Impress Me
YN hesitated for a second too long.
Coffee? With the CEO?
It was like walking a tightrope in heels—except the tightrope was strung across the skyline, and the heels were wobblier than they looked.
She nodded, gently tugging Ben to stand. “Okay, sweetheart, time to go back to our seat.”
Ben frowned up at her. “But I’m having muffin time…”
Arlecchino’s voice cut in smoothly. “He can stay. He’s perfectly behaved. You said it yourself, you need this job.”
YN’s stomach fluttered for a reason that had nothing to do with caffeine. Arlecchino’s tone wasn’t cruel. It was composed. Controlled. But it left little room for negotiation—like she already knew the answer.
And she wasn’t wrong. YN did need this job. The rent wasn’t going to wait. Neither were the daycare fees. And that subway card wasn’t going to reload itself.
So she nodded again. “Yes, ma’am.”
Arlecchino raised a brow. “You can call me Ms. Arlecchino.”
Of course.
The café nook wasn’t loud, but it had enough bustle to keep their conversation comfortably private. YN sat straight-backed across from the CEO, hands resting delicately around a small cappuccino she hadn’t even dared to sip yet. Meanwhile, Ben sat two tables down, humming as he played with the last bite of muffin and swung his legs back and forth like a little clock.
“You weren’t formally scheduled for today,” Arlecchino said, crossing one leg over the other. “The team usually handles onboarding.”
“I—I know,” YN said, pushing her voice to stay even. “But the email said I could come in early for a pre-briefing. I thought… I thought I could get a head start. Set a good impression.”
“You have,” Arlecchino said, not missing a beat. Her gaze sharpened, steady. “But this building is full of people trying to impress me. What makes you different?”
YN opened her mouth. Closed it.
What made her different?
She wasn’t from a fancy school. She didn’t have a portfolio dripping in big names. She’d built herself from scratch after Louis walked away. Every job she'd taken was to keep a roof over Ben’s head, not to climb some mythical ladder.
She cleared her throat, lifting her chin. “I don’t know if I’m different. But I’m dependable. I don’t quit. And I know how to make things work with limited resources. I’ve had to.”
Arlecchino’s expression didn’t shift much—but the silence stretched just enough for YN to realize something was settling in.
“You don’t quit,” the CEO echoed, almost like she was testing the shape of the words.
“No, ma’am.”
“Even when things fall apart?”
“I’ve been through that. I know how to put things back together.”
It wasn’t a boast. It wasn’t even strategic. It was just the truth.
A breath passed between them.
Then Arlecchino reached into the inside pocket of her blazer and pulled out a slim folder. “This is a more advanced track. A new campaign team. Faster pace. More eyes on your work. Higher stakes.”
YN blinked. “Are you… offering me—?”
“I don’t offer unless I’m sure,” Arlecchino said. “You impressed me. And your son? He’s got better manners than most of my executives. I can respect that.”
YN felt something flicker in her chest. Not just hope, but something deeper. Something that felt dangerously like the beginning of trust.
“I’ll take it,” she said softly. “Whatever it is. I’ll work hard.”
“I expect you to.”
Arlecchino stood, gathering her things in one fluid motion.
Then, without turning, she added, “We’ll talk more soon. Don’t be late tomorrow.”
As the CEO disappeared down the hall, Ben rushed back over, clutching a napkin with the last bite of muffin tucked inside like treasure.
“Mommy!” he beamed. “She said I’m better than an executive. What’s that mean?”
YN crouched to his level, hugging him tightly.
“It means,” she whispered, kissing the top of his curls, “we’re going to be okay.”