Page 16 of Love and Cherish

“Yes?” Cherish’s tone was sharper than she wanted it to be.

“I really am sorry. But I promise you that I won’t tell anyone.”

Cherish swallowed the lump in her throat before she could reply. “We have work to do.”

six

The glass door slammed against the wall as Febe stormed into the office. Haylee opened her mouth to say a good morning, but the glare that pinned her to her seat snapped her mouth closed with force. Febe turned her head sharply toward Cherish as though the woman had dared to say or do something without her permission.

Breathing perhaps.

Goosebumps spread over Haylee’s arms and across the back of her neck.

“Cherish, you need to redo the brochures. They look ridiculous and unprofessional. I expect more from anyone using my name to boost their own profile.”

Febe continued to bark orders at Cherish and criticize her efforts on previously praised tasks. Haylee wanted to jump up and deny it, reject what Febe said with a fire of conviction, but every time her mouth opened, she was greeted with silence. Without breaking her stride or waiting for an answer, Febe strutted to her door as though nothing was wrong. But her normally impeccable hair had fallen haphazardly to her shoulders, strands flying across her face. Febe’s voice wavered as her long fingers wrapped around the handle of her door and jerked it open with more force than necessary.

“No one is to disturb me today. If I get a single phone call, everyone involved will be fired on the spot. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, Ms. Aarts,” Cherish answered, that confident tone perfectly in place. Haylee envied she was able to do that.

The door slammed, vibrating the walls in its wake.

This left Precious’s firing in the dust. And had that been actual dirt and grass, maybe a leaf stuck to the back of Febe’s skirt? What the hell was going on? Because Haylee was left in the dark, and she hated not knowing.

Then again, Haylee had never been so grateful for being ignored. She remained frozen at her desk, wondering what the hell had just happened. But no amount of curiosity would get Haylee knocking on that door today.

“What was that?” she asked Cherish, who continued to stare at Febe’s closed door.

Cherish cut her a look, telling her to shut up. Haylee balked, the camaraderie she’d thought they’d built vanishing in an instant. After a few minutes Cherish still hadn’t answered Haylee’s question.

Haylee’s heart ached for her. She had never once seen Febe act so cruelly to Cherish, especially when she definitely didn’t deserve it. Cherish was Febe's bitch, sure, but she had never been Febe’s punching bag. At least not that Haylee had seen. Then again, maybe they were both finally relaxing around her enough to let their true selves come out.

Letting out a deep breath, Haylee dared to risk a peek at Cherish.

She blinked, and then blinked again. Cherish had an unusual look on her face, but it wasn’t the one of hurt or anger that Haylee had expected. In fact, the look almost suited Cherish’s blue eyes and wide mouth, softening both features. Haylee studied her a few seconds longer before realizing what the look held.

Sympathy.

Compassion.

It was a stark difference from the adoring crush she had caught Cherish following Febe with. Haylee definitely knew which one she preferred, but for the life of her, couldn’t fit it with the tornado she had just witnessed. A tornado that would have ripped her to shreds.

The iciness that had remained around Cherish dissolved in an instant as she caught Haylee looking at her.

“I’m okay.” Cherish smiled, as genuine a smile as Haylee had ever seen on her. “She knows I won’t take it personally. I never do.”

“Never?” Haylee gaped. What the hell had she missed? How often did this happen?

“Mark this day in your calendar, Haylee.”

“What? Why?” Haylee grabbed her mouse and clicked open the calendar, typing in big bold letters BATSHIT CRAZY and scheduling it on a yearly repeat. She wasn’t even sure she would still be here this time next year. She hoped to be, but her track record wasn’t proving to make that a strong possibility.

“Because this…” Cherish waved her arms around, encompassing the office before stopping at Febe’s door, “…will happen again.”

“Again? What the hell, Cherish?” That snapped her out of her own misery.

“Every single year.” Cherish nodded, a sad smile on her face as she got up from her desk with the gentle tap of fingertips on the edge before the soft whoosh of wheels. Haylee observed Cherish with every fiber of her being as she walked over. The gentle sway of her hips, the curves of her body, the curves of her cheeks that led to her lips—plump, kissable lips. Cherish had a nice walk in those heels, one that could hypnotize the right person. Which was definitely not Haylee. She wasn’t hypnotized or distracted at all.

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