“I would adore having your help. But we can’t afford to pay you. I’m not getting paid on this either.”
“So? Not everybody has paid internships to begin with. I had enough overtime with Helios since you left that I can cover my expenses for a while, and it wouldn’t be a big deal to sublet my half of the apartment. Cost of living here is bound to be a fraction of what it is in the city. What do you say? I could stay here and finish out the semester working for you.”
To have part of her team back was an absolute dream. “We’d have to clear it with your advisor at school, make sure they’re okay with the change, but yeah. I’d absolutely love to have you.”
“Awesome! Christoff, you should come, too.”
“Darling, can you really imagine me here for any length of time? I mean, it’s charming, but…”
She nudged his shoulder. “It’d give you a chance to get to know the cute barista we saw earlier today.”
He angled his head in consideration. “Well, I could at least stick around until this vote is over. Seems like you need all the help you can get.”
“That we can,” Norah said. “I’ve got a presentation about my rural tourism campaign for Wishful that would really benefit from y’all’s input.”
They lost themselves in the familiar and comfortable rhythm of shoptalk as she outlined her main concepts. It felt amazing to have the give and take, other brains that knew how hers worked and sparked new ideas in an instant.
“So are we agreed for now?” Norah asked. “The Dream Team back together again for this one last project?”
“I’m in.” Cecily stuck her hand out over the table.
“Oh, what the hell.” Christoff added his hand to the mix.
Norah covered them both with her own hand and squeezed. “I’m so glad the two of you are here.”
Her phone vibrated. Wondering who was calling so late when everyone she knew was here, she slipped it out. And promptly lost all sense of pleasure when she saw her attorney’s name on the display. Instinctively she looked for Cam. He was across the room in deep conversation with Tucker and Tyler. The phone buzzed again. She’d find him after.
“Excuse me, I need to take this.” Norah answered, “Hang on just a sec,” and hurried outside, away from all the noise. “Sorry about that, Marcus.”
“I’m interrupting.”
“No, you’re not. Really. What’s up? It’s awfully late for you to be calling.” Please God, don’t let them be in trouble.
“It is, and I’m sorry about that. But there’s been a…development.”
“A development?”
“One I think you definitely need to hear about.”
Oh no. She wrapped her free hand around the back of a bench, clenched it until her knuckles turned white.
“I heard from Helios’ attorney. It seems they’ve had a change of heart from their original position.”
“Oh?” She hoped she didn’t squeak.
“They’re offering a settlement. A severance package of six months’ salary, plus all your legal fees.”
“That’s better than nothing, but six months’ salary isn’t going to help me if no one will hire me because of the damage to my reputation,” she said.
“That’s where it gets interesting. I have, in my hands, documented retractions and a glowing letter of recommendation for you, signed by Philip Vargas himself.”
“That’s…I don’t even know what to say. Is it legit?”
The door opened behind her. She knew without turning that it was Cam.
“It’s a hell of an offer. You could take it to trial and hold out for more money in damages, but I’m not sure you’d get anywhere and it might destroy whatever temporary insanity possessed him to make this offer.”
Cam moved in behind her, grasping the bench on either side. She leaned into him but didn’t release her hold.