Chapter 115: THE THING SHE’S GOOD AT

MONDAY

7:12 A.M. — CALLOWAY RESIDENCE

ALLISON’S POV

Allison Croft Calloway had discovered that getting better at kickboxing came with an unexpected consequence.

Stairs.

Specifically, stairs had become her enemy.

She stood at the top of the staircase, one hand gripping the railing, staring down at the steps.

"Absolutely not."

Behind her, Lucian appeared carrying his watch.

"What’s wrong?"

Allison pointed.

"Those."

He followed her finger.

"The stairs?"

"Yes."

"What did they do?"

"They exist."

Lucian looked at her for a moment.

Then smiled.

"Your legs are sore."

"My legs are protesting unfair working conditions."

"You trained yesterday."

"And Marcus apparently believes squats are a personality trait."

Lucian laughed.

Allison took one careful step.

Then another.

She winced dramatically.

Lucian approached.

"Would you like help?"

She considered.

Then lifted her arms.

"Carry your wife."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Seriously?"

"Lucian, I have suffered."

He slipped one arm beneath her knees and the other behind her back.

Allison squealed as he lifted her.

"Oh!"

"You asked."

"I didn’t expect immediate compliance."

He started down the stairs.

She wrapped her arms around his neck.

"See? This is why I married you."

"For transportation?"

"Among other benefits."

Lucian laughed.

At the bottom, he set her down carefully.

Allison kissed his cheek.

"Five-star service."

"Will you be leaving a review?"

"Depends on breakfast."

He shook his head.

From the kitchen, Nora called, "I heard that!"

Allison smiled.

"Good morning, Nora!"

"Good morning, Mrs. Calloway. Your pancakes are waiting."

Allison turned to Lucian.

"Six stars."

?

8:04 A.M. — BREAKFAST

Allison had nearly finished breakfast when her phone buzzed.

Rachel Kim.

She opened the message.

Good morning. I reviewed your practice ledgers. Nice work. Are you available tomorrow afternoon? I have a small business review you might find interesting.

Allison straightened.

Lucian noticed.

"Everything okay?"

"Rachel."

"Good news?"

"I think so."

She read the message again.

A real business review.

Not another fictional spreadsheet full of pretend transactions.

She typed:

I’d love to. What would I be doing?

Rachel responded:

Observing first. If the client agrees, you can help organize supporting records and test a few reconciliations. I’ll supervise.

Allison smiled.

Lucian watched her.

"What?"

"Rachel invited me to sit in on a client review."

"That’s great."

"She said I can help with some of the records."

"Even better."

Allison looked at him.

"Do you think I’m ready?"

Lucian set down his coffee.

"Rachel wouldn’t invite you if she thought you couldn’t learn from it."

Allison considered that.

"That’s annoyingly reasonable."

He smiled.

"Thank you."

She typed her response.

Yes. I’ll be there.

Rachel sent the address and time.

Tuesday.

One-thirty.

Allison added it to her calendar.

Then stared at the appointment.

Lucian leaned closer.

"Excited?"

"Very."

"Nervous?"

"Also very."

He kissed her forehead.

"Sounds about right."

Allison smiled.

Then looked down at her pajamas.

"Oh, I need an outfit."

Lucian laughed.

"Of course you do."

?

TUESDAY

12:46 P.M. — NORFOLK BUSINESS DISTRICT

ALLISON’S POV

Allison arrived twenty minutes early.

Not because she was nervous.

Well.

Not entirely.

She stepped out of the car wearing tailored black trousers, a soft lavender blouse, and a cream blazer.

Her chestnut-brown hair fell in loose curls around her shoulders.

A small leather tote hung from her arm.

Inside were a notebook, pens, a calculator, and enough sticky notes to organize a small country.

She checked the address.

HARBOR POINT ADVISORY

The office occupied the second floor of a renovated brick building overlooking a quiet street.

It wasn’t enormous.

There were no marble fountains.

No dramatic security desk.

Just a clean reception area, framed photographs of local businesses, and a woman behind the front desk who greeted her warmly.

"Can I help you?"

"Hi. I’m Allison Croft Calloway. I’m meeting Rachel Kim."

The receptionist smiled.

"She’s expecting you. Have a seat."

Allison thanked her.

Then sat.

She glanced at her watch.

Twelve fifty.

Forty minutes until the appointment.

