We Concluded

"How are the new assistants working, Chief?" 

Raelle put down the document she was going through when she heard Cloe's random question. "Good!"

Cloe stared at her when she responded that way.

"What?" asked Raelle.

"Have you gone soft or I was just not worthy of your compliments?" asked Cloe straightforwardly because it did hurt her self-esteem when Raelle so easily evaluated those youngsters as 'good' while she had to work so hard but could hardly hear 'acceptable' from Raelle.

"I am still the same," replied Raelle. "At least, when it comes to professionally. You see when you first came on a trial period to work with me, Yanyan asked me how I was liking your work and I told her, 'excellent' at that time."

Cloe was happily surprised to know this, "I was so highly evaluated?"

"Why else would you be here? Did I look like I had the patience to cultivate someone for years?" asked Raelle.