ry'
ds clenched around the leather strap of my thrifted tote bag like it might anchor me. The walls reflected a wa
just any j
Hart Inte
out to meet
isdain for incompetence. And I was pretty sure, to him, "incompet
e. A tall woman beside me, all sleek blond hair and scarlet h
mb to the
i
marble, glass walls, and silence so heavy it had weight. A woman with g
y Cla
ignore the tight t
will see
ed a set of frosted doors, I didn't expect to find the CEO already seated sleeves rolled
n't lo
n't ne
ce low and smooth. I fe
m, conscious of the way my knees pre
r long
crol
d his
ere like
, fi
ot what I
art s
sor
'd seen his face on Forbes covers and financial news segments, but in pers
ated, "you're not
might not
t exp
clenched in my lap, then back to my face.
aid, then hated how
alified. Until
I forced myself to look him straight in the eye
t one side of his mouth. "
reply, the in
oved the merger meeting up. Th
ruptly. "Wa
ked. "
job? Prove y
ady halfway
rly tripping over my heels
don't. I need someone with a functioning b
rome finishes, a live ticker of market stocks running along the
in behind Landon. I tried not to shrink under their scrutiny. Tried
back like he was auditioning to be
d, clearly loud enough for ev
aid coolly, "be c
g the moment pass but not without noting Derek's smirk. I'd met his
valuations, strategies. I scribbled notes furiously
s here, why don't we ask her
oked
oom w
dn't say a word. Just watc
I s
ake was marketing a sustainable brand using single-use plastic displays. C
brows
eople c
in his chair, eye
e done your homew
be prepared
t, no one s
tood. "Meetin
rtain whether to speak or vanish. Landon poured himsel
ok my
en said, "You
at's not a
e contrary. Most people in this bu
rms. "So. Do I
n't answer
of me, close enough that I could smell his cologne som
y want to
es
hy
ing I have," I said, lifting my
xpression barely perceptib
e and brushed a strand of hair behin
game, Emery Clarke," he said
aware I st
burned
h
all brunette in a navy suit stepped
id coolly. "We n
ion hardene
ow, Ce
harp and assessing. "You
re
at her.
n the air s
upposed to
ked at me,
utside,
move. "Wh
ce said e
't sure what kind of