She’d overestimated traffic.

Again.

Her phone buzzed.

Simone.

Are you there?

Allison typed:

Yes. Very early.

Of course you are.

I wanted to be prepared.

You packed seventeen pens, didn’t you?

Allison looked into her tote.

Six.

Only six.

Personal growth.

Allison laughed.

A moment later, Rachel emerged from the hallway.

"Allison!"

She stood.

"Hi!"

Rachel smiled.

"You’re early."

"A little."

Rachel glanced at the clock.

"A little?"

Allison sighed.

"Fine. Extremely."

Rachel laughed.

"Come on. I’ll show you around."

?

1:04 P.M. — HARBOR POINT ADVISORY

Rachel led Allison through the office.

There were several workstations, two meeting rooms, and a small kitchenette.

People greeted Rachel as they passed.

"This is where I work with small and mid-sized businesses," Rachel explained. "Financial reporting, internal controls, cash-flow planning, and sometimes cleanup when records have gotten messy."

Allison nodded.

"Do you mostly work with companies that are struggling?"

"Not necessarily. Some are doing well and want better systems before they grow."

They entered a small conference room.

Rachel placed a folder on the table.

"Today’s client owns three neighborhood cafés."

Allison smiled.

"I like cafés."

"Then you’ll appreciate the stakes."

Rachel opened the folder.

"The business is profitable. But the owner has noticed inconsistencies between the point-of-sale reports, bank deposits, and the monthly sales summaries."

Allison leaned forward.

"Missing money?"

"Maybe. But don’t jump there."

Allison immediately nodded.

"Right."

Rachel smiled.

"Inconsistent records can have ordinary explanations. Timing differences, processing fees, refunds, manual entry mistakes. Our job is to find out what the records support."

Allison looked down at the documents.

That sounded manageable.

And interesting.

Rachel continued.

"The owner has agreed to let you observe and assist with basic reconciliation under my supervision. You’ll sign a confidentiality agreement first."

Allison nodded.

"Of course."

Rachel handed her the document.

Allison read it carefully before signing.

Then Rachel smiled.

"Welcome to your first real review."

Allison looked at the folder.

For some reason, that sentence made her heart beat faster than she’d expected.

?

1:31 P.M. — CLIENT CONFERENCE ROOM

AUTHOR POV

The client arrived carrying a laptop and a canvas bag.

Her name was Olivia Bennett.

She was thirty-eight, with shoulder-length dark hair, warm brown skin, and the practical expression of someone who had spent the morning solving twelve problems before lunch.

Rachel stood.

"Olivia. Good to see you."

Olivia smiled.

"Good to see you too."

Rachel introduced Allison.

"This is Allison. She’s studying financial analysis and assisting me today under supervision."

Olivia shook her hand.

"Nice to meet you."

"You too."

Olivia settled into her chair.

"Before we start, I need to confess something."

Rachel smiled.

"Go ahead."

"I hate spreadsheets."

Allison laughed before she could stop herself.

Olivia looked at her.

"Oh, good. Someone understands."

Rachel shook her head.

"Allison is actually beginning to enjoy them."

Olivia stared.

"Why?"

Allison considered.

"I like when the numbers finally make sense."

Olivia sighed.

"Then you’re exactly the kind of person I need."

They opened the records.

Olivia explained that her cafés used the same point-of-sale system but had different managers.

Two locations deposited sales regularly.

The third had a few unexplained differences in its monthly summaries.

Rachel asked questions.

Allison listened.

She took notes.

And, for the first twenty minutes, she didn’t say much.

That was harder than she’d expected.

She had questions.

Several.

But she wanted to understand the full picture first.

Rachel eventually turned toward her.

"Allison, would you summarize what we’re comparing?"

Allison sat straighter.

"The point-of-sale totals, the bank deposits, and the monthly sales reports."

"Good. And why might they differ?"

"Processing fees, refunds, deposit timing, or errors in the summaries."

Rachel nodded.

"Exactly."

Olivia smiled.

"That already sounds better than the explanation I got from my manager."

Allison laughed softly.

Rachel opened the first spreadsheet.

"Let’s begin."

?

2:08 P.M. — THE FIRST MISTAKE

ALLISON’S POV

For forty minutes, everything went well.

Allison checked transaction dates.

Matched deposits.

Highlighted processing fees.

And successfully reconciled one week’s records.

