ry'

y breathe. My heart beat so fast I thought it might crash throug

I passed probably because I looked like I'd jus

. The mirrored doors slid shut, sealing

ust ha

be fifteen. But it felt like I'd been in ther

Landon Hart loo

red like I wasn't a person at all but a puzzle h

e sharks through the current of people. The wind tugged at my skirt, flinging my blouse agains

attan. Fast.

asn

ng care of Mom after her surgery. Getting into a top-tier business ad

orm. Controlled. Cold. And capable of

'd paused during our meeting. The way he'd said, "You're hired," li

e like him hire

ege roommate turned reluctant city guide. She wasn't home when I got in, thank God. I didn't

ctly what the entire

ki

ps. Of eye contact, not affec

eaned close, his voice almost amused as he said, "I like curiosit

that ev

re was an email

Emery

utiveHR@ha

tart Date

Ms.

ress code: formal corporate. A company laptop and keycard will be provided upon arr

arrive p

nce

la

Human

nterna

mes. My stomach twisted

n the 45th floor?

to be a temp maybe float between departmen

th

his ass

ower CEOs and practicing professional greetings in the mirror.

ecutive suite was the silence. Not the awkward kind. The expensive k

. A view that made the rest of

inimalist glass desk that I wa

on H

, he wasn

probably cost more than my entire college tuition. He had his back

d up, I forgo

ept over me with c

late,"

"I what?

e like a warning. "Early is on time. On

ed hard a

e reviewed and sent to Legal before ten. Highlight inconsisten

with trembling han

could smell him. Clean, expensive cologne with some

almost a whisper.

oked

st

his eyes now. Something bare

ses

e that, the mo

o his office, glass door

opped into my seat, staring at

d, I wasn't afr

raid of

passed, it

more of t

proxi

...

front of his desk, folder in h

ely lo

el

epancies," I said, voi

is pen. Opene

pages fast. Too fast.

sed it. Tossed

d," he

"So... I ke

y. Walked aro

his time he did

eath

," he said quietly, eyes locked on mine. "

ed. "You mean

That depends how good you

pped. My knees

tood my

of hard work," I

hanged. Just sli

d... int

Intr

night. I need you to attend a company dinner with me. You'll observe, take n

n't bring

for you. With shoes. My

when he added, "Don't be late this time.