Suddenly, Nita caught on-Lyman was dropping a hint.


    She had no intention of ying third wheel, so she quickly found an excuse and slipped away.


    After a few days'' rest, Effie finally returned to work.


    The moment she walked back into the office, Irving Butler called her into his office.


    "Effie, you missed your meeting with the client the other day. The client was furious and has already filed aint against you. Tell me, with this kind of work performance, do you really think you should still be working here?"


    Effie shot Irving a cold look. "Irving, you know exactly why I missed that meeting. Since you know, why didn''t you say anything when Mr. Etheridge came asking about it?"


    She was bluffing-letting him know she wasn''t someone he could push around. Irving''s eyes flickered, his lips pressed in a tight line as he stayed silent.


    He figured Effie must have gotten in good with Lyman through Randell somehow. Still, he hadn''t realized Effie and Lyman were actually this close-close enough for Lyman to care about her?


    A sense of unease settled even deeper in Irving''s chest. "Effie, this was a serious mistake. I can''t keep you on staff. I think it''s time you found another job."


    Just like that, he wanted to kick her out?


    Effie looked him straight in the eye. "Irving, none of us are perfect. Mistakes happen—it wasn''t even a matter of principle. And I had a valid reason for missing that meeting. I deserve a chance to make it right. Let me try to fix things with the client. If I fail, you can do whatever you want with my position."


    Irving narrowed his eyes at her, letting out a cold snort.


    Excuses, he thought. Effie sure had plenty.


    But Ms. Cooper wasn''t someone easily appeased. She''d stormed out that day, furious about her time being wasted, and said she''d never trust The Etheridge Group again.


    Irving figured this was a mission impossible.


    If Effie wanted to humiliate herself, he wouldn''t stop her. Once she failed, he''d have an even better reason to fire her.


    "Fine. This is yourst chance. If you mess up again, don''t expect any favors from me."


    "Deal," Effie said. "I understand."


    When Effie left the office, Shirley rushed over, concern written all over her face. "Effie, you were gone for days. The whole office is buzzing with rumors. Are you okay?"


    Effie shook her head. "I''m fine."


    After a pause, she added, "By the way, thank you. If you hadn''t run up to the top floor to get Mr. Etheridge, he never would''ve known something had happened to me."


    Shirley looked worried. "Effie, you really scared me. You''d been gone so long, and I couldn''t reach you on your cell. I just panicked and ran for it."


    She stuck out her tongue sheepishly. "Honestly, I was nervous, too. I kept


    thinking, if you turned out to be fine and I interrupted Mr. Etheridge''s meeting for nothing, I''d be in trouble. But I just couldn''t risk something happening to you."


    Effie smiled. “You did the right thing. Really-you did."


    "I need to head out now."


    "Is it about Ms. Cooper''s ount?" Shirley asked, curiosity piqued.


    "Yeah. I''m going to see if there''s any way to save it."


    Shirley hesitated, then dug a small charm from her pocket. "Here. This is a good luck charm I got from a church. Take it with you."


    Effie looked at the charm andughed. "Isn''t this supposed to bring you financial luck?"