elia

Week

came out of the cab, my fingers tightening slightly ar

ines towering over the street below. My reflection shimmered briefly acros

hts, wondering if I would get the job or not. Even though Be

them I'm here for an interview, and t

n pencil skirt, I stared at the building o

ver the past week of my life, the la

so anyway. You need this job," I repeate

en, giving me a clear view of the lobby. The bui

rted to doubt if I w

a red-haired lady standing by the receptio

aze briefly catching on her calm expressio

the keyboard, eyes scanning the s

Please take the elevator to the top

e

est, making my fingers tighten

o say, my voice coming o

t her screen, and I turned away, my steps slow

f it had been waiting for me. I stepped inside and pressed the button fo

ervous. More

quickly, my fingers brushing against my sk

under my breath. "Just answ

my stomach didn't settle. If anything, it

t out a breath I didn't even realiz

e looked up the moment she noticed me, her eyes

I hel

interview," I said

d slightly, like she

ase, come

s making soft sounds against the floor,

large door. "He's inside,

ghtly around the strap of my bag

there. Then I pushed the do

feel small without even trying. My eyes moved

ing through a file, his expre

here, watching him. Somethin

dn't p

the familiar scent of lavender and m

guy I had one ni

e. Thinking about everything that had happ

he said witho

orward, sitting down across from him. My hands rested on my l

st page before fi

d, something shifted in my ches

gone just

e even. "Why do you think you're

nswer, my mind quickly trying to gather th

I

or bur

ightly, my words cutting off as bo

lling the room like she belonged there. She looked perfect. From her

s face changed the

ght f

here," he said, hi

hered. If anything,

ms. "Because I've been trying to re

like I wasn't supposed to be there for this, like I had j

sy," he

, but there was no humor in it. "

t change. "I already

asking you to

oom for a second, th

sing together harder now. Maybe I should leave

erested," he

u're rejecting the pro

es

hy

Because I already have s

s hung i

ly, confusion slipping i

ened just a

o react, trying not to get p

his hand r

s wrapped around mine, firm and

Everything in me

he was doing was normal, like this wasn't

art s

to look at him, my thought

lia St

eak or move. The word didn'

y above a whisper, shock clear in my voice