"Do I have to go to your place?"

"I will try not to be offended by the implications of that statement." Kali huffed, playfully tugging on June's hair. "You will be staying until you recover fully."

"My hand isn't that bad. I can handle myself. I don't want to intrude."

"If Samuel and I were newlywed and, on our honeymoon, I'll understand, but we are not. The house is gigantic. If it's me you are worried about, there are millions of ways to avoid me."

Kali remembered what Samuel said about June wanting him to take her home because she couldn't bear the thought of Kali worrying about her all night. Kali took the words to heart. It was a shock to learn that June thought she was a burden. Kali knew she took things too far at times, to the point that she could be overbearing, but it didn't occur to her that June would see herself as the problem.

Kali was determined to be more hands-off with her sister than she originally planned. June was here to start her own life, and she needed to learn to allow her sister to have some space; only stepping in when she needed to. But first, June needed to recover from her injuries.

"Samuel is okay with this?"

"Yes. Of course, he is. He wouldn't have things any other way."

"Then I wouldn't be too stubborn."

"Good," Kali smirked, collecting June's hair in her hand as she continued to comb it carefully. "That doesn't mean you'll push yourself when I am not around. Don't bother trying to clean the house or cook for us. If you fill you need to contribute in any way, limit your work to your things."

"I didn't plan on doing any of those things."

"Mhm." Kali rolled her eyes sceptically.

There was a knock at the door before the door slid open, and her brother-in-law peeked in. "Peter?"

"Good evening, ladies."

"Hey. What are you doing here?"

"Samuel got holed up at work. He asked me to drive you and June home today since he got held back at the office."

"He shouldn't have bothered you." Kali kissed her teeth. "I am sure you also have things to do. I have everything more or less handled."

"I don't have plans, so I don't mind, and you don't need to feel guilty."

Her shrill ringtone interrupted her before she could argue her point. She scrambled for her purse and checked the ID; her heart skipped as she noted the caller. It was from K. Tech. Everything had been so hectic that for the past three days, she didn't think about the job at all. But there it was, in her hand, the name looking back at her.

Nervous, she spun around to see Peter at June's side, helping her put her sling on. "I, uh, I have a call. It's important. I need to step out, but when I get back we will continue this conversation.

"Go, Kali." June smiled, wiggling her fingers through the slit of the sling and earning a laugh from Peter.

"I'll take care of her, and when you finish with your call, I'll take you both back to your place."

Kali grumbled, stomping out of the room, knowing if she didn't the argument would go on for too long. She found a quiet place to answer the call and answered it.

"Hello, good evening."

"Good evening, this is Mrs Naveen. Am I speaking to Kali Madden?"

"Yes."

"I would like to inform you that after careful deliberation, our office has decided to hire you to work for us."

Kali bit her lip, culling the shout of joy that bubbled within her. She tampered the flames, swallowing and trying to sound professional as the woman continued to speak. Afterwards, she asked about the details of her contract. Naveen promptly informed her that a softcopy of her contract had been sent to her email. She encouraged Kali to go through carefully before getting back to them.

"Yes. I will do that." She assured after Naveen asked her to get back to them as soon as possible. "Thank you. Have a nice day."

She quietly squealed when the conversation was over, practically gliding back into the room, her eyes glowing with joy. Peter turned at the sound of the door opening and noticed her laughing hysterically. Even June watched her with amused horror.

"Kali?" Peter chuckled, standing from the bed, and walked right into her spontaneous embrace.

It was the first time she had done such a thing. Peter wasn't the type of person that was overtly affectionate, and she felt it in the flash of tensing of his muscles. Her high on emotions made her forget herself, but before she could be embarrassed, he laughed and patted her on the back.

"What's going on?"

"I am sorry." She babbled, allowing her hands to fall away. "I am sorry. I was so excited and forgot myself."

"No need to apologize. Instead, share what's making you so excited. It's good news, I guess"

"Great news." She giggled. "I got the job."

"You go it!" June sang, and Kali nodded so hard she was surprised her head didn't roll off her shoulders.

"That is great news. When do you start?" Peter asked.

"Oh, I haven't formally accepted. I want to look at the contract and other necessities before I accept."

"But you are going to?" June asked.

"Oh, yeah."

They laughed together, and Peter tsked as he returned to the bed to help a grateful June down.

"It's time to go, I believe."

"You don't have to."

"I know, but I want to anyway. Samuel warned me you'll get stubborn. Let me warn you that I also know how to dig my foot in."

"You see, even your husband is on top of things. You married a man that knows you all too well."

"Fine. I'll get the bags."

Kali's excitement didn't ebb the entire ride home. There was a pride that welled inside her when it sunk in that she had taken her first interview and came out with her first job. Of course, it worried her that she wouldn't do well in a nine-to-five, sitting behind a desk and struggling to meet deadlines, but that was basically her life from high school to college.

The difference here is that she would be getting paid, not the other way around. So, as soon as those doubts came, they were drowned by spirited confidence. It was never in her plan to stop doing freelance work, but she was growing into the idea of having her own office and earning her place in a fast-growing company. Maybe in a few years, she'd sit at the head of a table of executives, giving valuable input and making tough decisions.

Kali chuckled, looking out the window of the car. She was getting ahead of herself. What she needed to do was read the contract and make sure there was nothing that could come back to bite her in the ass. Then, she needed to start planning her schedule so she could work in the office and keep being productive in her freelance work.

