It's Christmas break, but Mr. Black can't catch a break. He's gotta go schmooze with clients.

I'm hugging Happy as I see Noah off.

Just as he's about to leave, he turns back like something just hit him: "Jessica's up to her old tricks again. Don't give her the time of day."

Again?!

I let out a sigh. "Got it."

Noah takes a look at my long face, then suddenly pulls me in for a hug and plants a kiss on my ear. "Don't sweat it, I've got your back."

Happy gets all squished and uncomfortable, pushing Noah away with his paws.

Noah gives him a gentle pat and heads out.

I look down at Happy in my arms and suddenly feel a bit annoyed with him.

Jessica and I started at the company together, even in the same department.

Word on the street was that only one of us interns would get to stay.

Jessica starts playing the sympathy card, telling me how her family's struggling, her parents are sick, and they're all counting on her paycheck.

At the time, I'd just become Happy's cat mom and had a free apartment to crash in. I didn't have much to stress about money-wise, so I figured if it came down to it, I'd let her have the job.

But then, out of nowhere, rumors start flying around the office that I'm fooling around with clients, that I'm some sugar baby living in a fancy apartment.

They even said I was messing around with a bunch of the guys at work.

Where did all this come from? I couldn't exactly tell them Mr. Black was lending me the apartment.

For a while, my coworkers were avoiding me like the plague. I couldn't even call my parents to cry about it. I was on the verge of a breakdown.

I'd come home and cry my eyes out, hugging Happy and using his tail to wipe my tears.