The internship agency emailed Haley Thursday morning.
Interview request.
Friday.
2 p.m.
In-person.
Haley reacted by imdiately panicking.
"I can't go."
Alex looked up from her cereal.
"Stop spiraling."
Haley paced through Gael's kitchen holding her phone like it contained a death sentence.
"What if I sound stupid?"
Claire entered through the gate halfway through the spiral carrying coffee.
"What's happening?"
"Haley discovered consequences from applying for a job," Alex replied calmly.
Haley pointed dramatically at the email.
"I have an interview."
Claire blinked once.
Then smiled.
"Oh, honey, that's good."
"No, it's terrifying."
"That's usually how good things work."
Claire's tone had changed recently whenever Haley talked about career things.
Less correction.
More encouragent.
Like she'd consciously realized Haley needed confidence more than pressure.
anwhile Alex had already shifted into tactical mode.
"You need structured talking points."
"I need emotional resuscitation."
"You need both."
Gael leaned against the counter watching the chaos escalate naturally around the kitchen.
It was nice seeing Haley stressed about sothing real instead of drifting through uncertainty.
Even if she currently looked one inconvenience away from collapse.
Then Gloria walked through the gate too.
Because apparently nobody respected doors anymore.
"What happened now?"
Haley turned dramatically toward her.
"I have an interview and I'm going to humiliate myself."
Gloria looked delighted instead of concerned.
"That ans they already liked you enough on paper to et you."
"That sounds manipulative."
"That sounds true."
Unlike Claire and Alex—
who imdiately approached the situation strategically—
Gloria approached Haley emotionally.
Confidence first.
Fear second.
That mattered too.
Within fifteen minutes the kitchen sohow beca a full interview-preparation committee.
Alex organized sample questions.
Claire discussed professional presentation.
Phil attempted motivational speeches before being removed from the process by unanimous vote.
And Gloria?
Gloria took one look at Haley's closet options and declared:
"Absolutely not."
Now the afternoon had shifted into outfit selection inside Haley's bedroom while clothing exploded across every available surface.
"This one says intern," Claire comnted.
"This one says nightclub," Alex added.
"This one says divorce attorney," Gloria said while tossing another blazer aside.
Haley buried her face into a pillow.
"I hate all of you."
"You're welco," Alex replied.
Gael leaned against the doorway watching the won completely take over the situation.
Honestly, the energy felt strangely healthy.
Not because Haley was stressed.
Because everyone was investing in her future now.
Even Alex.
Especially Claire.
At one point Claire adjusted the sleeve of one outfit more carefully before stepping back.
"This one."
Gloria studied Haley critically for another second.
Then nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Alex looked up from her laptop.
"Professional but still visually morable."
Haley blinked between all three won.
"…Wait. That's unanimous."
Claire smiled slightly.
"That should terrify you."
But Haley was smiling now too.
Nervous still.
Yet underneath it—
excited.
Then Gloria stepped closer and fixed Haley's hair lightly behind one ear.
"You know the important thing?"
Haley looked up.
"They already saw your portfolio." Gloria's voice softened slightly. "The interview is just making them like you as much as your work."
Sothing about the sentence visibly settled Haley imdiately.
Because unlike Alex—
who fought through pressure intellectually—
Haley needed reassurance emotionally first.
Gloria understood that instinctively.
And while Haley turned toward the mirror again trying the outfit on one more ti—
Gael noticed Claire watching Gloria quietly from across the room in acknowledgnt.
Because Gloria had reached Haley in thirty seconds exactly where logic and strategy hadn't.
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