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With a woosh, the elevator doors slid open, revealing a long, dark, wood paneled hallway.
"I'm going to get the nicest room, too," Nikki whispered to herself, stepping out into the dim light. Glancing down, she worried she should've changed. What was the right outfit for finally arriving, she wondered.
She hadn't had time to change. The day had gone so fast, and she'd dressed for purpose. For years, she'd toiled away, in a small market, biding her time. She knew her moment had arrived. Her time to move up to the big time. She'd endured so much. She'd waited while so many younger women moved on, through her two kids, through it all.
They'd never invited her to the network's big national conference before. They'd never asked her to speak on a panel of experts.
She had taken the most of the opportunity, just in case there were decisions left to be made. She hadn't been in better shape in years. She spent weeks picking out her outfit - a leather skirt, a tight red button-up top, and black stockings. She thought she looked at least 15 years younger. She knew she looked the part.
Now she was making her way to the hotel room of the head of network news - the main anchor. She was certain this was it.
He'd tapped her on the shoulder not long after she arrived. "We need to talk. After dinner. My room?" he asked.
It wasn't EXACTLY the way she'd pictured, and she knew her husband would be furious if he knew she were on her way to Jake's room.
Jake.
He was such a big part of her story, she thought. They'd graduated together. They'd taken their first two jobs together.
They'd been completely in love. Or, at least, she had been.
She could still hear his voice, a lifetime ago, echoing in her memories, the day he told her he'd gotten a job in the big city, and was leaving her behind. They'd promised each other, they'd climb the ladder. They'd promised one another, they'd only take jobs with each other. They'd promised each other, they'd do it together.
And then he'd left.
Heartbreak would be putting it lightly. She felt like her whole life had fallen apart, as if every dream had ended, all at once. But she'd kept the faith. She worked hard. She met Travis, fell in love, and had the family of her dreams. She never gave up hope.
Standing in front of his door, she readied to knock. Taking a deep breath, it was time.
Jake pulled open the door, seeming distracted. "Nik. Good to see you. Come in," he said, waving her into the room.
It was a large suite, the entry hall emptying into a living space. The TV was on - a local newscast, naturally - and the conference-sized table was covered in papers. Jake's coat was tossed over a chair, his shirt unbuttoned, his tie loosened.
"Drink?" he asked, moving to the bar before she had time to answer. Handing her a glass with brown liquid, he motioned to a chair. "Sit. I have something to talk about."
Nikki took her glass, and took a sip of the strong booze. She didn't like whiskey, but it was a celebration, she told herself. Sitting down, she leaned forward, waiting for the good news.
"So, Nik, you know how much we value you, and how much we've always thought of you," Jake started, standing in the middle of the room. "Your numbers have been good, and all that. We just have some hard decisions to make."
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