He looked at his reflection on the mirrored walls, the fitting Armani suit, polished Italian loafers, and neatly

r. Not Steele Designs' golden child. It is merely Ben,

d musty uniforms. Rows of metal lockers lined the walls, and the fluorescent lights above hummed constantly. It

numbness subsided, bitterness replaced it-the past two years had been a blur of board meetings, shallow dates with fame-hungry wo

vani

dest choice to monitor employee morale using "undercover o

about h

le. Real people. And

sting his collar. "Let us s

ing her design portfolio, an enormous tote bag, and a cu

internship at

a, had been po

not eaten. But she would make

y as she approached the intern desk. Her sneakers c

uff by her chair and took a deep breath. This internship meant everythi

a's school-m

g depende

Hart. The intern talked with unbridled excitement, eyes too tired for her age, and ideas t

ed to manage a stack of boxes and paperwork on her w

ded insti

aid, trying quickly

man who had appeared like a shadow besid

Sorry, I did n

ttle grin. "N

she said, trying

Maintenanc

looked at h

nod

you. "I appreciate it." Th

you OK? How do you look?

ave been up with my kid. She is ill. But I am

rows.""Have you

son I am here. Trying to create

, the bare reality. No performance. There is no secr

ded, "I think he

at the pleasant tone.

lder fell over the top of the box, sc

crouched an

y kneeling by her. They

ingers

up, astonished.

sturdy, with delicate, feminine details. It's not about drawing atte

his yo

e of my designs is" I will send them to the internal review

ed.""Shar

m quite sure the

She was not trying to be

s one will make ja

you. You are extremely fas

I grew up

ed the last sheet."

ontinue, a voice r

uld want to view your boa

quickly

n.""Thank you again."

yti

vani

gh the doors. He did not real

as. There is no agenda.

nted

her apartment. Maya was sitting on the s

whispered, laying

er hand.""You sme

.""Occupati

of soup and sat beside

awful. But ther

e

ced. And the strange but benign w

thing she could say inspired her. a soft-li

ing something yet st

" rooftop balcony, clad in his tailored attire

control. But he felt mo

in her honesty, he realized a

d being

hing. Money and ambitions h

ht go. For the first time in a

he will be

uld still smile, but

the individual be