A Look At Melanie's Udall Latest Work In Progress-Shared Bi The Innkeepers

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A Look At Melanie's Udall Latest Work In Progress-Shared Bi The Innkeepers

In addition to being Melanie Udall's sister, I am also her editor and publisher. So I may be a bit biased, but I think her current work in progress might be some of her best work yet.

But I will let you be the judge. Here is an excerpt from chapter one of Shared Bi The Innkeepers:

Kara

Chicago was getting its first taste of spring, but the trees and flowers were not the only things blooming. As I stepped out of Salon Casals, I stared at my reflection in the front window. I looked like a new woman and felt like one too.

Things were finally looking up. After I nailed tomorrow's presentation with Standwell Foods, Kyle and I were leaving for Nashville. It had been years since I’d been home, and was eager for my family to meet the man I was dating.

We had only been seeing each other for a few months, so it was probably too soon to take him home for my cousin's wedding, but I didn't care. For the last eight years, my professional life had taken priority over romance. Working weekends and late nights, I’d toiled in obscurity at Enright Marketing, creating highly successful campaigns for which others received the credit. But that dedication was finally paying off.

My boss, Julia, an unrepentant meat lover, had asked me to take the lead on the campaign for Standwell's new plant-based burger. Instead of packing for my trip, I’d spent the previous night putting the finishing touches on my pitch.

The presentation would be the culmination of weeks of work. I was sure the client would love it as much as the focus groups had. Especially the new slogan I’d come up with: ‘Don’t eat our burgers because they’re vegan. Eat them because they taste amazing.’

The long hours I’d spent on the project would all be worth it when I got the promotion. Julia had all but promised to recommend Carl Enright, the firm’s president, promote me to campaign director. This was my big chance.

When I showed her the final presentation yesterday, she responded by saying I had done great work and Standwell was going to love it. Then, after looking me up and down with a critical eye, she said, “The campaign is solid, but I didn't realize how hard you’ve been working. Perhaps you should take tomorrow morning off and get a makeover.” When I hesitated, Julia added, “You want to look your best on Friday morning; Carl will be sitting in.”

It didn’t matter that I could not afford the expense. When the promotion came through, I'd have plenty of money. There was still some room on one of my credit cards after paying for our plane tickets and accommodations, so I went for it. I even bought a new outfit.

With a new hairstyle, freshly manicured nails, and a big smile, I stepped from the elevator. But when I saw Alan Standwell standing there, my heart dropped.

“Is everything okay? I didn't expect to see you until tomorrow.” He looked at me, puzzled. It was clear from his expression that he had no idea who I was. “I'm Kara Newell. I've been working on your account.”

“Nice to meet you, Karen.” Before I could correct him, he stepped into the elevator and said, “When Julia called last night asking if we could move the presentation to this morning, I was a bit perturbed. But rearranging my schedule was worth it. ‘Don’t eat our burgers because they’re vegan. Eat them because they taste amazing.’ So simple yet so perfect. Your boss is an absolute genius.” He was still shaking his head when the elevator doors closed.

Livid, I made my way to Julia’s office. There had been rumors of my boss taking credit for the work of others in the past, but I had written them off as petty jealousy. Now I knew better. When I reached her office, I considered bursting in and calling her out. But that would lead to a confrontation, something I don’t do well with.

Instead, I knocked softly and waited. While I was debating whether to knock again or come back at another time, I heard a male voice say, “Come in.”

I opened the door and quickly apologized. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“It’s alright. I really need to get going anyway,” Carl Enright said. “I just stopped by to congratulate Julia on another solid performance. Standwell was so impressed, he’s agreed to send us more of his business. I don't know how she keeps coming up with these amazing pitches.”

“It certainly is a head scratcher,” I agreed, then looked at Julia. “I wasn’t aware we had changed the meeting time.”

“Did you not get my voicemail?” Julia asked. “You had already left for the day when Alan called. He wanted to get an early start on his weekend and asked if we could move the meeting to this morning.”

She was lying right to my face, and I could not help but wonder what else she lied about. If I called her on it, she would deny everything, and I would end up looking foolish in the eyes of Mr. Enright.

“That’s strange. I didn't get a voicemail.” Julia’s expression darkened, implying it would be a very bad idea to embarrass her in front of the firm’s president. Rather than say all the things I wanted to, I went along with her ruse. “Stupid phone. I should probably get a new one.”

“That would be a wise idea.” Julia smiled and returned her attention to Enright. “Kara was a big help in getting the artwork and copy put together for our latest campaign.”

“Good to hear. We can always use solid support staff,” he said without ever looking in my direction. “As for you, my little marketing genius, I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s something extra in your bonus this quarter.”

“That’s very kind of you, Carl.”

“Nonsense, Julia. You earned it.”

With a big smile on my face, I said. “Here’s hoping you get everything you deserve.”

Julia met my fake smile with one of her own. “Kara, now that the presentation is finished, I see no reason you can’t start your vacation early. Take the rest of today and tomorrow off.” Guiding me to the door, she said, “I'm sure whatever you wanted to speak to me about can wait until you get back.”

After slinking to my cubicle, I considered going back to Julia’s office and telling her that if I didn’t get the director position, I would quit. But my timidness was not the only thing stopping me. I was no longer sure I wanted the job.

