owering buildings stretched into a cloudless sky, their glass faces gleamin
sted with nerves. Her black heels were scuffed, and her thrifted blouse had been pressed
was
Enter
inning endlessly with people in expensive suits. Lily stared at her reflection b
back to the ci
ome bac
hispered to herself. "Eve
past settle on her shoulders. Her heartbeat stuttered. Everywhere she looked: poli
sn't just any job interview. This was for an assistant position to th
le
saying
y would he? He had become a billio
early. That's a good sign. You can head up to
Lily said, fo
like a step back in time back to nights of stolen kisses behind the gym, to laughter
d become a man she wou
got t
s were open-concept, modern, all sleek lines and intimidating silence. She was
y Ha
es
e current executive assistant for a day. If you pass that, you'll have a
olut
ed to the CEO's floor. Tr
la
e a full-blown storm. But she kept her chin up. She co
phone pressed to his ear. "Move the acquisition date
gnized t
eath c
like the boy
lders, clean-cut jawline, dark tousled hair that curled slightly over his
on
Ja
e wasn't he
even glanc
ffice, heart thudding. She wanted to
heels, dropping a binder onto Lily's desk. "I'm Clarissa. I'v
inked.
r a once-over. "
m n
't tolerate incompetence. Keep up, don't speak unless
owed hard
ce room, typed three memos, and corrected a spelling error on a ten-million
rp, the elev
larissa said,
Bluetooth. He was distracted, focused. The weight of the
le from her outstretched hand. His eyes fl
t the a
ly. Recognition flickere
w," he sai
ily kept her
pora
r n
g else. He turned
hether to be reli
her to finish organizing the upcoming board agen
hing the city pulse with life far below. This was where h
d been quiet, guarded. She hadn't been able to go. Her family
a letter. He proba
heard from
il
s Ha
axon standing at the doorwa
es
peak with you
pped. She follo
lack desk. Floor-to-ceiling windows. Art that pr
back to her, han
from the t
mitted. "I c
es sharp. "Did we go
breath
artfield Prep. You
like he was searching for something. Then he b
ed you," he said smoo
you," she
beat of
esk, slowly. "Clarissa
ry t
le, but not quite. "I don't car
erst
long moment. "You'll
no
d L
es
"Next time, don't look at
nked. "
down at his watch.
ily's hands were trem
ything she'd spent ye
e a whisper of something familiar. But the boy who use
that was f
hadn't come
ome back
Ma
hers
and stepped into the fading city light,
tense. U
w one thing
going to be the most dang