Page 19 of Maid in Heaven

“With all due respect, Ms. Rivers, I’ve been lucky enough to have experiences beyond my degree in the twelve years I worked at Burton Labs, but I’m eager to get back to my roots, and I am certain I could do that here at Jarvis. I studied your business before the interview, and I’d be an asset to your team. You’ve had quite a growth spurt in the last few years. Jarvis is veryphilanthropic with what seems to be a mandatory community service agreement. You’re a business that puts emphasis on its image, and I’m here to contribute to that with my previous experience as a financial advisor.”

Jessica gave a tight smile and nodded. “According to your previously assumed responsibilities, it seems like you were involved in both acquisitions and corporate finance. That’s quite a juggling act.”

“I’ve never shied away from a challenge. Digging into the heart of a company, seeing how it operates, seeing where its strengths and weaknesses are… I feel like I bring a lot of experience and valuable insight with me here.”

Ava watched Jessica’s eyebrows climb up her forehead, worried that it would eventually become a part of her hairline.

“That might be the case, but let’s say I hire you. You work here for a few months, and then a better position comes along, and you jump ship. See why I can’t risk hiring someone with your advanced career history for an almost entry-level accounting position?”

“Well, you can choose to look at it like that, or you can look at the possibilities of my potential upward mobility at what lies ahead here on the pathway to advancement.”

Jessica laughed. “This is a family-owned company. The bossand his sonwork here. If you are looking for another gig as a CRO, like you were, or CFO, that is averyunlikelypossibility.”

Ava’s heart sank. “Is thereanyupward mobility in the future?”

Leaning back in her squeaky office chair, Jessica interlaced her fingers. “We want someone that wants to work until retirement. Someone that we can count on tostay put. We can’t afford to have people jockeying for a better position, especially when they have access to so much critical information. If you’re in accounting here, you’d likelystayin accounting. There is a low ceiling that comes with that role.”

Ava contemplated what having a ceiling at all would feel like.

Suddenly, she felt suffocated.

“I still think this could be a great fit,” Ava lied. She smiled warmly. “I could be a valuable—”

A loud sigh escaped Jessica’s red, matte lips, cutting Ava off mid-sentence. “Thank you for your time.”

Ava felt her courage evaporate in a flash.

“Marjorie really seemed to like you. I was listening to the two of you out there. She has impeccable taste in character.” Jessica’sdeceptively peppy tone contradicted the sinking feeling in Ava’s gut.

“She and I worked together for years. She’s amazing. You’ve got yourself a good one.” Ava forced a sad smile and rose from the seat. “Good luck with filling the position.”

“Thank you, Ms. Quinn.”

With her chin raised, she left the room quietly, nodded to Marge in the reception area, and shut the front door behind her.

7

The frigid temperature seemedto slice right through the windows and vents, forcing the Denali’s heater to fire full-blast. The overcast sky threatened to open up at any moment, promising to unleash inches of snow over the picturesque town. Pulling into the turnoff for Morad Park, all she saw was a sea of snow piled at least a foot high, obscuring the painted lines on the asphalt.

Ava pulled into a vacant corner and placed the vehicle in park. Just beyond the nearby treeline, she spotted Will bundled in a black down coat, dark beanie, and tight jeans, ones that seemed to effortlessly showcase the muscular ass beneath. His handsome face beamed, breath fogging the air around him as he excitedlytosseda tennis ball around for his spirited pug. The dog scrambled wild after itin a flurry of flung snow, diving franticallythrough the driftslike a chubby, fur-covered dolphin.

In the back seat,Kuda whined a melancholic songinto the snot-smeared window,vocalizing his excitement. Unsure of what he wanted to play with more, his body trembled, eyes ping-ponging between the round, chartreuse object and the squat, wrinkled canine darting after it. His huge eyes and pinned-back ears made Ava snicker as she grabbed his leash and held on for dear life as he rocketed fromthe SUV. The force whipped her like a carnival ride, and she swung the door shut just as Kuda yanked her away with hisfierce desire to join the other pup.

“Woah! Kuda!” Ava’s hair swayed beneath the rim of a scarlet knit hat, onethat matched the bold shade of her petticoat. Kuda tugged forward, jerking Ava’s petite figure around with ease. She skidded behind, thick winter boots slick from the frozen mix of muddy snow.

Will’s attention shifted to her. Stubble speckledthe skin below his rosy cheeks and nose,eyes wrinkled in the cornersfrom the smile Ava’s arrival bright to his face. She was stunning, even bundled up.

Kuda finally stopped at the gate.

Ava found her footingand tugged to reign him in.“You go at my pace, buddy. Remember?”

Kuda pranced from one foot to the otherwith an almost electric rush of excitement. As Ava opened the gate,Kuda lurched again,tugging the leashright out of her glovedhand, nearly throwing her into a muddy snowdrift.

“Whoa! Kuda, no! Stop!” Ava shouted, frantic.The small raven-black Pit Bullsprintedaway, dragging his leash in the slush.

Will’s face was suddenly tense, unsure if the sixty-pound canine would attack his seventeen-pound pug.

The dogs quietly wound like a yin-yang, sniffingnearly every inch of the other. Kuda investigated the pug’s pink fleece sweater and abruptly crouched down on his front paws, lowering himself to eye level with the pug. His butt wiggled as he playfully barked at Gremlin.

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