Page 14

After the investment company she’d been working for had downsized

their marketing department, meaning closed it altogether and got rid of

everyone but the very senior staff, and even then, they only kept their jobs

with major pay cuts, she’d found herself running out of time. She’d even

applied to jobs that had nothing to do with marketing.

It might have been shameful flipping burgers, but at least she could have

kept the dang lights on. As it turned out, she didn’t have to resort to that.

She got a great position in her field, a job where she could use her talents

and experience. It paid well. It was a great opportunity at a uniquely artistic

company. The job had great benefits and promised to have lots of perks,

including a great work environment where people didn’t hate their lives or

their jobs.

After her interview and the phone call telling her she got the position,

she’d sat down on her couch and had a good cry. She’d poured herself a

glass of water, got out her laptop, and sat down to do the research she

should have done ahead of time, learning more about the company – and its

CEO.

That’s when she’d realized her mistake.

“Well, I’ve shown you the reception area, the lunchroom, and the

meeting rooms. The rest you’ll probably learn as you go. Do you want me

to take you to your office?”

“Sure. That would be great.”

“We all get our own offices here. Isn’t that awesome? No cubicles for us!

June is really progressive. It’s super cool for someone to start a company all

on their own while still in college and be really good at it and get

successful, and still schlub it at work with all of us, slogging away at the

daily grind.” Tina threw a hand over her mouth as they walked down the

hallway from the lunchroom through a maze of offices Arabella knew she’d

be lost within a few minutes. “Don’t say schlub. Or slog. She would never

think of being here as either of those things. She loves this place. This is her