September 2017

"Mommy, do we have to go to school? I want to stay with you," Violet said, her face a tragic pout.

It was their first day of preschool, and the day Keeley would finally begin working at a privately funded research lab called the Department of Medical Advancement (DOMA). Aaron had secured her a position by making a substantial donation, on the condition she could use the facility for her cystic fibrosis research.

She hoped only the director knew how she'd obtained the position; she didn't want to be seen as the woman who worked there only because of her wealthy husband. The awkwardness of that prospect weighed heavily on her.

"Mommy has to go to work, Vi. We talked about this, remember? You get to stay here, play with Kaleb, meet new friends. I'll pick you up at three, and then we can talk about your day and bake cookies, okay?"

Violet, unlike her brother, was a homebody. She enjoyed outings, provided her parents were nearby, but wasn't particularly adventurous. Kaleb, on the other hand, had already broken his arm the previous year, falling from playground equipment.

Kaleb smiled, taking his sister's hand. "Don't worry, I'm here!"

Keeley had enrolled them in the same class, fearing Violet would otherwise throw a tantrum. She hoped Kaleb would help Violet socialize and make friends.

Violet would play with other children during playdates organized by Keeley, but at the playground, she mostly played independently, while Kaleb interacted with other children. Her closest friend was her twin brother, but she was also fond of Noah Singleton, who was almost two years old.

Whenever the Hales and Singletons got together, Noah would follow Violet (and Kaleb, to a lesser extent) like a puppy. It was adorable.

Violet looked hesitantly between her brother and mother. "Come back fast, Mommy."

Her daughter's plea tugged at Keeley's heart. She hugged both children.

"I love you two! Have fun today, okay?"

They nodded seriously, walking hand-in-hand ahead of her to meet their teacher. Keeley sighed as she watched them go. They had grown so much. While excited to return to work, she would miss being with them all day.

She drove to the DOMA building in Queens, a mix of nerves and excitement churning within her. She had to stay positive. This was what she wanted; it would be a good thing.

Just before entering, her phone buzzed. A good luck text from Aaron. His thoughtfulness brought a smile to her face as she walked inside.

A professionally dressed woman sat at the reception desk. "How can I help you?" she asked, looking up from her computer.

"Hi, I'm Keeley Hale. It's my first day; I'm scheduled to meet with Doctor Butler."

Keeley projected confidence, attempting to sound knowledgeable. She wasn't sure how well she succeeded, but the receptionist responded normally.

"Ah yes, Doctor Butler is expecting you. Please have a seat while I call him, Doctor Hale."

It was the first time she'd been called "Doctor Hale" since graduation. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She had earned the title; she shouldn't be this excited.

Dr. Butler, the DOMA director and the recipient of Aaron's donation, greeted her warmly.

"We're so glad to have you, Doctor Hale. Please follow me," he said, shaking her hand. At least he seemed friendly.

He led her to his office and gestured for her to sit. He explained basic procedures, including obtaining her ID badge. So far, everything seemed straightforward.

Then, he revealed the reason for her expedited onboarding. Dr. Butler folded his hands, smiling broadly.

"Thanks to your husband's generous donation, we have ample funds for your research materials. I read parts of your dissertation. I believe you were ready to move to rabbits?"

Keeley nodded. He continued, "I've already requested genetically modified cystic fibrosis rabbits. They'll arrive in a week or two. Everything else you need is here. I assume you have a copy of your dissertation?"

"Yes, as requested. I'll use it to replicate my method on the mutated CFTR gene," she replied.

"Excellent. I'm certain you'll be an asset to our team, Doctor Hale."

An asset indeed. Successful research would undoubtedly mention DOMA in any media coverage, exponentially increasing future donations.

Dr. Butler showed her the break room, lockers, and labs—five in total. She would share a lab with two other scientists and their teams.

She admitted to feeling nervous about managing others. Dr. Butler assured her the assigned lab assistants were among DOMA's best.

Keeley wasn't concerned about their competence, but about her own lack of supervisory experience. Even during her time at Ace Burger, she'd never held a supervisory role. She wasn't sure how to manage people.

She decided to discuss effective management techniques with Aaron. Despite the awe and fear his subordinates often showed, she knew he was a good boss who cared about his employees.

(The final promotional sentences have been removed as they are unrelated to the story itself.)