Page 6 of Hot Doctor & Secret Baby

"I appreciate that," he says slowly. "But, um, well…the board has narrowed our shortlist down to the top three candidates, and while it was a very tough decision to make, we've decidednotto move forward with your candidacy."

"That's so great to…" My heart sinks as I realize what he's just said. "Wait. What?"

"It was very close, but I'm afraid we'll need to go in a different direction at this time."

He spouts off a few more predictable rejection statements, but I can't seem to hear them. My ears are ringing, my throat is dry, and I feel like I might pass out. I brace myself against the table and slowly lower down to the chair so I don't fall over. I think I tell him 'thank you' at some point before he hangs up.

"I don't understand," I mumble to myself in a daze.

Kate told me I was in the top three just this afternoon.How can this be happening? What went wrong?

Somethingobviously went wrong. Something screwed this chance up for me, and I don't know what it was exactly…but I know I can't give up so easily. I'm the perfect person for this role. I know I am. I thought for sure they'd be able to see that.

If they can't see it on their own, I'll just have to find a way to make them see it. I'm not going to take no for an answer.

2

Vanessa

"Holy hell. What's all this?" Addy asks, wide-eyed and frozen in the kitchen doorway.

"Language!" I scold. "What do you mean, what's all this? It's breakfast."

She scans the assortment of bacon, eggs, burnt toast, and misshapen pancakes. "More like a breakfast buffet. You know I usually just grab an eggo or a pop tart, right? And why are you even still here? Shouldn't you be leaving for work?"

"I'm going in a little late today," I tell her with the phone pressed between my shoulder and cheek as I struggle to squeeze fresh orange juice without blinding myself with citrus.

"Okay…," she replies, sitting down slowly and cautiously. "Um, Aunt Ness?"

"Yeah?" I chirp too quickly and too loudly.

"Are you okay?"

"Fine! Totally fine! Everything's fine!" I squeak.

My voice is stuck in a shrill high pitch and I've made a point to plaster a smile on my face. I'm convinced this is the best way to make Addy think nothing is wrong. Though now that I see the look on her face, I realize actingnormalwould have been the best way to do that. But it's too late for that now. I have to commit.

My fake optimism starts to fade when I get Kate's voicemail inbox. I end the call with my thumb and slide the phone into my pocket just as the front door opens. Sam stops in the doorway to examine the scene in the same manner Addy did just moments ago. She looks just as frightened.

"Oh, uh, hi? Did I…forget something? Is it someone's birthday?" she asks.

"Will everyone stop acting like it's so absurd for me to cook breakfast?" I snap.

"Okay…," Sam replies, narrowing her eyes over me. "But…it is pretty unusual. Are you feeling okay?"

"Everything's fine!" I insist.

Addy rolls her eyes over to Sam. "She keeps saying that, but obviously something's up. I'd love to stay and try to figure out what it is, but I've got to get to school."

"You go ahead," Sam tells her. "Wait for me in the lobby and I'll catch up with you in just a sec."

After ushering Addy out the door, I grab Sam by the arm and yank her into a corner of the living room.

"What's going on?" she asks me.

My throat catches before I can get the words out. I'm worried when I finally say it outloud that I'll start crying. But I push forward anyway.

"I didn't get the job at Bardot," I croak.

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