Page 7 of Seal the Deal

The kids are clearly done with breakfast, their laughter echoing from the living room as they bounce around with an energy that only seems to exist in the under-six crowd. I head back downstairs, ready to meet the chaos as the doorbell rings.

Zoe’s voice fills the house. “Morning, everyone! The cavalry has arrived!”

She’s as bright and bubbly as ever, a whirlwind of energy in her chic blazer and heels. Her nails are painted hot pink with diamantes, her subtle rebellion against the power suits of our industry. She religiously gets them done every few weeks, and the designs are purposefully as far from corporate as possible.

Jade is right behind her—young, casually stylish, her wavy brown hair and warm smile instantly putting me at ease.

“Charlotte, this is my cousin, Jade,” Zoe says, gesturing to the young woman beside her.

“Hi, Jade.” I reach out to shake her hand. “Thanks so much for helping out.”

Jade waves off the thanks with her own smile, and I’m struck by how similar she and Zoe look. “No worries at all. I love kids, and Zoe’s been telling me all about your two. I’m excited to hang out with them.”

Meadow comes bounding into the hallway, her unicorn dress billowing behind her like a cape. She stops short in front of us. “Who are you?” she asks, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Jade crouches down, beaming at her. “I’m Jade. And you must be Meadow. I hear you’re a unicorn expert.”

Meadow nods enthusiastically. “Yes! I have a unicorn dress!”

Jade’s eyes widen in mock amazement. “No way! That’s the coolest thing ever. I bet we’re going to have so much fun today.”

Noah appears next, hanging back with a slightly more reserved expression, but Jade handles it like a pro, asking him about his favorite dinosaurs which immediately ignites his interest.

Jade’s natural ease with the kids puts me at ease too, and I can feel some of the tension in my shoulders start to melt away.

Zoe claps her hands together, bringing my attention back to her. “See? Jade’s got this covered. You, on the other hand, need to focus on kicking ass at the office today.”

“Wow, thanks. No pressure, right?”

Zoe rolls her eyes, thrusting a massive coffee cup out towards me. “I figured you might feel that way. So, I brought you this—extra strong, no syrup or cream, just how your weirdo ass likes it. Dark and bitter, like your soul.”

I take the coffee, laughing despite myself. Zoe’s energy is infectious, a force of nature that sweeps you up and carries you along with it. It’s one of the things I’ve always loved about her. When my own confidence wavers, it’s like she has enough for both of us. I’ve leaned on that energy more times than I can count, and today is no different. Just being around her makes me feel like I can handle whatever the day throws at me.

“Yes, because caffeine isgreatfor anxiety,” I tease, but when she moves to snatch it back, I hold it out of reach.“No no, this is too strong for you. I should drink it just to spare you.”

“Thank God,” Zoe sighs dramatically. “I took one sip on the way here and it burnt my taste buds directly off my tongue. I’m pretty sure I can smell colors now.”

I snort, taking a sip of the coffee that’s somehow exactly how I like it, the caffeine hitting like a promise. “Thanks. I needed that.”

“Good,” she replies, nudging me playfully. “And stop fussing with your hair or whatever you’ve been doing up there. You look fantastic. Remember, you’ve got this job because you’re a total badass. Now come on, we’ve got an office to wow.”

I say goodbye to the kids, pausing at the door to watch them for a moment longer. Meadow’s laughter rings out as she shows Jade her favorite doll, while Noah is already deep into his toys, lost in his own world. My heart tugs a little, knowing how much I’m asking of them with this move, how much they’ve already had to adjust.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I remind myself this is all for them. Every sacrifice, every moment of doubt—it’s all to give them a better life. But as I finally step out the door, I can’t shake the feeling of how hard it is to balance being a mom with everything else.

We head out to Zoe’s car, and as we drive towards the office, my nerves start to settle into a more manageable buzz. The drive to Pulse is short but feels longer as Zoe chatters away, filling the silence with stories about the office, the clients, the team. I try to focus on her words, but my mind keeps drifting back to the daunting task ahead. When we pull into the parking lot, my heart is pounding.

The building itself is impressive, sleek with glass walls and high ceilings that amplify the sense of urgency in the air. Everything here is precise, on-the-minute. It’s a stark contrast to the laid-back energy of New Zealand, but that’s exactly what I need right now.

Zoe leads me through the maze of desks and offices, greeting people as we pass. Everyone seems to know her, and it’s clear she’s well-liked. She introduces me to a few colleagues along the way, but I can barely keep track of the names and faces. It’sa blur.

Finally, we reach a corner office with a view of the city skyline. “This is you.” Zoe pushes open the door and ushers me inside.

It’s modern, airy, and a lot more than I expected. My eyes settle on a framed photo of the kids that she must have set up on my desk, and I feel my throat tighten.

Zoe drops into a chair across from me, arms crossed. “So, what do you think?”

“It’s amazing,” I say, though my voice wavers. “It’s a lot to take in.”

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