2
“I can’t believe I had to hear it from Dylan. We’re supposed to be best friends. Why didn’t you tell me you applied for a job here?” Sofia snapped.
Charlene knew eventually she’d be getting this call. Actually she expected it before now. How had she gone through the interview process and it not slipped out then? The explanation was simple and honest.
“Sofia, if I had told you, then you’d have told Dylan and he’d have pulled strings to help me get the job.” Or stand in my way. Not really sure.
“What’s wrong with that? Friends help friends,” Sofia stated firmly. “Really, it’s the least I can do for everything you’ve done for me over the years.”
Charlene didn’t keep score, and if she did, she’d probably owe Sofia. “Making you laugh or setting you up on a few blind dates doesn’t qualify.”
“That’s for sure. Your taste in men is severely lacking. I can’t believe I ever wanted to date again after.”
“Hey, it wasn’t all my fault. You begged me to fix you up with them,” she tried defending herself.
“Beg might be an exaggeration,” Sofia replied. “And stop trying to change the subject. We are discussing the job.”
Charlene should’ve known Sofia wasn’t going to give up. “Sofia, I wasn’t trying to hurt your feelings by not telling you. If I had, I’d never know if I got the job on my own.”
“I get it. You want to prove something to them.”
“No. Prove it to myself. I’m...not as confident as I used to be.”
Sofia said softly, “Does this have to do with Sal marrying Rori instead of you?”
Charlene laughed. “Are you kidding me? Sal had shot down my affections most of my life. That didn’t mean I didn’t enjoy flirting and teasing him, but I’d given up on him long ago. Besides, it’s not like I had a dress picked out or anything.” That didn’t mean she still wasn’t shocked by the change in Sal. The childhood crush had made her wish it had been her, but the woman inside knew they weren’t a match.
“I vaguely remember you saying it would be a big puffy princess dress that you’d…”
“I was ten. I still played with dolls then too. Trust me Sofia, I’m not all torn up inside about Sal.”
“Then what is wrong?” Sofia asked.
“I’d like to think positive. Nothing is wrong. Things are going right,” Charlene said.
“For the both of us,” Sofia said. “So what do you say about meeting me and Liliana for lunch?”
“I’d love to, but I can’t. I don’t want my boss to think I’m not serious.”
Sofia laughed. “Oh whatever you do, please don’t become as serious as Charles.”
Charlene got it. The interview was one of the driest she’d ever been on. At no point did she even try to lighten things up, mostly for fear that once she started gabbing, she wouldn’t be able to stop. “He’s not so bad. Now if you don’t mind, I have to go into the building before security thinks I’m loitering and has me removed.”
“Okay. But now since I know you’re in Manhattan, I expect you to be stopping by when you’re not working.”
“You bet. And I’ll expect some home cooked meals too,” she teased before ending the call.
Before she could even walk through the door, she heard a familiar voice from behind her.
“Having second thoughts about working for us?” Seth said.
Charlene forced a smile and turned to greet him. “Good morning Mr. Lawson.”
“No need for such formalities here,” he said as he held the door open for her. “Seth is fine. If you are speaking to any members of the press, which I hope you don’t, then strictly refer to us as Lawson.”
It struck her odd at first, and then she quickly put the pieces together. “Keep the target off any specific brother. Got it.”
She noticed his jaw tense and his eyes darkened as he fought to control his building anger. That wasn’t about to discourage her.