She sighs and waves her hand toward the computer. “You neglected to assign the contact to me, Eden. That means that Tomlinson is stuck in the system without a contact owner.” Everything else she says is a blur of buzzwords and jargon that I don’t think I could repeat if my life depended on it. What I guess from her gesturing and tone is that I didn’t pass along the message the right way.
“Wait,” I say. “So, he’s the guy who wanted the call back about the competing rate?”
Michelle’s tone is condescending as she says, “You do remember. So, what? Is this all an act, then? I’m so flustered, I can’t remember my own password.”
My mouth falls open. “Are you mocking me?”
Michelle backpedals immediately. “I’m sorry. That was inappropriate. But you have to understand mistakes like this, carelessness about the tiniest details, those are the kinds of things that cost me money, Eden. Clients at this level expect a certain type of professionalism and service. You’re just not meeting the expectations I had for you.”
I’m not meeting expectations… I don’t need a finance degree to know what that means.
“I’m not working out here,” I say, not waiting for her to agree. “You took a chance on me, and I’m not good enough. Say no more.”
“Eden, wait.” Michelle leans her butt against the side of my desk. “I thought I could do something good for you, make up to Vito all the shit I put him through in the past. I still think you can learn this stuff. You just have to try harder. Pay attention. Care more. You have to act as though every client’s business means the difference between making money and losing face.”
I shake my head. “No,” I say. “Michelle, I don’t know why you thought offering me a job was a good idea. If you have shit to work out with Vito, see a shrink. He’s moved on, and this…” I wave my hand around. “I don’t need these kinds of favors from anyone.” Since I haven’t even put my purse down, I don’t have to do anything but turn and march out of there. I start to, but then I turn back.
“Michelle,” I say, “I looked up to you. I looked forward to learning from someone whom I thought saw something in me. But you’ve treated me just like you treated Vito. You want me to be better, faster, more than I am. You could have been more patient, but that would have just convinced me I should try harder at something that I already know isn’t right for me.” I clutch my purse and nod at her. “Thank you for the opportunity. I have learned a lot in the time I’ve worked for you, and I sincerely do appreciate that. I wish you all the best.”
I turn on my heel and don’t wait for her to fire me before I walk out.
It’s still early. Today, Sassy and Lucia took Juniper and Ethan over to a massive sports complex that Gracie’s husband Ryder manages.
Before I even realize what’s happening, I’m heading to downtown Star Falls. It’s not even noon yet, but sometimes Gracie goes to her sister-in-law’s bookstore for coffee and peanut butter crisps before she starts work.
I park my car outside the bookstore and head inside. Chloe is at the front desk, tapping away at something on her iPad.
“Eden?” She comes around the counter and gives me a huge hug. I haven’t spent a ton of time with Chloe over the last few months. Since she owns the bookstore, she doesn’t come to Lucia’s brunches, but she is a fixture at Sunday night family dinners.
I’m not as close to her as I am to Gracie, but I hope that can change in time.
“Hey, Chloe.” I give her a weak hug and then sigh. “Any chance you have a book that can help me decide what to be when I grow up?”
“Oh God.” She motions toward the back of the shop. “This sounds like a coffee and treat situation. You have time?”
I nod. “Nothing but time.”
She runs to the back to grab some coffee, and I stroll through the children’s book aisle and pick up a book for Junie, and then I wander back to the counter and pay for it.
“So…” Chloe pushes a coffee and a peanut butter crisp toward me.
“Mmm,” I purr over the yummy treat. “These are amazing. I’d love to learn how to bake if you’re willing to teach me someday,” I tell her. “You don’t have to give away your recipe for these, but I’d love to learn to bake anything. I’m pretty basic in the kitchen.”
Chloe nods. “Of course. I have some great cookbooks, too, I can loan you if you like to read. I don’t keep a huge stock on hand in the store because so many people now are finding their recipe inspirations online. But I’ll bring some to Sunday dinner for you.”
When she says that, my throat goes a little bit dry and it’s not from the cookie. She says it—she’ll bring me something when she sees me at the next family dinner, like it’s the most normal thing in the world.
Since when did having things like family dinners become so normal to me?
I feel like so much about my life is changing so fast, and instead of being scared or resisting it, I’m just happy. At least, with my home life and family, that is.
“What’s this about needing help with what you want to be when you grow up?”
I sigh. “I don’t know. I want to have a job that I love. Work that matters, you know? How did you know you wanted to do this?”
An elderly lady wearing a pair of bright-red-framed eyeglasses comes in and goes right up to the counter. She greets me in a very loud voice, and her colorful clothes make me think of Lucia’s lady gang. The woman has perfectly styled white hair, and though she’s pretty tiny and bent over, she’s got a lot of spunk.
“Sorry to barge in.” She sets a hand knotted by age on the counter, her nails painted bright red just like her glasses. “Chloe, I’m on the hunt for a book, doll. What do you get for the man who has everything?”
