Kiley Reidhad, arguably, the biggest debut novel of the last year.
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Yumi Parr used the last and largest bathroom stall on the empty floor below Simplexity Design.
A woman’s voice said, “Are you gonna go?”
Credit: David Goddard/Amazon
Another voice said, “Absolutely not.”
The bathroom door opened.
These voices belonged to business designer Paige Keener and business strategist Gianna Abdul.
Yumi held very still and thought, S— s— s—.
“I don’t know why she even said that.”
Gianna’s voice skipped off the bathroom tile.
“And what does she expect?”
“Like you’re just gonna spend fourteen hours in Boston and then come back to work?
There was only one of her and two of them.
Yumi did not recognize the coworker about whom Paige and Gianna were gossiping.
There was a bit of movement, but still, no one went to use the toilet.
“I can’t go anyway,” Gianna said.
“I’m gonna end up sending my own proposals.
Paige turned on the faucet.
“Wait, you’re actually gonna go down to UPS?”
Gianna said, “Probably?
Maybe I’ll do TaskRabbit?”
“No, no, don’t do that,” Paige told her.
“They take forever.
Why don’t you just ask Yumi to do it?”
Yumi’s chin went down and into her chest.
She listened to Paige pump the soap dispenser.
Gianna said, “Really?”
I’ve had her deliver a package before.”
“She’s a project coordinator, though, isn’t she?
It’s not like I’m on a project.”
Paige finished washing her hands and turned off the water.
“I reconcile my receipts but I’m not in accounting.
Gianna laughed and said, “I have no idea.”
There was a small bang as Paige opened the trash can with her heel.
“Good for you.”
Gianna opened the bathroom door and her voice curved into the hallway.
Why does this bathroom always smell like s—?”
Yumi listened to their booties go up the stairs in unison.
She waited a few minutes before she flushed the toilet and zipped her shorts.
In the mirror, she ruffled her black bangs against her forehead.
That she stayed in Airbnbs more often than hotels.
She welcomed the impressed response and raised eyebrows she received when she said she worked at Simplexity.
The website didn’t help.
It said Simplexity did things like cultivating, innovating, processing, navigating, and creating change through .
Yumi’s roommate was dating a guy who had until recently worked at Simplexity.
After a recommendation and two interviews, Yumi became Simplexity’s new project coordinator.
And Yumi had helped her, gladly.
I’m in a bind.”
And Yumi had helped her, gladly.
