'S
nothing like the picture
ng sky, so tall I had to tip my head all the way back to see where it ended. It didn't
my knuckles white. Get it together, Ari. I
glass doors sli
imposing, the inside
oor was a smooth, pale stone that shone under soft lights. The air
ect, grey suits. They looked like they'd never wo
overing near the security desk. I wasn't the only interviewee. A few others stood,
he junior executive assistant inte
ded or murm
Thorne's executive secr
, and handed each of us a lanyard with a card. INTE
job, but for a lifeline. For Mom's treatments, for
he page where my
n the chill in the air couldn't stop me from sweati
ting room and come out minutes later wearing a strange look. And each on
what was happ
s were wound tight. I stood up, smoothed
oes nothing.
liar. Late thirties, maybe. Stern face, thin-frame
hnson. Twenty-f
.. yes
ough a file in front of
ed. "My
and It pushed the
. He was a drunk. He left my
he left sign
ion or a statemen
the one attemp
erview was this? I came for a job,
ncer. Without extensive
t wa
e floor. "Is this an interview," I said, my voi
dvise you t
't flinch. "I'm done with these questions. Are you so bore
ened during
immediately, his posture stiffe
Tho
n the
rned
the restaurant. His lips were set in a thin line. Everyt
angry words vanished, lost
, husky vibration in the quiet ro
n't control ran s
steady. "Your employee seems to enjoy hu
s. I do take a certain... satisfaction in listening to the cir
ap. Then a cold, sickening realization
ust held my gaze, st
every applicant. That's an invasion of privacy.
rously calm. "You're free to tr
ht. "What do yo
ghtly toward the other
hnson, of all the applicants, you are t
t pos
be Mr. Tho
r left
now when I started lau
en. "I will ensure your mother receives the best tr
iful, cold man in his perfect suit. "Ta
shoulder hitting his arm harder than I'd intended
they meant. Why did he have to hold interviews to claim
t, the more I was getting a
dings when my phone rang, and it was Lena. I p
" Her voice choked and trembling. "I'm calling
"talk to me. What is happening
t clear. We can't afford the next pha
let them do anythi
eady running back to the Blackwood's holding. My heels
st looked up. "
still here?" My
ed to
t. I ran for
moved."M
lid open. I jumped in and pressed the floor number
d just as hands
st the cold met
fused, the hallway stretching in both
lunged forward, reaching him just before it clos
ough the glass. Sit
ushed past Vance and
the deal."
the table. "The deal is off," he said
't care who saw. Didn't care ab
e, Mr.
, his face unreadable
My voice
ife whether you
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