It’s not like I wasseriouslythinking I’d get that job, right? The description was pretty far outside my wheelhouse, I’ll admit. Growth strategy, social media networking, freelance client management. Honestly, I’m better suited to reconciling expense line items.
Applying was interview practice. A what-if question that never merited a real answer. Considering it anything else would be ridiculous.
I should’ve stayed in my lane. Finance is my lane. And the stupid part is, I love finance. Why did I betray finance?!
Actually. I know exactly why.
I was trying to make a dead woman proud of me.
“But I have some good news, too,” Molly goes on.
I look up from where my eyes were burning holes in the table.
“Right now,Bite the Handis stilltechnicallya magazine vertical. It doesn’t have an independent domain or revenue stream.”
Come on, Molly. I already know all this. I’m the one who prepares the financial statements.
“Right,” I say. “Their revenue and expenses hitFrame’s bottom line.”
“For now,” Molly counters. “The BTH team wants to convince the board to vote in favor of launching a subsidiary, but to hit their timeline, they’ll need hard-core financial planning.”
I visibly brighten up, intrigued. Molly seems relieved at the sight of it.
“Here’s the deal,” she says. “You know how your boss has been griping for months that accruals belong with Accounting?”
“Accrualsdobelong with Accounting,” I echo.
She fights an eye roll, clearly unimpressed with our interdepartmental warfare. “He got it approved through Change Management, which means you’ll have some free time to work withBite the Hand.”
“Really?” I ask, in pure disbelief at my sudden change in luck. No more accrualsandan opportunity to work for BTH?
“It’s not a new job or anything,” Molly jumps to add, and my bubble pops just a little. What she’s really saying isit’s not a raise or anything.“But Little Cooper is committed to servicing you in the best way that also services the company.”
I do my best to ignore the way she refers to LC as a sentient being. It’s weird.
Molly pauses. Leans forward. “And, Casey,” she murmurs, “don’t forget about your long-term goals we discussed in your last performance review.”
Molly, girl, I could never.
“If you help get this vertical ready to launch, you’ll be on track for that London transfer you’ve been considering.” Molly chuckles and reclines. “It’s a competitive office, but with that level of success under your belt, the transfer is all but guaranteed. You’d probably have your pick from a handful of jobs over there.”
My fingers unclasp, nail tips pressing into the wooden tabletop as my mind starts spinning. “The London office?” I might as well have said Narnia or Neverland for all the childlike wonder my voice betrays.
After all, it’s not like I’ve ever visited London in person—even though it’s where my mother was raised. To me, the whole concept of “abroad” is just a fairy tale. But I told Molly I was interested in a transfer because at twenty-four, I’m the same age now my mom was when she moved to the United States. And so the whole plan just seemed kind of… fated, or whatever.
Molly nods. “As early as next summer.”
My teeth pinch at my bottom lip while I process this information.
Yesterday, I would have jumped at this opportunity. And if I’m honest, I want a London transfer evenmorethan I wanted that project manager job. But I’m scared wishing for London will turn out just like this did. What if, when it comes down to it, I’m told again I’m not good enough? That the beginning and end of my worth is only that I’m a girl who’s good with numbers?
But… the London office probably needs people like me, too. So maybe I can just… be who I am.
In London.
The more I think about it, the more I realize this whole situation is kind of perfect. Because this—moving there—would meansomething to her, too. My mother. She would’ve been proud of this, I think.
“Okay,” I tell Molly, a fever of excitement already brewing like the first drips of coffee inside me. Little Cooper may have given the project manager position to someone else, but at least they’re making room for me, too.
