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This was the job of her dreams.

Almost.

“I mention it now so we can be prepared for the day.” Cherish shifted a glance to Haylee, like she was supposed to know what the hell was going on. “I’d like to invite Stuart, if you wouldn’t mind.”

Haylee turned to look closely at Cherish’s face. Who the hell was Stuart? Could this actually mean Febe’s lapdog had a life outside of work? Or was it Febe’s lover that kept her good and fucked on the side? Nope. That definitely wasn’t the case. Febe was as dry as they came. She hadn’t had sex—

“Please do.”

While Cherish’s question had piqued Haylee’s curiosity, she was flabbergasted by Febe’s response.

Was Febe's voice soft? Airy? Was it full of emotion?

Yes.

But which emotion?

Haylee couldn’t figure that one out either. For someone who was so good at reading situations with friends and lovers, when it came to reading bosses, she was awful. It had cost her so many jobs. She couldn’t let it cost her this one as well.

This was a job she loved, and it was one she had worked her tail off to get and to keep so far. This one was exactly the kind of position she wanted for her future. More than that, it was a job she needed. Her eviction was about to go through, and she needed to sell her car to keep the creditors off her ass.

How much better could it get than that?

Cherish blew out a breath as they stepped out into the main office where their two desks faced each other. Haylee had thought it odd at first. Every time she looked up, she would see Cherish hard at work, bent over her desk doing who knew what. Protecting Febe, that was for sure. Cherish had a line on Febe and any time someone was going to interrupt her she stepped in between them. And she cherished her bark.

“This gala,” Cherish started as soon as Febe’s door was closed. “I’m going to need your help with it.”

“Sure. No problem.” But it was months away. That sounded like she wasn’t going to be fired any time soon at least. That had to be a good sign. Right?

She was such a failure. How no one else managed to see it in seconds was beyond her. She’d somehow managed to fool Cherish, but Haylee was pretty sure she didn’t fool Febe for a second. Febe had to know how much of a failure she was. It would explain why Febe dismissed her every chance she got.

Setting up her desk, Haylee started the preparations to look for new résumés to keep on file. But for what? She still wasn’t entirely sure. Therapists, obviously, but was there something else Febe hadn’t said? Something Haylee was supposed to have figured out? Either way, it would be difficult to get résumés if there was no actual position open or immediately coming up. With a sigh, she started where she knew and began looking for résumés. Maybe she could look for those specializing in veterans and family, just in case. It felt shitty to have to do that without having gotten any interest or affirmation from Febe.

Sure, she’d screwed up the presentation, but the idea had merit. Febe should have seen that. Or was it because Haylee was the one who brought it up?

Why did Cherish get everything she wanted?

Haylee had noticed that the moment she started working there. If Cherish asked for something, Febe gave it. But why?

“What was your idea?”

“Huh?” Haylee looked over the walkway between their desks, meeting Cherish’s bright blue gaze. Cherish tossed her hair over her shoulder as she settled her notepad right where it belonged, in the center of her desk.

“What was the idea you were trying to present to Ms. Aarts?”

“Oh.” Haylee clenched her fists. Fear stole over her, grasping onto her heart and shutting up any type of hope she had for it. “It’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing if you have an idea.”

Haylee thinned her lips. “We have a focus in queer therapy. But there’s such a need to have a specialty on veterans and their families, especially because they move so often. What could it mean to have consistency of care at the touch of a computer screen? I just thought…” Haylee’s voice wobbled, and any gumption she had vanished. “It was a stupid thought.”

“It’s not.” Cherish eyed her. “It’s not a stupid idea, Haylee. And you’re right. It is a need. It’s something we can work on.”

Haylee didn’t respond. Cherish was just placating her, and she wanted nothing to do with it. Her heart hurt. And she needed to talk to her brother to get out of the funk she found herself in. That was the easiest way to find her center again. He’d always managed to do that for her. Haylee looked at the browser on her computer again. “Why does she want résumés?”

“Because there’s going to be some turnover, but mostly because Ms. Aarts is always looking for the next best thing.”

“And what’s that?”