Dear Somebody

Chapter One

Dear Somebody,

That was lame, sorry. I'm not exactly sure who this is getting sent to so for now I guess you really are just Somebody. I told them to make sure they sent this to a person that really needed it, they told me it was random. I hope that's you though. My name is Harley. I'm an executive assistant in the fashion industry.

I also bake as a side job and that’s why I decided to mail these to you. My brother is also in the military. A Ranger. He tells me all the time how much the other guys love my cookies. That could also be him being a great big brother. I choose not to believe that though. Everyone deserves a little sweetness in their life.

Okay yeah that was cringe.

Anyway, I hope this helps.

There are also a few books in here. My brother asked for these so I thought maybe you or whoever would like them.

Thank You, Harley

P.S. If your hot send a picture.

P.P.S. That was not me. My pain in the ass best friend thinks she is hilarious. I'm sending this in now.

P.P.P.S. She didn't send it in. Seriously, about that picture?

P.P.P.P.S. I am going to kill her.

Dear Harley,

My name is Dalton and I'll be honest I almost didn't open your package. Then my very own pain in the ass best friend saw the word cookies on the description and that was that. There's five of us here so the cookies were gone in seconds. Quinton took the books and retreated to his cave to read.

Anyway, thank you Harley. Never Change, Dalton

P.S. Tell your best friend that picture is for her. I'm the Italian stud on the left.

P.P.S. That's Ace, he's not Italian or a stud.

P.P.P.S. Don't listen to Dalton, he's just jealous.

P.P.P.P.S. I am going to kill him.

"So he wrote you back huh?" Jackie Santiago asks perched on the corner of my desk.

"They also sent this." I hand over the picture, "Apparently the Italian stud on the left is Dalton's best friend Ace."

Her perfectly manicured eyebrows lift and she pulls the picture closer to her face, studying it. "He doesn't look Italian."

"Dalton says he isn't," I hand her the letter to read.

"I wonder which one he is." She studies the picture a little longer and I keep from telling her that I've been wondering the same thing.

I never expected a letter back. I know how busy and crazy it can get over there, wherever they are. My brother sends a letter every month or so. I've only seen him twice in the four years he's been gone. He's happy though, so I am too.

"Are you going to send him another package?" She stands from the desk and straightens her black pencil skirt. The elevator dings and Mr. and Mrs. Todd Yearly step off. They are both dressed in workout gear and talking on their phones. They stop in front of us and we hand over the change of clothes I picked up this morning. They slip into Mr. Yearly's office and close the door softly.

"Thank God for sound proofing," I mutter then shiver.

"They probably have a great s*x life. I bet Todd is hung like a horse."

I should have expected that comment. I also really should have waited to sip my coffee. Instead I get a load of delicious iced coffee in my lap and a burning nose.

"Now I have a picture of Todd literally hung like a horse."

Jackie snorts and sits behind her desk that stands only a few feet away from my own. We're technically supposed to be working separately but we never do. We realized early on that when we work together we're able to get more done. She's better at certain things then I am and vice versa.

I grab my extra change of clothes from the bottom desk drawer before making my way to the private bathroom.

When I'm finally back at my desk I pull up Clara's list for the day. My eyes go back to the letter I didn't expect to receive. I automatically start thinking of all of the things that I could send. I'm glad the books are being used but I find myself wishing I knew more about the men so I could send them something special.

I sigh and decide on sending more cookies. They always have to be something that can be vacuumed sealed and travel well. I don't need another replay of what happened when I sent my brother a red velvet cake. Apparently red frosting could be mistaken for blood.

Who knew?

Mt. Todd's office door opens and Clara walks out looking flushed and happy. I used to be insanely jealous of her. Todd was on the cusp on bankruptcy before Clara stepped in to help, she was only supposed to be around for a month or so to help pick up the pieces his father left behind when he tried to crash and burn Rags Mag to the ground. It's been three years since she stepped through that door.

She's such a sappy sweetheart that it really is hard to hate her.

"Lunch. My office."

Uhm? Uh-oh.

I nod and pull up our normal delivery app on my phone. When that's settled I call and set up any phone interviews that need to be planned for this week. I get halfway through my list when a message pops up on my computer screen that lunch as been delivered.

"Lucky!" I call out. "How's my favorite security guard?"

Lucky Halston sets the bag on my desk and smiles, "Better if my favorite EA finally agreed to dinner."

"Oh, did you ask Jackie out?"

He laughs and pulls a strand of hair that must have escaped my bun, "The missus would like to order more cookies. It seems that's all the baby is craving."

"I'll email you a list and just let me know what she wants."

He salutes me before turning and using the stairs to get back to the first floor.

I leave one of the bags on Jackie's desk before entering Clara's office. She sits behind her own desk in such a regal pose that I always wonder if maybe she was a queen somewhere in a past life.

I take my normal seat across from her and hand over her usual salad. She smiles but doesn't open it.

Shit.

"What's going on?" My palms are sweaty and my heart is pumping it's way up my throat, but by some small miracle my voice remains even.

"I need you to hire a temporary replacement for yourself. I've emailed you a list of who I think would be a good fit for the job, but you have the last say."

No words register but replacement, "You're firing me?"

Her laugh tinkles out. I don't know why I describe it that way but it's the only word that fits the delicate sound. Or maybe I'm so used to the snorting laughs that I don't know what a real one sounds like anymore.

"God no. You could say your moving to Paris with your lesbian lover and I'd still force you to work for me."

The snort laugh is all me. I'll own it.

"Lesbian lover?"

She waves a hand between us, "Whatever tickles your fancy."

And that lady's and gentlemen is why I love working for Clara Yearly. Who do you know that says s**t like that? On a normal basis no less.

"There is a big holiday party coming up as you know and we want to hire you for desert."

My mouth is hanging open and my brain has short wired, "I'm sorry, what?"

"I need you come up with a menu. I know you'll need a bigger space so Todd and I have rented a open kitchen a few blocks away. If all goes well with the Thanksgiving party we'd like you to do Christmas and New Years as well. Make sure you include those amazing sugar cookies."

"You're serious?"

"Do I look like I joke about sugar cookies?"

News flash. She doesn't.

I'm usually a big believer in myself and my dreams but I just can't seem to wrap my head around any of this, "Why me?"

"Because Harley, I believe in you."

My eyes start burning and lump forms in my throat. Over the last two years this woman has become like a mother figure to me. Well more like a cool aunt because lets face it, this woman is too young and sexually active to be a mother.

All I can do is nod, "Okay."

"Good." She opens her salad, "Now tell me what you and dear Jackie were talking about before I got her."

__________________________________________________________

"You told her about your pen-pal?"

Jackie and I are walking out of Rags Mag and into the middle of Chicagoland foot traffic.

"Yeah she asked me about it. Knew something was up."

"It's like she has magical powers. Did you pick your replacement? I went with Maggie."

"The one that's always smiling? Todd is going to strangle you." I pause, get bumped from both sides and then catch up to Jackie. "Why are you picking a replacement?"

"Because I am now baking assistant to one lovely Harley Davis."

"No friggin way!"

"Oh yeah! They know I usually help with the orders you get from your website. They also know this is the biggest order you have ever done. So I am all yours for the next four weeks.