#LUCKY (The Empire Series Book 2) by Nicole Hite Read Free Book Online

over to Beckley today. I have a girl who’s an up-and-coming designer, and I want to nab her first for an interview. She's worked with a fair amount of designers, but she just signed a contract to co-design a line with Isaac Mizrahi. She's said to be the next big thing, which is why I need boots on the ground."
    "I can certainly tackle that." Sam was elated that she was going to finally get a ground-breaking story from the fashion world. It didn't hurt that a mysterious professor would be in the same vicinity as well.
    "Excellent. And I want details, Sam. Not that fluff you did last month about how penny loafers are coming back in," Viv reprimanded.
    Sam happened to love penny loafers. It was a low blow if you asked her.
    "I'll email you the details shortly. Now go," Vivienne flicked her wrist, dismissing Sam.
    Leaving Vivienne's office, Sam felt lightheaded at the thought of seeing Declan again - he had left on such awkward terms a couple weeks ago. She hadn't seen, or heard from him since the night at O’Mallorey’s. Perhaps the episode with Cory was too much drama for his taste. That, or it had to do with the allusive Ashley character. She didn't guilt Declan either. Who would want to get involved with a girl with drama?
    Making her way to her office, she was blocked by her intern Quinn.
    "Hey Sam, everything okay in there?" Quinn eyed her with concern.
    "Peachy keen, jelly bean. We have a lead on a story out of Beckley. Feel like going on a little field trip?"
    "The college guys are already calling my name," she quipped.
        "Work. Then play. Deal?" Sam eyed her with a giant smile on her face.
        "Of course. I would like to be more than an intern someday; gotta play by the rules."
        Quinn was a sweet girl. She was brand spankin' new and fresh out of college. She was naive to the magazine world, but Sam continuously tried to use her to fill the void Maggie had left. Quinn had everything that Maggie lacked; morals, values, intelligence, and character. She was still sick to her stomach to know Maggie would sleep with her boyfriend.
        Maggie had always been the wild card out of the three girls. Bridget was the reasonable one. Devoted girlfriend, impeccable work ethic, and fiercely independent. She was self-reliant, even if Kevin wanted to think otherwise.
        Sam was the dependable one. She was a stickler for commitment in every situation. Loyal to work, friends, family, and even her relationships. She was elated when her sisters wanted to relocate to San Francisco with her. Although she had Ariel, she still wanted, and needed, a piece of home with her. Never did she imagine how horrible that idea would be.
        Maggie, on the other hand, was the baby of the three - the "Oopsy" of the bunch. It was no secret, but she liked to use it as justification to seclude her black sheep self. She loved her little sister, but her theatrics for the extreme had hit an all time high with this little stunt. Furthermore, the fact that she still had not made contact with Sam only reinforced the fact that Maggie was completely unhinged.
        Sam had started the see the changes in Maggie as soon as they moved to San Fran. The changes were subtle, at first, like, going out and getting drunk several nights a week. However, they slowly progressed to a nightly occurrence. Some nights she never returned home, leaving Sam in a tizzy half the time. Sam just hoped that this incident would light a spark under her ass to get her stuff together.
        "You have a good head on your shoulders, Quinn."
        "I try. When are we going?" Quinn asked.
     "As soon as I get the particulars from Vivienne," Sam spoke up as an email alert went off on her phone. "Speaking of which, time to go! Oh, and can we drive your car?"
        "No problemo, Ms. Daisy."
        Sam chuckled at Quinn's attempt to be sarcastic. Although the joke came across a little corny, Sam still had a soft spot for the girl.

    C limbing into Quinn's vintage