The Cherished Wife

"Exactly. Make sure to keep it safe, you only get one," Becky said with a grin, snapping the list shut. "I've got to make the rounds to the other departments." "Take it easy, Ms. Malls!"

Once Becky was gone, Arya could hardly sit still. She was about to snag Noelle for a gossip session when Brian shot her a look that made her back off. "Work time's for work, not personal stuff." He tapped the folder and passed it to Noelle. "Follow this, and if you hit a dead end, come find me."

"Got it, boss." Noelle accepted the folder, and once Brian was out of sight, she settled back at her desk, slipped the token into her bag, and flipped open the materials to get down to business. Arya scooted over, whispering like she was sharing a secret. "Don't you wanna know what the token's actually for? I asked Becky, and she said it's tied to some perks at the annual meeting." "Oh." Noelle nodded with understanding.

Arya glanced at Noelle, who appeared utterly indifferent to the whole welfare topic, and could not help but ask, "Aren't you even a little bit curious?"

"Of course I'm curious, but you said it's about welfare, right? We'll find out at the annual meeting. I've got my hands full here." Noelle gestured towards the data and files spread out before her. Arya sighed in resignation. "You're impossible."

dropped into their midst without earning her place. However, after working together for a while, Arya had to admit she had been totally wrong.

she had been given. Pulling out her phone,

the welfare thing?] She was not trying to snoop, but something about that just did not sit right with her. Why would Charles go to the trouble of making a number tag without a good reason? [Want to take

his phone, a sly grin playing on

Ronald stood on the other side of Charles's desk, nervously clutching some documents and giving his thigh a surreptitious

smile vanishing. "Now, where

about the guest list for this year's annual bash and the partner stuff, Mr. Hoffman, are we rolling out the red carpet for

on your mind?" "Well, George mentioned yesterday he

froze on his phone for a second