It smelled like fresh coffee and money. Helena stood near the elevator, clut

. She wanted to make a good i

fties, with a no-nonsense attitude and a keen eye. She asked tough questions about Helena's exp

ife had fallen apart. She didn't mention the last four years of waitressing and odd jobs. She

ked up, a small smile playing on her lips. "You're exactly what we n

eeling like she was floating. She h

ry was more than she had dared to hope for. The health insurance

peroni pizza. Leo ate three slices and got sauce all over h

inning. "And to Helena Ayers, the ne

gs," Helena said

xactly until her

r-blazer she had found at a thrift store. She was escorted to the HR departme

d, waving a hand. "Just sign

eements and tax forms. She picked up the main employm

saw the

the website. It was a sleek, stylized 'N' with a lightning

Nexus D

en slipped from her finger

startled. "Is ever

hat... what is this?" she whispered, pointing a trem

The ink on the deal just dried last week, and the internal transition memo just went out yesterday. We were acquired

uckles white. Nexus Dynamics. Keven's company. The place she

e. She had to get o

She thought of the medical check-up Leo was overdue for. She thought o

t run. She

, looking concerned. "

oice sounding alien to h

n the dotted line, each stroke feeling like

ling open-plan office filled with cubicles. A man w

Mark Jennings," he said, extending

orcing a polite smile. "

air feeling like an electric chair. She st

It was the company-wide email notification. Ev

r screen. The email

of CEO Visit –

art st

ong would be visiting the Apex office today at 3

minutes before she would be in the same room as the man who

just an employee