Page 126 of February

“Thanks, Mom. Sorry, she’s blaming you for this. I told her that this is whatIwant, but she’s decided that you had something to do with this.”

“It’s not your fault. I’ll handle it, okay?”

“Okay. Thanks.”

“I’ve got to go now, Aaron. I love you.”

“Love you, too,” he replied. “Oh, and how’s Bridgette?”

“Goodbye, Aaron,” she said on a laugh and hung up.

???

Monica had decided that it would be better to talk to Bridgette in person, so after getting ready, she’d walked to the office and let herself in.

“Morning,” Dan said with a smile.

“Morning,” she replied.

Bridgette’s desk was empty, so Monica headed to the conference room. Finding no one in there, she walked to the break room and found that empty, too.

“Have you seen Bridgette? Is she in the bathroom?” she asked Dan.

“She hasn’t been in yet. Dale’s in the office, though.” He nodded to the closed office door.

“Okay. Thanks.”

She headed that way and knocked.

“Come in,” Dale said.

Monica opened the door and said, “Good morning.”

“Morning,” he replied.

“Have you seen Bridgette this morning?” she asked.

“No.Youhaven’t?” he asked back.

“Me? No. Why would I? I just got–”

“Bridgette told us about you two yesterday,” he said as he closed his laptop. “After you left.”

“She did?” Monica said, surprised. “Oh. I didn’t think she’d do that until the dust settled.”

She walked farther into the office and closed the door behind her.

“Well, I think the circumstances warranted it.”

“Circumstances?”

“You’re leaving soon.”

“Oh,” she said. “The company is in the midst of a transition I wasnotprepared for when I came here.”

“She mentioned something about that. Congratulations, by the way,” Dale said. “Do you want to sit?”

“I don’t want to interrupt. And it’s not a guarantee yet. Just because my father wants me for the role, doesn’t mean everyone does. There are two other candidates I can easily see the board picking over me. One of them is more qualified, so he’s got a good chance. If I were the board, I’d pick him.”

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