Page 45 of Love in Training
I stare at him. He knows my answer. We’ve talked about it annually at my employee review for the last five years, but I decide to play along. “I want to tell people’s stories.”
“Okay. So you’re telling Colin Vanderpool’s story?”
“What?No.” Rufus stops chewing and looks up when I raise my voice. “Did you even read my article? I’ve never spoken to Colin Vanderpool. This piece is about his wife. And the thousands of other women affected by the Unmatched app.”
Randall looks back at me with a slow smile.
“Herstory is important. We both know that,” he goes on. “But if you don’t tell it, someone else will. And they’ll most certainly make it about him.”
I hold his gaze for another moment, then let out a low breath. Because he’s right.
“And it isn’t just this story.” His voice grows gentler. “I’m thinking about your career, Caprice. I know what happened last year was scary. But this is your chance to prove you’re not going to let anyone bully you out of a profession where you’re destined for stardom.”
My chest fills at his words. But my gaze drops to my lap. “What if I’m scared?”
He doesn’t reply right away. Instead, he calls the dog. Rufus jumps right up and eagerly follows directions as Randall runs him through random commands. He tells him to sit, stay, and roll over, getting on the floor with him to play and rub his belly while I pull dog hairs off my slacks.
“God, this guy is smart,” my boss says.
“He likes you,” I mutter. “Maybe your dog needs a brother.”
He chuckles. “My daughter’s allergic, or I’d take him in a heartbeat.” He glances up at me. “You’re not really a dog person, are you?”
Before I can answer, someone knocks on the door, then opens it without waiting for an answer. Rufus goes from upside down on the floor wagging his tail to charging across the room, snarling and gnashing his teeth, in a split second.
“Jesus!” Brian sees him and retreats so fast he forgets to look superior, slamming the door between him and the dog just as Rufus launches for his neck. “Goddamn, Caprice,” he shouts through the wood. “I’m reporting this to HR!”
Rufus stands growling and barking at the door until Brian apparently goes away. Then he comes over to where I’ve drawn my body into a tight, tense ball in my chair, and licks my hand.
Randall busts out laughing.
“Well done, Rufus.” He claps his hands, then looks at me. “Maybe your new companion can help keep the bad guys at bay.”
I stare at the dog, who stares back with those golden eyes, and a surprisingly loyal expression. “You sound like my brother,” I mumble.
Only Theo would definitelynotapprove of me publishing this article. He’s team barista all the way.
The thing is, I made my decision before I even walked in here. And the damn dog had zero to do with it. I uncurl myself from the chair, inserting my feet back into my heels. “I think we both know safety is never a guarantee.” I sigh. “But I guess I don’t mind some added protection.”
“So I can print it?” Randall clarifies.
“You know I’m not going to just sit back and watch someone else break my story.”
My boss’s whole demeanor shifts. He doesn’t fist-pump, but his bushy eyebrows basically do. “All right. It’ll go out online and in the print edition next week,” he says, opening his laptop. “Ican’t lie, I’m happy theObserverwill get to drop this. But I want you to tell me immediately ifanyissues arise.”
“Will do,” I mutter. “And... thanks for the raise.”
“You deserve it.” He straightens in his chair, the glimmer returning to his eye. “And it’ll put you in a better position to negotiate your salary elsewhere.”
I roll my eyes, feeling certain of nothing except the need to see this through. For Mimi Vanderpool, for Lydia... and maybe for myself.
“Whatever. See if HR will accommodate my ‘support animal.’” I sigh. “And tell Brian he might want to keep some Milk-Bones in his pockets from now on.”
“You’ve got it,” Randall says, smirking.
“And can someone else take the assignment desk now?”
He narrows his eyes. “Tell you what—let’s wait till this drops on Wednesday. Then I’ll hand it to Jana.”
