Page 97 of It Starts With A No

“So he’s not isolating you and secretly abusive.”

Clary chuckled. “I assure you he isn’t, and I assure you that I wouldn’t stand for such abuse. Not even once.”

Because it would never be just once.

She’d seen it over and over again while working at Safe Homes.

Andrea nodded. “All right, then.” She slapped her thighs lightly. “Now I can quit with that off my mind.”

“You’re quitting?”

The detective brought her ankle to her knee. “It’s impossible to work there.” She dropped her foot back to the ground almost immediately. “I don’t know. Maybe I’ll just move and apply to another police department—one that’s more idealistic.” She rolled her eyes. “Since, apparently, I’m too idealistic.”

“You’re young. You’re supposed to be idealistic.”

Andrea’s eyes slitted. “I graduated top of my class. I—”

“I didn’t say you’re incapable. My Grandma Moretti would say I’m too idealistic, and Mr. E would argue that young people are supposed to be idealistic. I’m just regurgitating.”

Andrea laughed once. “Yours paid off. A CEO at thirty. I’m twenty-three, living in a dump, and have no idea what I’m going to do after I quit.”

Clary took a cup of coffee from the brown bag. “Have you had breakfast? Do you want to share?”

“I’m not in the mood to eat,” Andrea said. “Please go ahead.”

Clary took a sip of the coffee before continuing, “Moving won’t change your problem. There’s always an oppressive boss or superior in every organization, always a boys’ club who will make you feel you’re worth nothing.”

Andrea’s brows rose. “No way.”

“What? You think that there isn’t a boys’ club at the bank?”

“You have to deal with that here?”

This is the help God sent. Clary set down her coffee. “Your partner seems fairly respectful of you, though.”

“Murphy’s okay, I guess. He puts up with me because he’s afraid of my father.”

“Who’s your father?”

“The police commissioner.”

Clary tipped her head back. “Right.”

This is your help. She drew a breath through her nose as the gut feeling rose again. Seriously, Lord? Her father’s the police commissioner and you want me to hire her as my assistant?

“Everyone pretends to be nice to me,” Andrea continued. “But they won’t stop gossiping behind my back. Whatever I do, it’s always judged in light of my father.” She shrugged. “I just want to achieve something on my own. I know it sounds stupid, but …”

Ask her. “Come here and work for me,” Clary said.

“As security?”

“No, as my assistant.” She pursed her lips. How much was Tamara being paid? Probably more than a detective, right? How else could Tamara afford all that diamond jewelry? “The pay’s good. The workplace is equally toxic, and your father won’t be here to help you.”

Andrea laughed. “That isn’t all that enticing.”

“I want to change it. We can change it. We can fix this place and make things right for the families screwed over by this messed-up corporation.”

The detective—and hopefully soon-to-be her assistant—hooked a corner of her lips back. “That’s very idealistic.”

---