HA

r opens

tive meeting room, and my att

nd, everything

outside the glass walls. The p

f it m

and something tight pulls inside my chest beca

e back

els th

d earlier. I'm taller than her by enough that she has to

here are only i

ely turns heavier. My heartbeat starts slammin

cent reach

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e stands, the

d. Thick. Like every nerve in m

can barely think straight anymore. My lungs pull in deep

forward

d, I honestly think sh

against my chest as she reaches for

t shouldn't affe

it d

ly fuck

t a business card, and presses it into my palm

calmly. "You can send me a memo

t there's heat undernea

nty-nine years old. I didn't get handed this position because of a trust fu

d the door like the

cha

oulder before she can leave

, close enough that my enti

rs only inch

k?" I ask quietly. "That a trus

s my face slowly. My eyes. My m

e shoe

r should

only pulls m

ght," I tell her.

gether immediatel

top f

e. "What's on

ring at her. "Go home first if you want. Chan

ssion har

ancel my evening plan

ht talented people usually

le," she mutters

ade

are sh

now that if either of us mo

n me wants to cl

do

re

f to release

on't show up?" s

you think

r uncle respects me. He knows what I bring to this c

scapes me befor

e she'

etely

dn't f

y couldn't even

w much power she sudde

entually he won't be here anymo

ve my mouth c

te myself for say

s eyes

leave for a riva

h

ps hard insi

ly not where I w

you have talent, but no w

aw ti

be Ethan's uncle was wr

s hard befo

iggest dickhead I've eve

ore I can

all me Mr.

e can't believe I'm a real person,

call after her.

eps wa

some fucki

s glare before storming out o

rd enough to echo

ashes down

l-clenched fist a

s card sits

printed underneath her email, someth

s Ch

bad idea, I pull out my phone, save her c

ur laptop

I w

nute p

ano

hows that the mess

conference table while starin

s crawl by before her

id I'm

spreads ac

no-work-ethic

comes back fa

e trust-

my chair and st

ves I had everyt

f this cost

ealous of my

regret immediately p

arrogant

id attempt t

t is that I don't ev

y appears alm

ck you

ens hard eno

That's suppose

hand down

u

it, E

your em

f to type som

s 68524. Don't share

the message th

is going to h

second I invit

g that only makes m

message

about the code if

ds harder th

arply throu

tacos, o

espo

ag by pain

chair again,

k all night and st

me, she

ha

age for a second lo

h Eastern Garden Restaur

pops up on

any c

ttle, I have no idea which places

rant and tell me

dots a

app

ppear

response co

ssuming I'm goi