Her heart His mistake

her Queens one-bedroom apartment, which overlooked a noisy bodega. Her résumé looked back at her from the broken screen of her laptop, which she had r

plying; however, we have decided t

ic

le

pe

e windowpane, matching the storm brewing within her breast. She rose and walked down the small hallway to

hould

night before when she shared a microwaved lunch with her younger sister, Lily, who was having autoimmune treatment

lking beneath umbrellas and light boutiques. The resulting quiet, more than the rejection itself, shattered her.

anced through a list of jobs she planned to apply

"no

er father had his arm around her mother. Emma, a little older than eight, stood firmly in a sandcastle moat. That was

chool is open throughout the day. Cleaning the workplace at ni

othing seem

lace where sorrow and disillusionment reside. Her undergraduate friends were pursuing careers

t: #rentislateagain, #coldnoodles

ess, sh

less, s

her pale face in the darkening room. She scanned through entry-level marketing, pa

ant to the CEO at

tion is

itive with com

xibility. Emotional intelligence. Excellent problem-solvi

ght. Her hear

xport giant that sold everything from high-end furniture to cutting-edge technology. Their headquarters were a

im as a "calculated genius." Gossip columns speculated about his lonely personal life. He seldom did interviews. I never smiled f

bit h

is n

second-hand. Her résumé was respectable but not outstanding. And she h

pline. Grit. And she was clev

id not beg. She told the truth: she was a conscientious employee who understood loyalty, pressure, and

hecked every word, and hovered h

s shook

she c

E

oaded. Con

ck and gazed a

her shot in the dark. A

he closed her eyes and gently pleaded, "Pl

te has

ano

ent about its business as usual. But hope flickered in Emma's breast-not loudly or c

looked at her fa

ill tryi

in case. She submitted copies of her résumé, qualifications, references from college teachers,

d reheating leftovers that she seldom touched. But her mind lingered on the email. Regar

tter

r Wolfe, who resided in one of the towers. Powerful. Brilliant. And compl

as its sen

ult doors to open are the o