Page 30 of Love Unspoken

By the end of the interviews, I felt like InnoWare really wanted me to join their company. Instead of asking me questions to test my abilities and skill, everyone I spoke to sold their company to me, gave me reasons to work for them. The recruiter confirmed this when he called me a half hour after the interviews to let me know that everyone was impressed, and he was certain they'd make an offer.

I couldn’t believe my luck. My first interview had been with a great company, and I was probably going to get the job. I wouldn't even have to leave Boston. My pay would go up by nearly thirty percent as I would go from being a manager to a director. I'd have a bigger team and more responsibility. Best of all, I'd have gotten this job because of my abilities and skills and not because someone was doing me or my brother any favors.

My good mood lasted until I got home when Nolan called to tell me that he wouldn't be able to join me on Saturday. I'd even canceled training to go to Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett where our parents were buried.

"Why?"

"Something came up, it's urgent," he told me.

"Like what?"

"Kara's aunt isn't feeling well."

"I'm so sorry to hear that." Kara's aunt was in an elder-care home in Waltham, and I knew that her time was short.

"Well, maybe we can go on Sunday?"

"I can't this weekend. You should go on your own, Naya."

I didn't want to do this alone. I didn't want to see my father's grave by myself on his death anniversary. I felt a rush of tears and I texted Darren because I was so tired of being alone and handling everything on my own.

Me: It's daddy's anniversary tomorrow and Nolan can't make it. Kara's aunt is sick.

Darren: What time do you want to go?

Me: You have training at the institute.

Darren: I'll pick you up around noon, okay?

Me: Are you sure?

Darren: Don't be an asshole. You know I'll take you. No way will I let you do this alone.

Darren: P.S. your brother is a douche.

Me: Kara's aunt is ill.

Darren: Correction. Your brother is a lying douche.

Was he lying? No, he wouldn't. I couldn’t believe that of Nolan. He was a jerk alright, but he knew how hard Daddy's death had been on me and he wouldn’t want me to go see him a year to the day without him.

TWELVE

AMIAS

I liked Jackson's wife Chérie. She was down to earth and gorgeous. She was an editor at French Vogue, so Ann and Kara were super impressed with her. On her part, Chérie seemed to be more interested in Hayes and understanding computer linguistics.

"Oh, don't get him started, Chérie," Ann groaned. "Once you get him going, he doesn't stop until our ears are bleeding with boredom."

"I find computer linguistics fascinating," Chérie countered. "Especially with the rise of social media, how we talk to one another is both about learning who we are as a society but also how technology is evolving to meet our needs…or the other way around, right?"

Hayes liked her as well. She was smart and elegant, and shut down Ann and Kara without being a bitch about it.

"I think AI is dangerous," Kara interjected. "I mean…so dangerous. Don't you think?"

"I think it depends upon how it's used," Hayes commented.

While the discussion went into AI, Jackson who was sitting next to me asked how things were with me.