Page 15 of Juicy Pickle

“I don’t think it’s a good look for the boss,” I say.

“All right,” she says. “I understand.” She hesitates. “A lot of people at Dougherty say you’re made of stone. But I know better.” She turns to hurry down the hall.

So, people say I’m made of stone.

I guess I really have played the boss.

But maybe I’ve taken the role too far. I was hard on Bailey. I had my reasons.

I turn back to the binders. There’s no fixing this problem. I’m in charge. I have to keep the ship afloat.

And right now, that’s both figurativeandliteral.

7

BAILEY

Oh, no. It’s Kenna, Viola’s new bestie.

I don’t turn away from the rail of the ship. My insides flash hot, like someone’s set off a sparkler in my chest.

But we’re in the middle of the ocean. I can see that from all sides. What can anyone do to me now?

I spin to face her. “Hello, Kenna.” I take in her black yoga capris and oversized pink shirt withBack Offin huge black letters. I like it.

Her cheeks are flushed. “What are you doing here? Mr. Armstrong fired you weeks ago.”

I shrug. “I felt entitled to the trip. So I came.”

Her dark eyes go wide, making her pale face and pink cheeks more dramatic. Her brown hair is pulled back so tightly into a ponytail that I can almost hear her follicles crying out in pain. “You really did that?”

I gesture to my pink dress. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

“They let you on?” She’s still in shock.

“I had a boarding pass. We were issued them before my completely undeserved firing.”

“But you cost the company half a million dollars.”

That again. “Where’s Viola?”

“She went off looking for Mr. Armstrong.”

“What for?” Surely she’s not going to try to make a move on a company trip.

Kenna shrugs. “She wanted to find his room.”

So sheisgoing to go for it. She’s lost her mind. That man isnotworth it.

“Is that wise?”

“You know Viola.”

I do. And now Kenna does. Jealousy boils in me for a moment. “She dumped me.”

“I know.”

“So, you two hang out?”

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