She was beginning to feel confident.

Possibly too confident.

Because when she reached the next set of numbers, she frowned.

"Rachel?"

"Yes?"

"There’s a difference of $2,460."

Rachel looked over.

"Show me."

Allison pointed to the spreadsheet.

"The sales report says one amount, but the bank shows less."

Olivia leaned forward.

"That’s the kind of difference I was worried about."

Allison nodded.

"It might be—"

She stopped.

Rachel waited.

"Might be what?"

Allison looked at the records again.

She’d almost said missing money.

But Rachel had warned her about jumping to conclusions.

So she took another breath.

"I need to check whether the deposits include the same dates."

Rachel smiled.

"Good."

Allison reviewed the transaction list.

Then found it.

A deposit recorded on the final day of the month hadn’t reached the bank until the next business day.

She looked up.

"Oh."

Rachel raised an eyebrow.

"What did you find?"

"A deposit in transit."

"Exactly."

Allison leaned back.

"That explains most of the difference."

"Most," Rachel repeated.

Allison checked the remaining entries.

Then noticed a payment processor fee that hadn’t been entered in the monthly summary.

She adjusted the reconciliation worksheet.

The difference disappeared.

She stared.

"Wait."

Rachel smiled.

"What?"

"It balances."

"It does."

Olivia looked between them.

"So nobody stole two thousand dollars?"

Rachel answered carefully.

"Not based on this difference. The records show a timing issue and an omitted fee."

Olivia exhaled.

"Oh, thank goodness."

Allison smiled.

Then looked down at her notes.

She’d almost made an assumption.

Instead, she’d checked.

And found the answer.

It was a small thing.

But it felt important.

?

2:47 P.M. — THE PATTERN

The next problem was less straightforward.

Allison noticed that the third café’s monthly summaries contained several manual adjustments.

Not large ones.

Some were only twenty or thirty dollars.

Others were closer to a hundred.

She looked at the entries.

Then at the supporting documents.

"Rachel?"

Rachel turned.

"Yes?"

"Can I ask something?"

"Of course."

Allison pointed to the screen.

"Why are there so many manual adjustments at this location?"

Olivia frowned.

"What kind?"

"Small changes to the daily totals."

Rachel moved closer.

"Good observation."

Allison continued.

"The other two cafés have some, but not nearly as many."

Olivia considered.

"That location’s manager does the end-of-day reports differently."

Rachel nodded.

"That may explain it."

Allison looked at the adjustment notes.

Some had explanations.

Others didn’t.

She wasn’t sure what to make of that.

"Should we ask for the original daily reports?" she asked.

Rachel smiled.

"Yes."

Olivia opened her laptop.

"I can get those."

While Olivia searched, Rachel leaned toward Allison.

"That’s exactly the kind of question I want you asking."

Allison looked surprised.

"Really?"

"Yes. You noticed a difference in process, not just a difference in totals."

Allison smiled.

A few minutes later, Olivia found the reports.

The adjustments turned out to be connected to cash drawer corrections, staff meal discounts, and a few entries made under the wrong category.

Nothing suggested a hidden scheme.

But the inconsistent documentation made the reports harder to verify.

Rachel recommended a standardized closing procedure.

Olivia nodded.

"That makes sense."

Allison wrote it down.

Then looked at the three cafés’ reports side by side.

The problem wasn’t just the numbers.

It was the way people recorded them.

And that was something a business could actually improve.

?

3:26 P.M. — THE RECOMMENDATION

By the end of the meeting, Rachel had prepared a short list of recommendations.

Standardize daily closing reports.

Record processing fees consistently.

Require explanations for manual adjustments.

Reconcile deposits weekly rather than waiting until month-end.

Olivia reviewed the list.

"This is much simpler than I expected."

Rachel smiled.

"That’s usually the goal."

Olivia turned toward Allison.

"And you caught the adjustment pattern?"

Allison nodded.

"Yes, but Rachel helped me understand what it meant."

Olivia smiled.

"Still. Good eye."

Allison felt warmth spread through her chest.

"Thank you."

They wrapped up the meeting.

Olivia thanked them and left.

Allison began gathering her notes.

Rachel watched her.

"Well?"

Allison looked up.

"Well what?"

"How was it?"

Allison smiled.

"I loved it."

Rachel laughed.

"Even the confusing parts?"

"Especially the confusing parts."

