I didn't get this position because of a relationship. I got it because I showed up for everything, not just the things I was paid to show up for. That's the difference. Silence. The rumors stopped, Daniel said.
Not a request. Not for me, for the staff, because it's affecting the working environment, and that's not fair to anyone in this kitchen. He held Kevin's gaze. Are we good? Kevin was quiet for a long moment.
Then, yeah, he said quietly. We're good. He left. Daniel stood in the cold air of the walk-in for another minute, letting his pulse settle. And then he went back to work.
He didn't tell Marcus. He didn't tell Victoria. He handled it and moved on. But that evening when he was on the train home and Victoria texted him asking how his day was, he typed. Handled something I'd been putting off.
Glad it's done, she replied. Good then. You okay? He better actually. Her reply came immediately.
Good. That's how it's supposed to feel. He stared at that for a moment and then he smiled and the man sitting across from him on the red line, glanced over and then looked away because apparently smiling on the train was unusual enough to warrant a look. The science fair was Thursday. Daniel arrived at Amara's school at 6:15 with the project, a trifold board, a deep sea diorama with functioning LED lights in blue and green, and a printed bibliography that Amara had insisted on because she had read that real scientist always cited their sources, and Amara arrived in her good dress, purple cast cleaned up, hair in two puffs that Daniel had mastered over four years of YouTube tutorials.
He was setting up the display table when he heard Amara, two tables down, go completely still. He turned. Victoria was walking through the gymnasium door. She was not in her CEO clothes. She was in dark jeans and a blazer and the kind of low-key put together that said she had thought about what to wear to a 9-year-old school science fair and had made a correct decision.
She was carrying a small sign cardboard handlettered that said team Amara in large green letters with small drawings of what were clearly meant to be angler fish in the corners. Daniel stared. Amara stared. Then Amara said in a voice that was trying very hard to sound casual. You came.
You said Thursday. Victoria said stopping at the table. This is Thursday. I didn't. Amara stopped.
I didn't officially invite you. You texted me the project title and the start time. Victoria said, "That's an invitation." Daniel looked at his daughter. Amara had texted Victoria the project title and the start time.