'S

nothing like the picture

ng sky, so tall I had to tip my head all the way back to see where it ended. It didn't

my knuckles white. Get it together, Ari. I

glass doors sli

imposing, the inside

oor was a smooth, pale stone that shone under soft lights. The air

ect, grey suits. They looked like they'd never wo

overing near the security desk. I wasn't the only interviewee. A few others stood,

he junior executive assistant inte

ded or murm

Thorne's executive secr

, and handed each of us a lanyard with a card. INTE

job, but for a lifeline. For Mom's treatments, for

he page where my

n the chill in the air couldn't stop me from sweati

ting room and come out minutes later wearing a strange look. And each on

what was happ

s were wound tight. I stood up, smoothed

oes nothing.

liar. Late thirties, maybe. Stern face, thin-frame

hnson. Twenty-f

.. yes

ough a file in front of

ed. "My

and It pushed the

. He was a drunk. He left my

he left sign

ion or a statemen

the one attemp

erview was this? I came for a job,

ncer. Without extensive

t wa

e floor. "Is this an interview," I said, my voi

dvise you t

't flinch. "I'm done with these questions. Are you so bore

ened during

immediately, his posture stiffe

Tho

n the

rned

the restaurant. His lips were set in a thin line. Everyt

angry words vanished, lost

, husky vibration in the quiet ro

n't control ran s

steady. "Your employee seems to enjoy hu

s. I do take a certain... satisfaction in listening to the cir

ap. Then a cold, sickening realization

ust held my gaze, st

every applicant. That's an invasion of privacy.

rously calm. "You're free to tr

ht. "What do yo

ghtly toward the other

hnson, of all the applicants, you are t

t pos

be Mr. Tho

r left

now when I started lau

en. "I will ensure your mother receives the best tr

iful, cold man in his perfect suit. "Ta

shoulder hitting his arm harder than I'd intended

they meant. Why did he have to hold interviews to claim

t, the more I was getting a

dings when my phone rang, and it was Lena. I p

" Her voice choked and trembling. "I'm calling

"talk to me. What is happening

t clear. We can't afford the next pha

let them do anythi

eady running back to the Blackwood's holding. My heels

st looked up. "

still here?" My

ed to

t. I ran for

moved."M

lid open. I jumped in and pressed the floor number

d just as hands

st the cold met

fused, the hallway stretching in both

lunged forward, reaching him just before it clos

ough the glass. Sit

ushed past Vance and

the deal."

the table. "The deal is off," he said

't care who saw. Didn't care ab

e, Mr.

, his face unreadable

My voice

ife whether you