"Why?"

Allison thought for a moment.

"Because there was an answer. I just had to slow down enough to find it."

Rachel nodded.

"That’s a good instinct."

Allison looked at the folder.

"Do you think I could actually do this?"

Rachel leaned back.

"With training and experience? Absolutely."

Allison smiled.

Rachel continued.

"You have curiosity, patience when you choose to use it, and an eye for patterns. Those are useful qualities."

Allison laughed.

"When I choose to use it?"

Rachel smiled.

"You do occasionally get ahead of yourself."

"Fair."

"But you corrected yourself today. That’s what matters."

Allison nodded.

Rachel closed the folder.

"If you’re interested, I can invite you to observe another review next month."

Allison’s eyes widened.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Yes!"

Rachel laughed.

"That was quick."

"I didn’t want you to change your mind."

"I wasn’t going to."

Allison smiled.

For the first time, she could picture herself doing this regularly.

Not because she was married to Lucian.

Not because of the Croft name.

Because she enjoyed the work.

And because she might actually become good at it.

?

4:18 P.M. — NORFOLK WATERFRONT

ALLISON’S POV

Allison stopped at a small café on her way home.

She ordered an iced coffee and sat outside beneath a striped umbrella.

Her notebook rested on the table.

She opened it.

Across the top of a fresh page, she wrote:

THINGS I LEARNED TODAY

Then she listed the lessons.

Check dates before assuming money is missing.

Ask for supporting records.

Different procedures can create different results.

Don’t guess when you can verify.

She paused.

Then added:

I really like this.

She smiled at the sentence.

Her phone buzzed.

Simone.

Allison answered.

"Hello?"

"How did it go?"

Allison grinned.

"Simone."

"Oh, that sounds good."

"I worked on a real financial review."

"Look at you!"

"And I found a pattern in the reports."

"Was it interesting?"

"Very."

"Was there dramatic music?"

"No."

"Disappointing."

Allison laughed.

"It was actually pretty ordinary."

"Did you enjoy it?"

"Yes."

"Then that’s what matters."

Allison leaned back.

Simone continued.

"Also, Theo wants to know whether you’re becoming an accountant."

Allison laughed.

"Not yet."

"I told him you’d eventually start charging him for bad financial decisions."

"Tell him my rates are expensive."

Simone called away from the phone.

"THEO! SHE SAYS YOU CAN’T AFFORD HER!"

A muffled voice responded.

Allison burst out laughing.

Simone returned.

"He says he’s emotionally prepared."

"That’s unfortunate."

They chatted for a few more minutes.

Then Allison ended the call.

She looked at the water.

A ferry moved slowly across the harbor.

People walked along the promenade.

Cars passed behind her.

Everything continued at its usual pace.

And Allison sat there smiling over a spreadsheet.

Who would have thought?

?

6:03 P.M. — CALLOWAY RESIDENCE

LUCIAN’S POV

Lucian was finishing a call when Allison arrived home.

He heard the front door open.

Then her voice.

"Nora!"

A pause.

"I HAVE NEWS!"

Lucian smiled.

He ended his call a few minutes later and walked downstairs.

Allison stood in the kitchen talking animatedly.

Nora was listening with a proud smile.

"And then the numbers balanced!"

"That’s wonderful, Mrs. Calloway."

"I know!"

Lucian leaned against the doorway.

"Should I be jealous of a spreadsheet?"

Allison turned.

"Yes."

He laughed.

She hurried toward him.

"Lucian!"

He caught her as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Hello, sweetheart."

"I had the best day."

"I can tell."

She kissed him.

Then pulled back.

"Okay. Sit down. I have to tell you everything."

He allowed her to lead him to the kitchen island.

For the next fifteen minutes, Allison explained the review.

The cafés.

The deposits.

The fees.

The manual adjustments.

Her mistake.

How Rachel helped her correct it.

And how she’d noticed the inconsistent closing procedures.

Lucian listened without interrupting.

When she finished, he smiled.

"You enjoyed that."

"So much."

"What was your favorite part?"

Allison considered.

"Figuring out why something didn’t make sense."

Lucian nodded.

"That sounds like you."

She tilted her head.

"Does it?"

"Very much."

Allison smiled.

Then grew thoughtful.

"I think I want to pursue this seriously."

Lucian reached for her hand.

"Then you should."

"Maybe take more classes."

