“I still say it’s too soon for you to go back to work.” Her father’s fist tightened around them, his expression conflicted. “You’ve only just begun to get a little color back into your face, and that might be coming from the new pink hair.”
“I love you, Daddy, but the doctordidrelease me. REKD Gaming is only going to keep my intern job open for so long. They’ve already been amazingly patient through my treatment.” Caitlyn continued to wait expectantly. She had to stand firm. Finally, her father’s expression turned resigned, and he dropped the keys into her hand.
Six months was a long time to hold open her job. The surgery had been done just before Christmas, and four monthsof chemo had followed. Caitlyn stood on her tiptoes to kiss her father’s cheek.
“Be sure to use your hand sanitizer.” He pulled her in for a quick hug before stepping back and shoving his hands into his pockets.
“I will. I don’t want to end up back in the ICU either.”
Caitlyn checked her reflection in the hallway mirror one more time. She’d always liked her big eyes, but the thinness of her face now made them stand out too much. The only way to fix that was to eat more. Or keep down more of the food she did manage to eat.
She gave one of the pink spikes of hair a flick, hoping the color change wasn’t a mistake. Caitlyn wanted to distract the office talk from the fact that her long brown hair was gone. She could handle it better if they focused instead on how she matched one of the game’s female warriors. Only a handful of people knew why her hair was now so short, and she intended to keep it that way. Heaving out a breath, she slung her purse over her shoulder and strode from the house.
Caitlyn arrived a few minutes early to meet with the head of HR first. REKD Gaming had only been in Boone for a few years, but it had quickly become a prominent business in the city. If she and her father hadn’t moved here to help care for her maternal grandmother, Caitlyn would have missed out on the opportunity to work for one of the fastest-growing gaming companies in the world.
“Orianna is expecting you,” the HR receptionist said as Caitlyn entered the suite.
“Thanks.” After making her way down the hall to the woman’s office, Caitlyn paused, her hand raised to knock.
“Come in.” Orianna grinned. “Nice hair. Don’t forget to close the door.”
Caitlyn did and took the chair, unable to shake a sense of unease. She’d spoken to Orianna last week and had been worried they meant to let Caitlyn go. Losing her job had been a recurring nightmare during her treatment. Not only did the internship help pay for her college tuition, but it gave her practical work experience in her music major. She slid her trembling hands under her thighs.
Orianna studied her. “The pink was a good choice. It adds a little color to your face, but you still look gaunt, and the dark circles under your eyes are prominent. Are you eating enough?”
The question was one the HR director had asked every time she’d come to visit, either in the hospital or at home. Orianna’s ongoing concern made the back of Caitlyn’s eyes burn.
“I’m doing my best, but the chemo messed with my stomach. My oncologist called it a late-effect. She says it should get better over time.” Caitlyn shrugged.
“Are you up to a change in location?” Orianna asked.
“You mean leave Boone? To do what?”
“Yes, to leave town. Ezreal Wallach has recommended you for a special assignment with interns from the other departments, but Sona Rafferty will give you the details.”
Caitlyn had to bite back asquee. He was her department head and one of REKD Gaming’s four founders. He was such a shy person she hadn’t even realized he’d noticed her until he and his wife had visited Caitlyn in the hospital after her surgery. Orianna had hinted a couple of months earlier that it’d been Ezreal’s decision to keep the intern position open for Caitlyn until she was well enough to return to work.
“He says you’re not only a fine musician but also a leader among the interns,” Orianna said. “He told me he finds it serendipitous your doctor has released you in time to take onthis new assignment. It would require you to spend almost a week in New York City. Would that be a problem?”
Caitlyn let out a long, slow breath. “It would be hard on my father for me to be so far away.”
“He worries about you because of your mother,” Orianna said, the words soft.
“The odds aren’t good with ovarian cancer.” Even after all the doctor’s assurances, Caitlyn had read those words online too many times not to have a chill run down her spine. It was as though, by speaking them aloud, another shovelful was being dug in her grave.
“But your prognosis is much better because they caught yours earlier.”
“Yes.” Caitlyn leaned forward, pulling her hands from under her legs. “But you know my father. Do you really think he’s not going to stress just because it didn’t metastasize like my mother’s? He’s bound to have nightmares it’ll come back while I’m gone.”
“He will, but he also needs to let you live your life.” Orianna watched Caitlyn, her expression assessing. “So, are you going to pass up a great work opportunity because your father will worry about you?”
“Of course not.” Caitlyn would have to explain it to him using Orianna’s words. “The interns will be there alone?” She found the idea exciting but scary.
“No. Kayn Rafferty and his wife will be there too.”
“Oh.” Caitlyn and her father had met both of them at a company event. The Asian couple were friendly and down-to-earth. Maybe Dad would worry less knowing they were there. “Where will we be staying?”
“They’ll explain later. Now that you’ve been forewarned, I should send you off to the meeting with the other team leader.It’s in Sona Rafferty’s office.” Orianna grinned. “I think it’ll be good for you to get away.”
