my corner.

Bless her heart.