The water stung, in that way all properly cold water does, as Jasmine threw it in her face in an attempt to help her wake up. She looked up into the mirror above her sink and was met with her own bloodshot eyes staring back at her. She frowned slightly as she stared at her own eyes, noticing that one of the veins seemed to creep all the way to her own deep red cornea.

  “Huh”

  While she might be fine working with far less sleep than the average person, what amount of sleep she had gotten over the last few weeks wasn't nearly enough. If she couldn't catch some proper shut-eye soon, it was very likely that she would start making mistakes. While she knew flawlessness wasn't required, small mistakes had a tendency to aggregate. That was unacceptable.

  Opening the drawer under her sink, Jasmine pulled out her contacts. Her eyes twitched a little as she put them in, blinking multiple times after each contact was in. Looking back into the mirror, she checked that her eyes were now blue instead of their natural red color. She was aware that some people did have red eyes, but as most of the clan elders and matrons had concluded, it was rare enough that they shouldn't flaunt it or show it off. It was an opinion she agreed with. It was too much of a risk. At least for the time being.

  She had managed to pack most of her stuff last night, at least what was going with her. She had also managed to post a job posting for an assistant, and with the quick glance she had given it, she had some promising candidates.

  Walking over to her nightstand and picking up her phone, she opened Innd to go through the current applicants. She frowned slightly at the new applicant profile that had shown up in her inbox. Based on the woman's profile, she looked like she was very high on the list of candidates.

  Jasmine looked at the time and decided to give the woman a call. She typed in the number.

  The phone rang as Jasmine walked over to the kitchen and got herself a glass of water. Before she could reach the couch, the candidate picked up.

  “Hi, have I reached Juli Macleod? It's Jasmine Burns calling. I am calling about your job application for the personal assistant position.”

  “Hi, ehhhh…. OH! Yes, you have. I wasn't expecting a call so quickly.”

  Jasmine sat down on the couch and rolled her shoulders. “I just wanted to invite you to an interview for the position. preferably tomorrow if that works for you. If not, we can also do it over the phone now, or we can schedule it for a later date."

  Jasmine heard a breath be released from the other side of the line. “Over the phone right now works just fine for me. So ask away, Miss Burns.”

  “I see in your resume that you were in the Marines for about 3 years. Can I ask about what you did during your time there? In a bit more detail, that is, only as much as you are allowed and comfortable with sharing, of course.”

  “Yeah. Some of it I can share, not all of it, though. I was in force reconnaissance. That's a specialized long-range or deep reconnaissance unit, or that's the quickest definition anyway. I got honourably discharged a year before my active service was supposed to be done because of an injury. Though I want to make it clear that I don't believe that will affect my ability to do the job related to the position.”

  Jasmine was taking notes in a small black notebook she kept with her nearly constantly. “I wouldn't say I think it does either, though I am not aware of what the injury is. I also see you have a 4-month hole in your employment history. What happened in that time period?”

  —-------------------------------------------

  (Pov Julie)

  Julie Macleod let out a deep sigh. She had been dreading that particular question. Her eyebrows furrowed for the few seconds it took her to decide if she should lie or if she should tell the truth.

  It felt as if a hand was gripping around her heart and squeezing. All her earlier employers had found out eventually, so she might as well simply tell her now and get the disappointment overwith.

  Taking a deep breath, she answered. “I was in prison for a short period. Finding a job was hard after I got out, and I was left without many options.” Looking back in through the car window, she looked at the still sleeping form of her son, the way his face seemed so utterly relaxed. As if he were completely unaware of the broader situation they were in. She knew he was largely unaware of the details. But as he slept there surrounded by most of their earthly possessions, she could almost forget that he was a little too willing to do as mommy said, and a little too easy to deal with. It made her stomach twist everytime.

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  Julie continued, “I promise that period in my life is over. I am not in a situation where it is something I would do again, and it's something I deeply regret.”

  There was an uncomfortably long pause. Julie tried to focus on her breathing; moments like these were always worse than anything she had experienced overseas.

  The voice on the other side of the phone spoke again. “I would say you are more than qualified for the position. I would prefer it if you start as soon as possible. When can you start?”

  Julie's breath hitched as she answered. “I can start today if that's what you need. I would need some time to find a place to take my son for the day, if I can't bring him to work just for today. He... he's very well behaved. I promise he won't be in the way.”