"Good idea."

"Possibly look into a certificate program."

"That could be useful."

"And eventually work somewhere."

Lucian smiled.

"That sounds like a plan."

Allison looked at him.

"Somewhere that isn’t Calloway Group."

He nodded.

"I figured."

She blinked.

"You did?"

"Yes."

"You’re not offended?"

"Why would I be?"

She shrugged.

"I don’t know."

Lucian squeezed her hand.

"Allison, you don’t have to work for me to make me proud."

Her expression softened.

"I know."

He smiled.

"And I suspect you’d prefer being able to complain about your boss without worrying I’m the boss."

Allison burst out laughing.

"Exactly!"

He laughed with her.

Then she leaned forward and kissed him again.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For listening."

"Always."

?

WEDNESDAY

6:38 A.M. — TRAINING ROOM

ALLISON’S POV

Allison’s kickboxing instructor was apparently unimpressed by her professional accomplishments.

Marcus held up the pads.

"Again."

Allison glared.

"Did you hear me?"

"Yes."

"I helped with a financial review."

"Congratulations."

"Thank you."

"Now keep your guard up."

She sighed.

"You’re impossible."

"One-two. Hook."

Allison moved.

Jab.

Cross.

Hook.

Marcus nodded.

"Better."

She reset.

They continued for another twenty minutes.

Footwork.

Defensive movement.

Controlled combinations.

By the end, Allison was breathing hard but smiling.

Marcus lowered the pads.

"You’re improving."

"I know."

He raised an eyebrow.

Allison grinned.

"Sorry. That sounded arrogant."

"A little."

"I blame my husband."

Marcus laughed.

Allison removed her gloves.

"Actually, I think I’m starting to like this part."

"What part?"

"Practicing."

Marcus nodded.

"Good. That’s how you get better."

Allison considered that.

It was true of kickboxing.

True of accounting.

True of cooking.

And probably a hundred other things she’d never tried.

She didn’t need to be excellent immediately.

She just needed to keep showing up.

?

WEDNESDAY

11:22 A.M. — RACHEL KIM’S OFFICE

AUTHOR POV

Rachel reviewed the notes from the café engagement.

Allison’s observations were clearly marked.

The reconciliation error she’d initially made had been corrected during the meeting.

Her questions about the manual adjustments had been useful.

Rachel opened a blank email.

Subject: Training Opportunities

She began writing.

Allison had asked about pursuing financial analysis professionally.

Rachel knew of several introductory courses and certificate programs that could help.

She listed three.

A bookkeeping fundamentals course.

An introductory accounting certificate.

A business analytics program with spreadsheet training.

Then she added a note.

Start with the fundamentals. You don’t need to rush into everything at once.

She sent the email.

And smiled.

It was nice watching someone discover an interest before worrying about turning it into a career.

Allison had time.

She could learn.

Practice.

Make mistakes.

And figure out which direction suited her.

Rachel hoped she’d enjoy the process.

?

WEDNESDAY

3:17 P.M. — CALLOWAY RESIDENCE

ALLISON’S POV

Allison read Rachel’s email twice.

Then opened the course descriptions.

She compared schedules.

Tuition.

Requirements.

Time commitments.

For once, she didn’t immediately enroll in everything.

She made a list.

Then selected the introductory accounting certificate as the option she wanted to discuss with Rachel first.

She opened her calendar.

Training Thursday.

Lunch with Simone Friday.

A bookstore visit Saturday.

Rachel’s next session Monday.

And now, possibly, a new class.

Allison leaned back.

Her life was filling up.

Not with emergencies.

Not with obligations somebody else had chosen for her.

With things she actually wanted to do.

Her phone buzzed.

A message from Lucian.

How’s your afternoon?

She smiled.

Productive. I think I found a course I want to take.

Tell me about it tonight.

I will.

A pause.

Then:

Also, Marcus says you’re coming to training tomorrow.

Lucian replied:

Apparently I am.

Allison grinned.

Prepare yourself.

For what?

Defeat.

His response arrived immediately.

Of course, champion.

Allison laughed.

She placed her phone down and returned to the course description.

The future wasn’t something she needed to solve in one afternoon.

She could build it slowly.

One class.

One skill.

One ordinary day at a time.

And for the first time, Allison Croft Calloway wasn’t simply discovering what she was capable of surviving.

She was discovering what she enjoyed doing.