Page 86 of Love and Cherish

Febe Aarts stood on the other side, her high cheeks a rosy red, her hair pinned up in a perfect bun, her vivid blue eyes wide, and her thin lips parted in surprise. Haylee cowered.

What the hell else was she supposed to do?

She was supposed to be sick.

She was supposed to be home and resting for the day.

Not talking to the enemy.

Wait. Enemy?

If Febe was here…

“What are you doing here?” Febe’s tone was sharp, and it snapped Haylee back to attention.

“I…uh…” Haylee couldn’t find a single word for the life of her. She was so fired for this. Not just calling in sick but for flat out lying to her boss. She was doomed.

“Answer me, Haylee.” Febe’s voice was louder by the second.

If they weren’t careful, Allegra would hear them. And whatever resources she might have would be out the window in a second flat.

“I had a scheduled meeting.”

“You what?” Febe narrowed her eyes, flicking them over Haylee’s shoulder and presumably toward Allegra’s office.

Haylee grimaced, and when she looked at the young man sitting at the front desk, she knew he was about to get the show of a lifetime. “I had a scheduled meeting.”

“For what exactly?”

“I don’t have to share that with you.”

“Like hell you don’t.” Febe spun on her toe and stalked down the hall.

Haylee raced to catch up, knowing exactly where they were both headed. Maybe this had been what Allegra was hoping to avoid. Febe didn’t even knock as she burst into the office, the entire feel of what it had been before—a comfortable place—was gone now.

“Are you trying to steal my employees?” Febe lobbed the accusation carelessly.

“No.” Allegra stood up, sending Haylee a pitying glance. She walked around her desk, as if to put herself between them. “I don’t have the budget to hire a new employee. You know that, considering we’re meeting today to discuss my current budget.” Another glance at Haylee told her that had been exactly why Allegra had pushed her out of the office so quickly. “And you’re conveniently thirteen minutes early.”

“What is she doing here then?” Febe threw her hand out to her side in Haylee’s direction, like that was going to explain everything they needed to know.

Allegra’s lips thinned, and she sat on the edge of her desk. Was that defeat or was it just understanding? “Haylee, I think you should answer that one.”

“I think that’s not a good idea.” Haylee cowered.

“I don’t think you have a choice.” Allegra looked at her directly.

Haylee choked. Febe slowly turned, anger still riding in her shoulders. Her entire body posture told Haylee that this wasn’t going to end well no matter what she did. So she might as well suck it up and explain it one more time.

“I came to talk to Ms. Ilic about helping those on the fringes of the military. You weren’t helpful, so I thought she might be able to help or at least point me in the right direction.”

“This again?” Febe droned.

“Yes. This again!” Haylee bit her tongue. She was practically yelling at her boss. But at this point, she knew she was as good as fired. The dream of paying off her credit cards was out the window. “Because it’s important! I’m not talking about those in the military or even their immediate families. I’m talking about the people who don’t have resources. The nieces and nephews, the adult siblings, the friends. They need specialized care when they’re struggling with someone being in the military or retiring from the military or hell, dying during duty.”

Febe pursed her lips.

“And I knew you wouldn’t listen, so why would I even try again? But I needed that help, Ms. Aarts. And no one was there for me. For three years, I was drowning because my brother’s best friend, my best friend, died—” Haylee’s voice cracked as a sob threatened to steal through her. She had to get a grip on herself. “No one deserves to go through that. With the resources you have, we can reach those people who are slipping through the cracks. But since you wouldn’t help, I turned to Ms. Ilic who is also reaching some of these individuals. Maybe she’ll help them, unlike you.”

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