Page 52 (1/2)

Chapter One

Even with the anxiety over her first day of work at her new job loohtly colored pills and filled the plastic holder, labeled by individual days and divided by am and pm doses She separated each medication and double-checked the dose on the list provided to her by her sister’s doctor In a separate pill holder, she included a daily dose of antianxiety medication, also doctor-prescribed and approved

She clicked each holder shut tight, then left the plastic containers next to the cookie jar in the kitchen for her sister, along with ten dollars for coffee and breakfast downstairs at the e would probably be hoarded for shopping, but she’d accepted that particular vice As long as she could keep Kendall on her ht not appreciate the effort, but Lexie knew, if not for her, the psych aiting Again

Her sister’s dog, Waffles, a s one of herfor a treat

“No You just had breakfast, you piggy,” Lexie said, bending to pat the tan fluffy dog on the head “You’re on a diet” Her sister tended to overfeed him, when she remembered to feed him at all

Lexie ticked off her list ofbefore sparing a glance at the second bedroom in her apartratitude for her sacrifice She’d lost her last job because she’d been too busy looking after Kendall during her last depressive episode The one that had landed her in Shady Oaks

Lexie hated accepting her parents’ money, but she’d been unemployed and out of options, and they’d leased this aparto After her sister’s doctor had agreed to release her following a teek stay in the psych ward, as long as she lived with soh her parents had a huge ho Island, Lexie had taken the burden off of theement

After all, Kendall was her twin And her father had his hands full with her mother, who suffered froenes Lexie always feared she was one badprey to the same demons that consumed her mother and sister

Lexie rushed into her rooet ready for her first day at her new job The position wasn’t glamorous She’d been hired on as a personal assistant to a softwarein Her e letter of recommendation from her last job

Her dreaency in Manhattan had disappeared when she transferred to a local college not long after her sister had returned ho her first breakdown Lexie had taken classes and finished her degree but wasn’t able to build a career that lasted Life was always busy, and her twin’s periods of stability weren’t long enough

Despite her busyroutine, Lexie couldn’t afford to be late She’d read the online write-ups on Kaden Barnes, software billionaire whose co Snapchat a run for the uru behind the business, and if his partners were to be believed, he couldn’t keep a personal assistant because he was too difficult to work for

She wasn’t worried …other people organized and ignoring frustrating personalities She was sure she could deal with the stuffy billionaire with a stick up his ass

She dressed in her best skirt and blouse, chose a pair of heels she could walk in without too much pain, picked up her purse, and started for the door

“Lexie!” Kendall called, yanking her door open and rushing into the roos?” she asked, scooping Waffles into her ar the pup’s fur

Drawing a deep breath, Lexie turned “We aren’t allowed , so I’et to work, so we’ll talk later Your meds are on the counter and so is money for lunch”

“God daht years old! I don’t need a babysitter,” she exploded She bent and placed the dog on the floor, then glared at Lexie

No, theher best to maintain her composure When Kendall was level-headed, she appreciated Lexie’s efforts at helping