When I was in school, I’d always assumed that by the time I was thirty I would have a marketing firm of my own, where I would consult with family-owned businesses who shared my values. But at twenty-nine, I was still creating cheesy ads designed to enrich the already deep pockets of billion dollar corporations. Maybe it was time to consider a career change.

But that was a thought for another day. I would not let Julia ruin my vacation. Since I had the rest of the day off and Kyle worked from home, I decided to pop in and show off my new look. It was a terrible decision for both of us.

Kyle did not answer when I knocked on the door. His car was out front, so I knew he had to be home. I knocked again, louder this time. When he still didn’t answer, I panicked. What if he were hurt or sick and could not get to the door? I tried the key he’d given me so I could feed his cat when he went out of town last month. It didn’t work.

I was debating whether to call 911 when the door finally opened. His sweater was inside out, and he looked feverish. Touching a hand to his forehead, I asked, “Are you getting sick?”

“The doctor said it’s just a 24 hour bug.” He pushed my hand away. “But you should probably go before you catch it.”

Still standing on the front stoop, I breathed a sigh of relief. “24 hours. So you be better by the time our flight leaves for Nashville on Saturday.”

“I was going to call you later. But since you’re here now, I might as well tell you.” Looking down at his bare feet, he said, “I’m not going with you.”

“But why? We’ve had this trip planned for weeks, and the tickets are non-refundable.”

“Do you remember Tiffany?” Tiffany was the bimbo he dated before me, and I did not like the direction the conversation was heading. “You were working late last night, so I stopped at McClain's for a drink and ran into her.”

“That’s quite a coincidence. I mean, what are the odds of running into your old girlfriend at the place she tends bar?”

“Well, she’s changed and thinks we should get back together.” I saw movement in the room behind him.

“Oh my God.” What a fool I had been worrying that he might be sick. “She’s in there with you right now. Isn’t she?”

“No.”

“I can see her peaking around the corner.” Having been lied to enough for one day, I turned to leave. “I hope the two of you will be very happy together, and Kyle, please lose my number.”

It was three blocks from Kyle’s place to the L station. I covered two of them before tears welled in my eyes. When my phone rang, without looking at the screen, I knew who it was. Fiona is the only person I know who would rather talk on the phone than text.

“How do you always know when I need a shoulder to cry on?” I asked, trying not to sniffle in her ear.

“Much like my exquisite taste in fashion, it's a gift. Where are you?”

“Division Station.”

“Perfect. Meet me at The Wicker Inn in ten minutes.” She hung up before I could argue.

The Wick is known for two things: live jazz and stiff cocktails. I could take or leave the former, but after the day I had just had, a Rob Roy was sounding pretty good.

Fiona arrived ahead of me. Despite it being happy hour, she had snagged us a table in the back, and already had a drink waiting for me. I took a long sip as soon as my butt hit the chair. “I think we're going to need a few more of these.”

“Tell me everything,” she said after signaling to the waitress. When I first moved to Chicago, Fiona lived in the apartment next to mine. Despite her foul mouth and a penchant for early 20th century fashion, we became fast friends.

When I finished explaining what had happened with the Standwell account, she looked at me horrified. “What a fucking cunt. I hope you went to HR right away.”

“No, Julia could make my life very unpleasant.” I took another sip of my drink. “As mad as I am at her, and hate my job right now, I hate the idea of not being able to pay my rent even more. I need to buy myself time until I'm able to start a business of my own.”

“That's not why you were crying when I called,” she said. What else happened?” When I told her about Kyle, she was far less sympathetic. “I told you from the beginning that man was no good. I never understood what you saw in him. It’s not like the two of you were having amazing sex.”

How could she possibly know that? “I never talked to you about our sex life.”

“Exactly my point,” she said triumphantly. “When a woman is getting great dick on a regular basis, she wants to tell everybody about it.”

She was right. Kyle was one of those men who believed a woman should be responsible for her own orgasms. “I know, but now I have to go to the wedding by myself. My mother and sister are already worried I’m going to end up an old maid.”

“Pfft, who cares what they think? But if it's really that important to you, there must be somebody back home you can take as your plus one. What about that Jay guy you've told me about?”

“We were just friends and lost touch when I left for college. I don't even know if he still lives in Nashville.”

“Were there no other boyfriends or at least somebody you were interested in?” Fiona pressed.

There was one guy I’d had a major crush on senior year, but so did half the school, including Jay. Parker had been the quarterback and captain of the state champion Colonels But despite having four classes together, we had only ever spoken a few words to one another. “No one,” I said.

“Well, maybe you'll meet somebody where you're staying, like in a Hallmark movie. What's the name of the place, anyway?” That was a good question. I had asked my AI assistant to book me a room at a bed-and-breakfast six weeks earlier and had never checked the confirmation email. Pulling out my phone, I looked at the reservation. Dang, it seemed I couldn’t catch a break to save my life.

“I'll be thirty miles from where the wedding is taking place at an inn in Willow Creek. It is literally called A Bed and Breakfast.” Given how the rest of my day had gone, I should not have been surprised. “And since I am past the cancelation window, I can’t rebook somewhere closer.”

Fiona didn't even try to stifle her laughter. “That's what you get for letting a computer do your work for you.”