Page 50 of She Was Made for Me

I inhale, a little shocked. That would be ahugestep for my career.

“Is it something you’d be interested in?”

“Yes!” I say, turning away from the crowd in Joe’s to hide my grin. My eyes land on the framed images of old Brooklyn Heights along the wall, and my heart sinks. “But I’m working on a project in Brooklyn right now, so I won’t be free for at least another month.”

“That’s okay,” Deb assures me. “This is still in the works. Are you managing the current project?”

“Yes.” I leave out the part where my father hired me because he didn’t know what a little liar I am, and how guilty I’ve felt ever since.

“Excellent! What is it?”

“Historical building restoration. Probably not relevant to the work at DigiSwap.”

“I disagree; it shows you’re able to adapt to a range of projects and environments. Can you get a letter of recommendation to me sometime in the next few days? That will really help things here.”

A letter of recommendation. I twist my lips to the side, knowing that Dad would probably give me a glowing recommendation, but that it won’t count if it comes from someone with the same last name as me.

On a sigh I realize exactly who I’ll have to ask.

“I can probably get one from the foreman. I’m working closely with him. Would that work?”

“Definitely. Get him to send something through and I’ll keep it on file for when things start moving here. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure you get the job.” She’s quiet for a beat, then adds, “It will be so good to have you back.”

I study the frames on the wall—the pictures of brownstones and old streets, the history of the neighborhood around me—trying to imagine myself back in soulless Silicon Valley.

But what alternative do I have? This project will end soon, and if I don’t take this opportunity, I’ll be back where I started: unemployed and lost. This is what I wanted all along—a real project management position—and a month back in New York hasn’t changed that. My career matters to me just as much as before, if not more now.

“Thank you so much, Deb. I can’t wait to come back.” I end the call, ignoring the hollow feeling in my chest as I return to the table.

“Who was that?” Sadie asks. “You seemed to be grinning pretty hard there for a moment.”

“That was my old boss, Deb. She said there might be a job opening back at DigiSwap and she’s going to suggest me for it.”

“Awesome!” Sadie high-fives me across the table. “Although, I do wish you’d stay in the city. It’s been so nice hanging out again.”

“It has.” I take a long sip of my lukewarm coffee. “Anyway, I might not get it. I have to ask Kyle for a recommendation, and God knows how that will go down.”

“You don’t think he’ll do it?”

I lift a shoulder. “He’s so hot and cold with me, I have no idea. I like to think he’s professional enough to do it, but…”

Sadie nods, setting her coffee cup down with a twinkle in her eye. “What if we could give him a little nudge in the right direction?”

“If you’re about to suggest I use sex to bribe him, I really don’t think that will help.”

She laughs. “Not sex, but there might be something else.”

I lift my eyebrows with interest, but she catches sight of the time and jumps up from the table. “Shit, I’m going to be late. I’ll call you, okay?”

“Wha—”

“Bye!” She pecks me on the cheek then whips out of Joe’s before I can ask anything more.

* * *

It’stwo hours later when she calls me—two hours I spend agonizing over the best way to ask Kyle for a letter of recommendation and coming up with nothing.

“Did you get my email?” Sadie asks breathlessly on the other end of the line. I slink down the stairs to the basement so I can take the call in private, then switch my phone to speaker.

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