Peter didn't stay long after he dropped them off. He helped Kali get June settled. Then, after a glass of juice, he was on his way back home. June, exhausted from the day, and her pills, turned in early, leaving Kali with herself once again. She retreated to her bedroom, opening the email and perching herself on the centre of her bed to read it carefully.

Samuel arrived a little after seven to see her on the bed, chewing on a gummy worm and squinting at her screen.

"Hey."

"Hello. How was work?"

"Tiresome." He grumbled, stripping out of his jacket before collapsing on the couch to tug off his shoes. "Your sister?"

"She went to bed early. The drugs make her quite tired, and I'd rather she rest while she is here than stay awake finding unnecessary ways to make herself useful."

"As long as she's doing better." He took a look at her, his eyes falling on the laptop. "What are you reading."

"A contract."

"Hmm." He hummed mindlessly, focusing on unbuttoning his shirt. "You have a new client?" Biting her lip, she shook her head. Samuel plunked back on the seat, watching her as realization slowly sank in. "You got the job?"

"Yes!" She pushed up from the bed, crossing her legs and clapping enthusiastically. "I got the call earlier when we were at the hospital."

"That's great."

"It is." She looked down at the laptop. She had read the contract, and her limited understanding saw nothing wrong, but she wanted to make sure everything was in other. "I am really excited, but I want to do this right. I hope you don't mind if I ask for your help?"

"Of course not. What do you need?"

"A lawyer. Most of my freelance work doesn't involve contracts, and the ones that do are not so extensive. It looks ... great? But I want a professional to look at it."

"Alright. My company lawyer, Janet, is capable and trustworthy. I'll talk to her, and she can go through it. I can recommend Marcus, but he is the family lawyer."

"I'll stick with Janet."

He chuckled. "Are you going to accept the job? I mean, going on what you've read?"

"I am. Samuel, I can't explain to you how eager I am. It took everything not to scream in the hospital, and even now. I can't believe it. When I sent that application, it was with barely any confidence that I'd get the job..."

She looked up from her pc and deflated when she saw his smile. "Ah, sorry. I am rambling like a fool when you are probably tired."

"No. No."

She started to stand from the bed. "Have you eaten? Do you want me to..."

"I am not hungry." He assured her, sitting straighter in the chair. "Go on."

Unsure, she sank back to the bed. It helped to have someone to talk to because she had been itching to share her thoughts since she got the news. June was recovering, and she didn't want to stress her out, but excitement and doubts were rioting within her.

"Are you sure?"

"Without a doubt. Go on. Why didn't you think you'd get the job?"

Kali nodded. "I have never worked in a company before. All the office experience I have are from a few internships in college and maybe high school."

"Ah. You think someone else more qualified should have got the job."

"Okay, qualified, no. In that respect, I check the box. I was thinking of someone who had worked in an office for a certain amount of time. You know?"

"Sort of. You might not have had an office, but you have the working experience. I remember the mornings I walked out to see you in a heated conversation with clients and suppliers. You know what you're doing. Don't go second-guessing yourself, now."

She wrung her fingers together. "It's not about second-guessing either."

"You think my mother had a hand in it?"

"A bit. I have sent applications to various organizations. What are the chances that the one headed by a friend of your mother is the one that accepts me?"

"You could also have gotten the job from companies that want to please my mother. Do you know how many businesses would love to have the daughter-in-law of the Madden family? Why not focus on the fact that you got the job?"

"I want to," she swore, her smile returning as she flopped back on the bed. "You don't know how excited I am, but the happier I get, the more the doubts slip through the cracks."

"Don't let them." He advised as he stood and walked towards the bathroom. He spotted the outfit she propped on the dressing table mirror and looked at it carefully. "Is this what you are wearing to the party tomorrow?"

"Nope." She let the 'p' pop, rolling off the bed and gliding to his side. She swiped the hanger and pressed the material against her body. "It's for work"

Samuel outright laughed. "What? I thought you weren't formally accepting the offer yet?"

"Yes. But I will accept in the end. If nothing is wrong with the contract, and I am giving a start date, I want to be ready." Before he could say anything else, she spun around with glee. "I am trying to figure out what style I want to lean on for my working life?"

"And you are going with..." He looked at the outfit, "baggy?"

"Yes. Nothing overly oversized, though. Here is how this works. I want my primary outfit to consist of a pair of palazzo pants." She held the trousers up for him to see. "That's these. I can pair them with any type of heel I want and a flattering jacket. I only have three of these, so I think I'll like to get more, but I have several suit jackets and tops to go with them splendidly. What do you think."

After a moment in thought, he replied. "It's an interesting choice."

"So, bad then?"

"No, no." He perched on the edge of the table. "I just don't see you as a one-style kind of woman. Wearing palazzos daily doesn't seem like your style."

She looked at the trousers and shrugged. "I guess when you say it like that, it sounds repetitive, but it really isn't. There are various colours and styles to mix and choose from. You'd be surprised at the combinations I'll come up with."

"No doubt." He chuckled, reaching out to touch the trousers. "I hope you can keep up this excitement when you start work. It's not the same as working on your own time, and for a fast-growing company, it could get pretty demanding."

"I have thought of that, but I think it's something I can handle. Besides, it gives me something to do with nine hours of my day. At some point, having nothing to do can get overwhelming when your mind is always racing."

"I bet." He squeezed her elbow. "I need to take a shower. I am happy for you, alright? You deserve this."

"Thanks for all your support." She replied graciously. "Go before I continue talking your silly ears off."

He slipped into the bathroom, and she hung the outfit back on the dresser, smiling as she stared at the clothes. As soon as the contract was read and she was assured that nothing was wrong, she would accept without wasting a breath.