Page 71 of Fixer for the Billionaire

"There. Good as new," she declares with a proud grin.

The rain around us has finally let up, and for a brief moment, the sun peeks out from behind the clouds.

In that moment, I want to smile, to thank her for not only fixing my car but also for being a constant source of support and laughter in my life lately.

But instead, I feel a burn in my nose and prickling in my eyes. All signs of the tears I've been holding back for the past two days.

So I do what any self-respecting, career-driven, grown adult woman would do.

I burst into tears.

Right there on the side of the road, in front of my employee and friend, with my car half-propped on a jack.

Uncontrollable sobs rack through me as all the emotions I've been bottling up finally spill out. It's a release of stress, frustration, and the overwhelming feeling I've been carrying around.

With a gentle hand on my shoulder, Freddie leans in, hugging me, and whispers, "It's okay. Let it out."

And I do. I let myself admit the one thing I've been trying so hard to deny.

"I can't do this alone."

Just like that, the floodgates open and everything comes pouring out.

My doubts, my fears, my struggles with work-life balance, and the feeling of constantly juggling too many responsibilities.

But Freddie listens.

She doesn't judge or offer unsolicited advice. She simply listens, letting me get everything off my chest as I give in to the universe and let go of my need to control everything.

After what feels like an eternity, I finally calm down. The tears slow to a stop, and I sniffle, glancing over at Freddie with a sheepish smile.

"Sorry about the waterworks."

She just laughs and squeezes my hand. "No need to apologize. We all have those moments where we just need to let it out."

"Thanks," I say, wiping at my eyes with the back of my hand. "I don't know what I would have done without you, Freddie. You've been a lifesaver through all of this."

"We're in this together, girl," she says with a smile. "You don't have to do it alone. That's what friends are for."

"Yeah." I grin. "We really are friends, aren't we?"

"I think we passed that point about a thousand work-inappropriate conversations ago," Freddie teases.

"Right. I'm sorry if I used you as a stand-in for Jenny."

"Please, no apology necessary. I prefer being the Freddie in this friendship."

"Thanks, Freddie. Seriously." She just nods, and we sit in comfortable silence for a moment before I glance at my watch. "We should probably get back to work."

"Yeah, yeah. Back to reality." Freddie sighs. "Or…we can take the break you deserve and go get some dry red wine."

I raise an eyebrow. "How'd you know that's my solution for everything?"

"What kind of makeshift Jenny would I be if I didn't know that?"

"Freddie, you're one in a million. A true gem."

"I know." She wraps an arm around me as we both gather our things. "Now, let's go get tipsy and you can tell me all about how you're insanely in love with Quentin and you're finally going to tell him."

---