Page 58 of Beni

But this time, she added, “I do feel like I owe Bared Brands something, in a way. I got the internship because of my father’s friendship with the CEO, for starters. The editor allowed me to work with her while attending college. Not everyone has had that chance. I know the opportunities they’ve given me haven’t amounted to a lot, but they mean something to me. It’s the respect of the matter, and I promised to deliver them something for it. I’m trying to do that.”

“And you’re providing it while you’re here, are you not? The spread you mentioned—although, with something like that, we would have incorporated ways for the article to help the community that it was born from, where as they plan to …?”

August glanced away. “Not much, I imagine.”

In fact, she doubted Bared Brands would even allow her to use some of the photographs and information from the urban neighborhoods she visited for her article and spread. The parts of Chicago that wouldn’t be pleasing to a certain eye, so to speak.

Alessa nodded. “I see. “

“I do want to take this job.”

“But?”

“First, I have to finish what I started.”

“Then, you should do that. And know, I like you more because of it. That you’re willing to see something through, no matter what. That it’s tied to your morals and ethics as a person—it shows who you are, August, and that’s a good thing.”

Was it?

“Now, how are you getting back after you leave here—are you staying at your hotel, or Cam’s place?”

“Cam’s.”

“I’ll call a man to drive you.”

August shook her head, already standing from the chair. “No, I’m fine to call an Uber.”

Alessa gave her a look. “The city is dangerous right now. Even for people associated to us. Let me call a man to drive you back.”

She didn’t bother to argue.

Other things were on her mind.

“Ciao, Marcus here.”

Beni checked the watch on his wrist, brow furrowing at the time staring back at him. It wasn’t so much the time as it was the fact that Marcus sounded like he had been … sleeping? At nine in the morning? That was entirely unusual for his older brother, who, was always awake, dressed, and ready to start his day by six-thirty sharp. No excuses.

“Were you sleeping?”

Marcus cleared his throat. “Yeah, why?”

“It’s … a weekday, Marcus.”

“Obviously.”

“Since when do you sleep—”

“It’s been a long week,” his brother interjected, his tone clear that he wasn’t going to explain further. “What can I do for you, Beni?”

He did want to press for more information, though. Was something happening back home that he should know about?

“Is there—”

“What do you need?”

All right.

Marcus was no-nonsense today.