  There was a second's pause before the answer came. “Miss Macleod, I see that you live in Colorado. The position is in Fairvern, Montana, and you can start today. May I ask what your living situation is like?”

  Julie chewed a bit on the inside of her cheek before she answered. “I have been living out of my car for the last few months; my income has been a bit too unstable for me to be able to hold down an apartment.”

  —------------------------------------------

  (Pov Jasmine)

  Jasmine stared slack-jawed at the roof for a few seconds, and before she could stop herself, she muttered, “hva i helvete er feil med dette landet.”

  Straightening her back, she took a breath and said. “Well, we will have to do something about that now wont we. I won't be in Fairvern until tomorrow, so there is no need to start until then. Save your receipts, and I will reimburse you for the gas you have to buy on the trip up. I need you to be able to focus on your work in normal working hours, so I am willing to help cover half of your kids' daycare. The position is also on call. I can be a bit old-fashioned and prefer face-to-face interactions rather than over the phone. So if you are willing, the house I will be moving into is far too large for me, and it does come with multiple bedrooms.

  She hesitated slightly before she continued. “If you want to, I don't mind you and your son living there, either permanently or until you find somewhere else to live. I won't charge you for housing, as having you nearby is beneficial as far as I am concerned. The position is on call outside normal working hours. Though you would have to pay for your own food and help cover utilities. Either way, the yearly salary is 46,000 dollars, and it has both dental and health benefits, which do extend to your kid.”

  —---------------------------

  (Pov Julie)

  Julie felt as if the ground was giving out under her, and she leaned heavily against the car as she slid down to sit on the ground.

  “I… ehhh….I… Are you saying that in addition to my salary? You will be willing to help cover my son's daycare, and we get a place to stay. "For…. free?”

  “Essentially yes. Though it won't be for free, as I said, you need to help with utilities.”

  Julie took a second to control her breath. “And you can give me this in writing?”

  The answer was immediate, almost as if her future employer had anticipated that question. “Yes, of course, I will have it written into your contract.”

  There was a second long pause before the person on the other side, a woman named Jasmine, if Julie remembered correctly, continued. “Do you accept the job offer, and do you want the spare rooms?”

  “Yes, I accept the position, and yes, I would like the spare rooms. I will be there by tomorrow. Just.. Just send me the address and thank you.” Julie sniffed a little.

  “No need to thank me, Miss Macleod. Then I will see you tomorrow, and I will send you the paperwork digitally so you can sign it. Have a nice trip northwards.” The phone hung up.

  Julie couldn't stop herself as her shoulders started shaking. The asphalt beneath her seemed to be filling with droplets. Her eyebrows furrowing, she looked around. Is it raining? She didn't see any sign of rain on the ground around her or any in the air.

  The door next to her opened, and a small, cautious voice said. “ Mommy, are you ok?”

  Julie tried to wipe the moisture from her face as she said. “Yes, hon, mommy is doing just fine.”

  Her son, despite his only 4 years of life, seemed to furrow his brows in the way one might expect of an old, disbelieving man. Stretching out his arms, her son said simply the word. “Hug”

  Julie laughed, feeling tension in her shoulders she hadn't thought about for months, slowly lifting. She reached over and hugged her son.

  Kissing her son on the top of his head, she said. “Mommy’s gonna be just fine, honey. We're gonna be just fine.

  —-------------------------

  (Pov Jasmine)

  Hanging up the phone, Jasmine stared at the roof. This will be expensive. Though she knew she could afford it.

  She had always been a sucker for single parents, especially ones in hard situations. Maybe because it reminded her so much of her own mother, at least after they emigrated. That had also forced her to up her offer.

  Though she hadn't lied to the woman, having her in the house on call was exceptionally useful. Jasmine had also always despised living alone; no matter how small the space, it always felt so empty with no one else there.

  She cringed slightly at the final calculus of the offer. It had given her something she would benefit from an opportunity to cultivate the woman's loyalty; some said loyalty couldn't be bought. Those people were, in her opinion, idiots. Loyalty always had a price of some kind, but more often than not, it simply couldn't always be bought with money. But that was not the part that made a small pit form in her stomach, no, it was the other benefit of this arrangement. It might be indirect and subtle, but nonetheless it was leverage.