“What?” Riley exclaimed. “I don’t even know what I’m going to be doing at Christmas Camp.”
“Exactly,” Margo said. “So imagine how this guy felt when he was thrown on national TV to cover for you after you ran out. Mike says he doesn’t like public speaking in the first place. So bottom line, he’s not happy about any of this, and he’s ready to cancel the whole author event.”
Riley gave Margo an incredulous look. “Can he even do that? We’re supposed to do this Christmas Camp in just a few days . . .”
“Yes!” Margo said, obviously losing the little patience she had left. “It’s his family’s lodge, and his reputation is on the line, too. He can do whatever he wants. Mike called in a favor to set this whole thing up, but now this Colorado guy doesn’t think it’s a good idea, doesn’t think you’re the right fit for the lodge.”
Riley frowned. “What do you mean? The right fit?”
“Riley, it doesn’t matter what he means,” Margo said. “If this guy cancels, can you imagine all the bad publicity? We’ve already selected the Christmas Campers from the thousands of applicants. People have already bought their airfare. Your fans have made plans to come see you as part of their Christmas celebration. If this gets canceled, you’ll be the Grinch who stole their Christmas.”
Riley frowned. While she wasn’t a Christmas person, she certainly didn’t want to be known as a Grinch.
Margo wagged Riley’s phone in front of her. “Mike and I have been trying to call you so you could meet with the guy while he was still in town, try to smooth things over, but you haven’t answered your phone.”
Riley jump up from her seat. “Okay, so let’s go meet this guy and I’ll explain. I’ll win him over. It’ll be fine.”
Margo put Riley’s phone down and crossed her arms in front of her. “It’s too late.”
“What do you mean ‘it’s too late’?” Riley asked.
“When we couldn’t reach you, he wasn’t about to wait around,” Margo said. “He’s already heading back to Colorado.”
“So you’re saying . . .” Riley started.
“I’m saying,” Margo replied, “this could cost you.”
“Cost me the Christmas Camp event?”
Margo shook her head and locked eyes with Riley again. “No, this could cost you your publishing career. Like I told you, you can’t afford any more bad publicity, Riley. This isn’t a game. This Christmas Camp was supposed to save your career, without it . . .”
“I’m done,” Riley finished for her.
Margo nodded. “I’m afraid so.”
Riley picked up the boarding pass again. “So this is . . .”
Margo took a deep breath. “Your last chance. Mike says you need to go to Colorado and talk to this guy, show him you’re not the hotheaded prima donna he thinks you are.”
Riley put her hands on her hips and looked part-insulted and part-hurt. “A prima donna? Seriously? Me?”
“Mike’s words, not mine,” Margo added. “Apparently, it was what the guy said after you stormed off the set.”
Riley shook her head, annoyed. “I had every right to leave that interview . . .”
Margo held up her hands. “You need to get over the interview and who was right and who was wrong. What’s done is done, and now you need to decide if you still want a publishing deal or not. If you do, you need to go to Colorado and make this right with this guy. You need to persuade him to reconsider holding the Christmas Camp for you. We’re running out of time,” she said. “If you’re going to do damage control, you have to do it right now. You need to be on that plane first thing tomorrow morning.”
Riley gave Margo an incredulous look. “This whole thing is impossible.”
Margo’s eyes flashed a warning. “If you care about being an author, you better find a way to make it possible. You’re not going to get another chance. This is your only shot.”
“Margo—”
But Margo cut her off. “Riley, I’m doing the best I can to try to help you here. So what’s it going to be? I need to let Mike and everyone know. This is your call, your career. What do you want to do?”
Riley looked over to Alex for moral support. When he looked into her eyes and nodded, she picked up the boarding pass again.
Margo checked her phone. “I just got another text from Mike,” Margo said. “Are you in or not?”
Riley felt a rush of adrenalin mixed with determination. It fueled her forward. “I’m in,” Riley said with conviction. “I’ll go apologize to this guy and make this Christmas Camp thing work. Whatever it takes to get my career back on track. I mean, how hard can it be? I’m sure once I talk to this guy, he’ll understand what happened. Right?”
When Riley saw a flash of concern cross Margo’s face, she tilted her head to one side. Riley tried again. “Right?”
Margo merely nodded as she started to head for the door. “I’ll let Mike know you’ll be on that flight to Denver.”
She was halfway out the door when Riley called out to her. “Margo!”
Margo turned around.
“Thank you,” Riley said. Her voice was softer, filled with sincerity. “I mean it. I’m sorry I let you down today, and I know you’re just trying to help me. I’ll fix this. You’ll see. It’s going to be okay.”
When Margo just nodded again, Riley saw something in her eyes that made her feel like there was something Margo wasn’t telling her. But before she could say anything more, Margo disappeared out the door.
Riley looked over at Alex. “I better go.”
Alex had already gotten her coat for her and held it out so she could put it on. He then handed her a brown takeout bag.
“What’s this?” Riley asked.
“Your favorite dessert,” Alex said proudly.
Riley’s eyes lit up. “Your homemade churros?”
“With extra sugar, just like you like them,” Alex said. “I added red and green sugar to make them extra festive.”
Riley laughed.
