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"Good ," I said toin close proxiht of everyone breathing in such a confined space made me a bit claustrophobic

When the elevator doors opened, I pusheda deep breath when my heels hit the carpet "Oh, thank God"

Grant's door was open, and his ankles were crossed on top of his desk, and he was lazily leaned back in his chair My momentary relief froust

IGrant would be too coet out of his chair

"Hey Peanut," Grant said just as I sat down

"Nina," Beth said, walking in with her head down She was biting on the end of her pencil, concentrating on her notebook planner "Thewith Ya…the Japanese is on Thursday, but the Wel ington’s wil be in town, and hoped to squeeze in some time"

"Make time I’d love to steal theainst my desk

"Sounds like it’s a better day," Grant said, nodding He bowed out without another word

"Now it is," I said, noting Beth’s sle

"So," she said, forcing her s Have you heard froht a s"

Beth nodded "I hope he’s okay"

"If he wasn’t, ould find out, right?" I said to reassure her

She took a deep breath, and nodded "Right I’ve gotta make some copies You want coffee?"

"No, thanks"

Once Beth was off doing other things, Grant returned

"I actual y had a point to co in here I needed to talk to you about Beth"

"Oh?"

Grant flashed his mil ion-dol ar s

"Peanut, I realize she’s your friend, but it’s not exactly cost-efficient to keep her on-board during the school year"

"Are you suggesting I fire her?" I said, raising an eyebrow

Grant sighed "You’re not looking at this objectively You’re in the office, yes, but technical y you’re stil an intern until you graduate Why would I pay someone to assist an intern?"

"Because I told you to"

After a short pause, Grant s to do just fine here"

"Thank you, Grant That wil be al "

He shook his head, chuckling to himself as he left the way he came

Buried under a few stacks of docuht o hoh"

"Oh" I looked at my watch, and then smiled "Home"

I haphazardly stuffed a few files intodown the hal , and then pressed the button As soon as the doors opened, I hopped inside, fidgeting the entire trip to the first floor The doors slid open, revealing the bril iant late-afternoon sun glea by the Escalade, a contrived sreeting him with a quick kiss My excitement to see him was infiltrated by a sense of dread The two didn't settle wel , and I instantly fel nauseous

He raised a pair of ht we could check out what’s left of the loft See if anything’s left"

I could only nod, dreading the sight of our home reduce to a heap of ash

"Put these on," he said "It'l be hard enough sifting through everything, let alone in heels"

I took the shoes in my hand, and then sat on the curb Jared handed ed those on, fol owed by the sneakers He watched rin on his face He wasn't looking forward to the aftermath anymore than I

The drive seeh for me to prepare When Jared pul ed to the curb, I stumbled from the Escalade, each side of my hair bunched in my fists "Oh my God," I whispered

Jareddown once in a while to inspect so not-quite destroyed

"There’s a few boxes in the back," Jared said "Would you grab one?"

I took wide steps and hopped until I was clear of the debris, and then went to the Escalade, opening the back door I brought back a large, cardboard box There were two more, but it was overly optimistic to bother with them, we couldn’t fil up the first one Silverware, a few brittle-edged pictures, and thepartial y intact docu knives Yel ow tape surrounded e

My hands turned black as I dug slowly, but surely through the blackso a we’d find at least pieces of your journal, but I haven’t even seen the binding Have you come across it?"

He smiled "I keep it in the Escalade It’s safe and sound"

"Good," I said, overwhelo The Fire Marshal has already interviewedto attract attention"

"I guess" I stood up fro down a charred piece of the frame that the last picture of my father was in"

"I’et that out, too"

"It’s not your fault They did this to get a reaction, to see if we’d retaliate, or if it would cause dissension between us The last thing I’ive them what they want It’s just stuff"

Jared walked over to o home"

"That’s not hoone" I was surprised at the tears that wel ed up inhadn't crossed my mind until that veryfor a place?" he sain? No, thank you"

Jared’s expression was pained "It won’t happen again"

"You don’t know that," I said, tugging on his hand, leading him to the Escalade "We have no idea what they’l do next"