CHAPTER SEVEN
643 Words
The Uneasy one
Late Thursday morning
Sunlight filters through tall windows, phones rings softly. Berly types steadily at her desk, laser focused on formatting a client's pitch for Liam's afternoon meeting.
Across the room, Yvette was leaning on one elbow, pretending to skim through an email, her eyes weren't on her screen - they were on Berly.
The new girl has lasted for a month and counting. Thirty days of early arrivals. Quiet competency.
No meltdowns.
No typos in board reports.
No coffee spilled on client's suits.
Yvette clicked her pen Once. Twice. Stopped.
It wasn't that Berly was flashy. If anything she was too quiet - too polite. But Liam hadn't raised his voice at her once. He hadn't barked “Get out”. He barely spoke to Berly but Yvette noticed the difference.
He trusted her.
“ She's not even trying ”. She muttered
That's what made it worse. Berly didn't flirt. Didn't joke. Didn't show off. And yet she was being noticed. Not loudly - but clearly.
A co-worker happened to be passing by,
“ You alright Yvette?”
She quickly snapped back
“ Fine. Just tired of fixing other people's sloppy formatting ”.
But her screen was still blank. The co-worker contemplated on whether to remind her but later walked away.
Berly across the room stood to drop a file into Liam's office. She barely made a sound walking to his door but Yvette followed her eyes. Through the glass office wall, she could see Liam glance up. Berly said something probably just confirming the time of the pitch. Liam gave the smallest nod.
Not a smile.
But not a scowl either.
When Berly turned and walked away. Yvette noticed something that made her heart skip. Liam watched her leave for a second too long. Her expression hardened.
Later that day, during lunch she sat across from another analyst and dropped her voice low.
“Have you noticed how comfortable Berly has gotten?”
“ She's doing a good job, I guess.” Peter said
“Maybe. Or maybe Mr Liam just likes her type quiet.” She said but got no reply
She smiled tightly. The kind of smile that looked friendly - but wasn't. She quickly added.
“ I'd just hate to see someone rise too fast. You know how this place works. Favorites don't last.”
*****. *****
Quiet evening. Rain taps slowly on the windows. Lily sits on the living room rug sorting laundry, still in her school uniform. Berly stands in the kitchen doorway, watching her with a tired smile.
“ You're doing my laundry now?”
Not looking up Lily replied.
“Mandy had work late and I thought... maybe if I help more, you wouldn't send me back to the dorm.
Berly crosses the room, crouches beside her and takes the laundry from her hands.
“Lily, you don't have to earn your place here.”
“But you already do everything. And Mandy's working overtime too. I just... I don't want to be in the way.”
Berly pulls her into a hug, voice softer now.
“ You're not in the way. You're my little sister. you're allowed to be messy and tired and scared. That's part of being sixteen.”
Just then Mandy walks in, soaked from the rain, drops her umbrella by the door before closing the door. She grins.
“Did I miss the heart - to - heart talk? Dang it. I was hoping to cry with y'all tonight.”
Lily laughs through a sniffle, and Berly reaches for the blanket on the couch and tossed it to Mandy.
“Thanks.” She added,
“ If you're staying, Lil - Belle you better know that this place runs on tea, memes and emotionally repressed sarcasm.”
“ Sounds like home.” Lily said smiling.
- Writer
