"Jake will handle it if the reporter shows up," Lydia said, her tone carrying a weight that Harper easily interpreted. 'Handling it' meant Jake would contact Jacinth to take care of. Harper's gaze flickered to the other employees bustling about the bank, their oblivious chatter a stark contrast to the gravity of the situation. A shiver ran down her spine as she imagined being the focus of covert glances, and whispers, the attention she most definitely did not.
"Is there anything else I need to know?" Harper asked, looking between Jake and Lydia.
Jake shook his head. "Just go about your day as usual. We've got eyes everywhere, so don't worry."
Harper nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. The tension in her shoulders eased as she absorbed the reassurances from Jake and Lydia. As she and Jake turned to leave, their footsteps echoing softly in the quiet office, Lydia's voice stopped them, cutting through the air like a knife.
"Actually, there's something else I wanted to discuss with you both," Lydia said, her tone serious. The sudden shift in her demeanor sent a small shiver down Harper's spine, and she exchanged a quick, concerned glance with Jake before they both pivoted back to face the lynx shifter.
Harper and Jake exchanged glances before turning back to face Lydia. Harper's heart quickened, wondering what else could be on the agenda.
Lydia took a deep breath. "Now that Katerina has had her interview, and public response is so positive… well, mostly," she added with a quirk of her lips, "Alex and I have decided to go public as shifters next week."
Jake nodded, his expression thoughtful.
"I wanted to give you both a heads-up," Lydia continued. "The bank owners already know about us, of course. We'll be holding a bank staff meeting before I go public, to let the employees know so they're prepared for the extra attention when the news comes out."
Harper felt a mix of emotions swirling inside her. On one hand, she was glad more shifters were coming forward, potentially making it easier for her to reveal herself in the future. On the other hand, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of anxiety about how the bank employees would react.
"How do you think they'll take it?" Harper asked, worrying at her bottom lip with her teeth.
Lydia's expression softened. "I'm hopeful. We've got a good team here, and I think most of them will be supportive. But it's important we prepare for all possibilities."
Jake nodded in agreement. "We'll increase security around the bank for the first few weeks after the announcement, just to be safe."
Harper felt a surge of gratitude for the precautions being taken. She looked at Lydia, admiring her courage. "Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked.
Lydia's gaze softened as she looked at Harper. "For now, I need you to keep communications with your clients to 'business as usual.' If any of them ask about me or shifters in general, you can confirm that I am indeed a shifter, but try to guide the conversation back to bank business. Just like you're already doing."
Harper nodded, understanding the delicate balance they needed to maintain. Everyone everywhere were talking about the shifters among them, and even customers loved to gossip and speculate. "Of course. I'll do my best to keep things professional and focused on our services."
"Good," Lydia said, her tone appreciative. "We want to be open and honest, but we also need to ensure that our clients' financial needs remain our primary focus. This revelation shouldn't overshadow the work we do here."
Jake chimed in, "And if anyone gives you trouble or pushes too hard for information, don't hesitate to call for assistance. We're all in this together."
Lydia stood up, signaling the end of their impromptu meeting. "Remember, none of us are alone in this. We're a team, and we'll face whatever comes our way together."
Throughout the morning, Harper found herself being hyper-aware of every interaction, every glance from her coworkers. But as the hours ticked by, she realized that nothing had really changed - at least not yet. Her clients called with their usual questions about investments and account management, blissfully unaware of the revelations to come.
It wasn't until after lunch that Harper faced her first test. Mr. Jameson, one of her regular clients, called to discuss his portfolio. As they were wrapping up, he hesitated, then asked, "Ms. O'Neill, I hope you don't mind me asking, but all this about shifters, and now it seems there are some here in our area. Are you aware of any?"
Harper's heart skipped a beat, but she kept her voice steady, aiming for gentle amusement. "Yes, I saw the interview with Mz. Kazakis, that was amazing, wasn't it? I'd never seen a Maine Coon before. Is there anything else I can help you with regarding your accounts today?"
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Harper held her breath. But apparently Mr. Jameson was simply changing gears back to his finances, as he replied. "Could you remind me of the projected returns on that new investment we discussed last week?"
Harper exhaled slowly, relief flooding through her. "Certainly, Mr. Jameson. Let me pull up those numbers for you..."
Having successfully guided the conversation back to familiar territory, Harper felt a small surge of pride. She had navigated her first shifter-related inquiry successfully, maintaining professionalism while acknowledging the truth. It was a small step, but an important one. It took another moment to come to the realization that with each interaction, each conversation steered back to business, she was helping to normalize the presence of shifters in everyday life.
Recognizing the truth of that caused a warm glow in her chest, a sense of purpose and pride mingling together. Harper settled back to work with a smile curving her lips, her fingers flying across the keyboard with renewed energy as she pulled up the investment projections.
Chapter 25
Two days later,the staff lounge at the bank was still abuzz with excitement as everyone discussed Saturday's revelation, which by now had reached viral status on every social media platform. It seemed the idea of shifters right here in the Hudson Valley had everyone on the edge of their seats with excited speculation. Harper escaped before anyone could engage her in conversation, and headed to the relative safety of her office.
Checking under her desk where she'd left the brownie's offering dish, she discovered the angel food cake portion that she'd left the night before had vanished, and in its place sat a delicate paper crane fashioned from what she suspected was one of Vanessa's expensive rose-colored sticky notes. She lifted it with an amused laugh, studying its intricate folds before setting it beside her computer where she could enjoy its whimsy. Who knew that brownies had a sense of humor?
Harper shuffled through her morning paperwork, reviewing investment portfolios and making notes for the day's client meetings.A movement at her door caught her attention, and she looked up to see Lydia standing there, her lynx-like grace evident even in human form.
