Her work spoke for itself. Or it used to. In the past six months, there’d been a tremor in the Force. Lots of tremors, actually.

“So,” Dave said. He cleared his throat. “I think we’ll use this as an opportunity to give Arwen a little more responsibility. I’m putting her on the lead for the Hermanos headquarters.”

The tremor became a quake. The new home of a Fortune 500 company under Arwen’s lead? Why? Juliet was completely capable of doing her job.

“Absolutely. Anything I can do to help,” Arwen murmured.

“I appreciate that,” Juliet said, keeping her voice low and pleasant. “But I’m really fine. Totally in the game. Thanks just the same, Dave.”

“Let’s see how it goes. Great. Good meeting. I feel reassured. Again, anything you need. Anything at all. Thanks, Arwen, that’ll be all.”

Arwen put her hand over Juliet’s and gave it a quick squeeze. “I really am so sorry about your dad.” She left, leaving a hint of jasmine in the air. Even her perfume was gorgeous.

When the door closed, Juliet fixed Dave with a firm look. “I do not need Arwen taking over my responsibilities, Dave. I’m the project manager. She has her plate full already.”

“You know what? I think you’re right, but we’ll try this out just the same. It’ll be good for you. Good talk. I like that we’re thinking outside the box. Let’s circle back and see if we can move the needle on this project. Great! Good! We’re all on the same page. Give your mother my best.” He stood up, and Silent Laurie closed her laptop and trailed after him, but not before she gave Juliet a look that seemed to say, “Watch your back, sister.”

Juliet sat alone in the big room, Dave’s cliché business-speak ringing in her ears and the too-familiar waves of dread lapping at her feet.

Two years ago, Juliet had recruited Arwen to join DJK Architects. It had seemed so innocuous at the time.

Recruitment was part of Juliet’s job, unofficially . . . to keep an eye out for young talent, especially female talent. Not that anyone made extra time for her to do this—the partners had never said, “Juliet, take two days a month and dedicate them to finding young female architects so we don’t look so middle-aged white male around here, okay?”