via

in tomorrow morning at nin

nd sharp. I stood in the middle of Luca's living room, holding

nded thin, like a dry leaf snappi

. "At Kingsley Tower. Floor twenty. Ask for t

ing hard. "Yes, I will

nce in the room suddenly felt very loud. The clock on the wall read five o'clock in the evening .

the living room holding a wooden spoon in one hand and a dish tow

fast on the edge of the sofa. The worn fabric brushed against the back o

able with a loud clatter. "Tomorrow? That is am

resume. There is a blank space on it that lasts for seven whole years. Seven years where I didn't work. Se

the side table and pointed a finger at me. "We are not doing

he floorboards. "How do I hide seven years of damage in one twenty-minute conversation? What if I flinch when the manager r

," Luca said sternly. He marched toward my small bedr

metal hinges creaked softly. He started pulling clothes off the

he long, baggy one that covered my hips a

ately, tossing the gra

tested, reaching out to grab it b

r that sweater when you want to look like part of the wallpaper. You wear

g down at my hands. I rubbed my thumb over my knuckles, a nervous habit I couldn't s

ousers. He had bought it for me at a thrift store three weeks ago, but we had tailored it to fit my shoulders exactly. "This suit isn't meant to make you look

e. The fabric felt firm and

" Luca orde

red, holding my back straight as soon as I slipped my arms into the sleeves. I zipped up the

rd the full-length mirror hangin

said, standing right behi

y kept when walking down the street. The dark blue fabric lined my shoulders neatly. My neck looked l

different,"

uca said firmly. "Now, we pract

notepad and a black pen, clicking it twice. He looked at me over t

s voice deep and formal. "Why is the

I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. My hands began to shake a

oes. "And my husband didn't really want me to work. He said I

r bring up his name. Never speak like you are

e kept sliding down toward t

a house. You managed schedules, budgets, v

ian-the woman who graduated with honors, who spoke clearly in boardrooms, who wasn't afraid

oice to stay even and level. "I handled scheduling, event coordination, and annual budge

me and smiled. "Yes! E

e went through every question a

our bigges

k because I like seeing project

ou handle

ities, and execute them step by step," I repli

, but the heavy weight in my chest felt a little lighter. Luca

s arms over his chest. "Now go get some wa

e kitchen. The apartment was quiet now, except for

tea. He looked up as I walked in. He wore a simple black sweater, his dark eyes

l?" Adrian asked, his

uid helped soothe my scratchy throat. "Luca made me answer fifty qu

ay from the counter and came to stand a few feet in

Adrian s

ea

k at

ead and met h

in a house with a man who spent seven years trying to break your spirit. You packed a bag in the mid

hands, listening to the

u questions about typing, calendars, and phone calls. That manager cannot hurt you. He doesn't own you. He doesn'

d to take my voice, my confidence, and my independence. But he hadn't taken my mi

Adrian," I s

atted my shoulder once. "Go to bed e

ning came fa

he sky outside my bedroom window in shades of dark blue and gray. I got o

yer of natural makeup, just like I used to wear years ago. When I stood in front of the hallway mirror, I didn't see the s

ffee as I reached the front do

folder under my arm. Inside were three crisp co

of the building," Luca said, pu

," I pr

morning air was crisp and cold, smelling of fresh coffee from the corner bakery. I wa

taring down at their smartphones. I held onto the overhead metal handrail, keeping my balance as the train swayed over the track

the subway station and onto the busy

d steel, stretching so high into the sky that the top floors disappeared into the morning clouds. Hun

e leather folder under my arm, an

h my black shoes. Giant chandeliers hung from the three-story ceiling, casting a warm, golden light ove

desk. A guard with graying hair l

e. "My name is Olivia Bennett. I have an interview with

ed loudly. After a second, he printed out a small plastic

the guard said, pointing down the long hallwa

said, taking th

vators. My heels made sharp, rhythmic sounds agai

mooth and polished like mirrors. I pressed the up button

o face the front. I was the only person in the car. I tapped my visitor pass against the digital scan

d, shutting out the no

ooth, pulling my stomach down just a little as th

11..

el of my navy jacket. I unclenched my left hand and let it rest naturally at my si

18..

othly. A loud, clear chime r

0

floor was covered in a deep, dark blue carpet that muted every sound. Warm wall lights illumina

ng like a drum in my ears, as I raised my foo