Harper pulled the first file from her stack, flipping it open to scan the contents. The sooner she got through these questions for Benjamin, the better - she didn't want to keep bothering a retiree who'd earned his rest.
She jotted quick notes about unclear items or unusual investment patterns that caught her eye. One portfolio showed an unexpected shift in risk tolerance mid-way through, while another had some peculiar notations about preferred dividend stocks. The third file contained a complex trust arrangement she'd need clarification on.
Gathering her notes, Harper glanced at the clock - just past ten. Not too early for a business call. She picked up her desk phone and dialed Benjamin's number, rehearsing her introduction in her head.
"Hello?" A gruff but friendly voice answered on the third ring.
"Mr. Hayes? This is Harper O'Neill, your replacement at Carter's Bank. I hope I'm not disturbing you?"
"Ah, the fox shifter! And please, call me Ben. I've been expecting your call." His tone warmed considerably. "Got some questions about the files, I expect?"
"Yes, if you have a few minutes. I'd like to get these sorted out so you can properly enjoy your retirement without work calls interrupting."
A hearty chuckle rumbled through the line. "That's thoughtful of you. Fire away - I've got my morning coffee and nowhere pressing to be."
Harper worked through her list methodically, making careful notes as Benjamin explained the context behind each situation. The risk tolerance change had been due to a client's retirement timeline shifting. The dividend stock notations related to a family business restructuring. And the trust arrangement turned out to be fairly straightforward once Benjamin walked her through the family dynamics involved.
"I really appreciate you taking the time to explain all this," Harper said, reviewing her updated notes. "This helps tremendously."
"Happy to help get you settled in," Benjamin replied. "Though between you and me, I think Lydia made an excellent choice in hiring you. Your questions show you've got good instincts for this work."
Heat crept into Harper's cheeks at the unexpected praise. "Thank you, that means a lot coming from you."
After hanging up, Harper sat back with a satisfied sigh. She'd cleared up the major questions that had been nagging at her, and she could now focus on learning the bank's systems without having to keep bothering Benjamin. She picked up her coffee cup, only to find it empty.
Harper pondered going for another cup, then decided against it. She didn't want to deal with caffeine jitters, and lunch wasn't too far off. Instead, she turned her attention back to the remaining files, organizing them by priority. The morning sunlight streamed through her office window, casting a warm glow across her desk.
A soft chime from her computer drew her attention - an incoming email from Lydia with the weekly team meeting schedule and some additional client documentation. She clicked through the attachments, scanning the information while absently running her fingers through her fox-red hair.
Nathan would like this office,Reyna whispered in her mind.All the plants make it feel alive.
Harper's cheeks flushed, her heart warming at the thought of Nathan. She hadn't noticed the potted ferns and small succulent garden on the windowsill until Reyna mentioned them. The greenery did add a homey touch to the professional space.
Focus,she chided herself, pushing thoughts of her newly discovered mate aside. She had work to do.
She pulled up the bank's portfolio management system, familiarizing herself with the interface. It wasn't too different from what she'd used in San Francisco, though some of the reporting features seemed more streamlined. She started entering her notes from the morning's review, creating detailed profiles for each client.
The steady tap of her keyboard filled the quiet office as she worked, occasionally pausing to reference the paper files. A few employees walked past her open door, offering friendly waves that she returned with small smiles. The atmosphere felt different here - warmer, more personal than her previous bank. Maybe it was knowing she wasn't the only shifter, or perhaps it was simply the family-owned nature of the institution.
A prickling awareness had the hair raising on the back of her neck, and her fox whimpered, diving for cover, to peek out from the dark corner in her mind. Harper turned her head to see three women crowding her doorway, their perfectly coiffed hair and designer clothes a stark contrast to her simple business attire. Her heart sank as she met three hostile pairs of eyes, andshe stifled the urge to follow her fox and dive under her desk for cover.
The familiar anxiety from her school days crept up her spine. These were the type of girls she had always made a point to avoid, and, when possible, stay under their radar: these were the drama queens, the prom queen and her court of princesses, grown up to be influencers and possibly reality TV stars. Mean girls who wielded gossip and social manipulation like weapons. She squared her shoulders and braced herself, preparing for whatever petty cruelty they'd devised.
Harper forced herself to meet their gazes steadily, despite her instinct to look away. Her first day hadn't even reached lunch, and already she had enemies? The unfairness of it stung.
"So you're the new financial advisor," the tallest one said, her tone dripping with disdain. Her sleek black hair fell in a perfect curtain past her shoulders. "I'm Vanessa. This is Tiffany, and Janis."
The three women swept inside her office, their heels clicking against the floor in perfect rhythm. Harper released a shaky breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Her hands trembled slightly as she reached for her empty coffee cup, needing something to hold onto.
Ignore them,Reyna advised.They're just jealous and petty.
Harper nodded slightly, knowing her fox was right. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of their harassment. She'd dealt with mean girls before, but usually she'd had time to see them coming.
"May I help you?" Her greeting was polite, her smile perfunctory as she surveyed her visitors.
"This is my office," the oldest of the trio, Tiffany, charged furiously. She was possibly in her mid to late twenties, the other two perhaps being a year or two younger. All three were lovely at first glance, with perfect makeup, perfect hair, expensiveclothes, tasteful jewelry... the real thing, not costume. It was their expressions that detracted from any beauty, with narrowed eyes, tight lips that were thinned in shared fury.
"I'm... sorry?" Harper responded, her eyes going around the office. Lydia had brought her here personally, after all. And it had seemed vacant.
