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a smile is the universal welcome
Oct. 9th, 2017 08:39 pmThere's a chair in the house that Effy likes to lounge in, always when the sunlight peeks in through the curtains. The days have been rapidly growing colder, but the sun spills warmth over her shoulder as she curls up among the cushions, hair carefully pinned out of her face as Effy reviews a few files for work. She's been hired for contract work by the government, something of a trial by fire to see if she has the intuition to find corruption at the source.
Maybe she should be feeling the pressure, but the effect of being under contract is the opposite. She's got an easy out. A date by which she can refuse to continue without any repercussion, if it isn't the career for her. But already Effy finds that she likes the work, likes being able to scan the numbers for any anomalies, putting mental stories to each anonymized client. Middle-aged businessman goes through a midlife crisis, empties his accounts to buy a sports car and incurs major opportunity cost. Grandmother keeps track of all the neighborhood gossip, coaxes confidential news about upcoming mergers from her best friend by promising not to take advantage — but she's saving for her grandchildren to go to the best private university, doesn't matter who else takes a fall.
She's in the middle of weaving another tale when she hears a knock on the door, arching a brow in curiosity. Can't be Harley. Can't be Elvis — he'd text her first. Kate would have blown right in like a breeze, and Effy's heart aches at the mere thought.
Pulling her blanket closer around her shoulders, Effy's bare feet pad quietly on the ground before she peeks through the window.
Ah.
She opens the door with a smile, tilting her head in greeting. "Ellie, right?" She steps back, making room for the young woman. "Harley's out right now, but you're welcome to come in."
Maybe she should be feeling the pressure, but the effect of being under contract is the opposite. She's got an easy out. A date by which she can refuse to continue without any repercussion, if it isn't the career for her. But already Effy finds that she likes the work, likes being able to scan the numbers for any anomalies, putting mental stories to each anonymized client. Middle-aged businessman goes through a midlife crisis, empties his accounts to buy a sports car and incurs major opportunity cost. Grandmother keeps track of all the neighborhood gossip, coaxes confidential news about upcoming mergers from her best friend by promising not to take advantage — but she's saving for her grandchildren to go to the best private university, doesn't matter who else takes a fall.
She's in the middle of weaving another tale when she hears a knock on the door, arching a brow in curiosity. Can't be Harley. Can't be Elvis — he'd text her first. Kate would have blown right in like a breeze, and Effy's heart aches at the mere thought.
Pulling her blanket closer around her shoulders, Effy's bare feet pad quietly on the ground before she peeks through the window.
Ah.
She opens the door with a smile, tilting her head in greeting. "Ellie, right?" She steps back, making room for the young woman. "Harley's out right now, but you're welcome to come in."