Wrapped Around Her Finger

LL

ent pounding r

Wake up! Yo

through my sleep-heav

a

gh my curtains-too much light. I grab my phone, fingers clumsy, and groan.

back and stumble o

a, arms crossed, brows raised, looks entirely too put-togeth

ss

aist-professional but not suffocating. Perfect. I hop on one foot w

now, if you wanted an entrance on your first day

ut back, buttoning the d

itchen. Julia hands me a steaming cup of coffee like a guardian angel with

ssing a quick kiss to her chee

n those heels!" s

romi

orns blaring, people speed-walking like their lives depend on it, the faint scent of fresh bread from th

ake

against my hip. A man with a briefcase throws me a disapproving lo

us just as

! Hol

problem, but I manage to fling myself inside

hand to my forehead. Okay. I made i

seven minutes to compose myself before walking int

e of

se, nearly colliding with a woman in stilettos who looks at me like I'm a personal offense to corporate elegance. My heels s

a stop. She's the kind of woman who probably wakes up looking effortlessly polished, with her s

within the acceptable window of not

vators just as the do

. Not ha

yell, my voice echoi

have time to say thank you before I launch myself forward, half-running, half-leaping inside. The

lly lo

io

se it's

d, my slightly disheveled hair, the way I'm still catching my breath like I just ra

nst the mirrored wall, looking entirely t

rol over this situation. "Technically, n

ering it. "You were spri

. "More of a.

deepens.

ntrast to the chaos inside my brain. My nerves are still

h! Julia made me coffee this morning, which was great because I almost d

ises a b

e road. Super tiny thing. All fur and attitude. We named her Pumpkin-well, Julia named her Pumpkin. I wanted some

ps twitch.

claimed the place as her personal kingdom .We pay rent. I contribute to groceries. But s

wing him the thin red

ck to it. "S

ly. "I was just existing. You know,

ances at me. "You sure she didn't

are not on P

even know

. And yet, here you are.

then, casually-too casually-h

nk. "

something for

e t

w my ey

ad, feigning in

im. "No number requests. T

t before he can respo

n't

ainst the floor. Over my shoulder, I toss, "Nice talking, boss man!" and

e's typing, fast and precise, her nails clicking against the keyboard wit

glance over the rim of h

ticularly irritated. Just a

lly, I wasn't late-late-but she's already standing

ve time for

he marches through the hall, her heels clicking

itors. The people here don't even look up, completely absorbed in their work. One guy has three screens fil

lly understand wh

nce rooms on the left. We book them for team meet

w people are deep in discussion, one of them

Coffee, tea, fridge, microwave. Don't leave your di

te

lway. "Restrooms. You can f

we move. My brain is still catching up

s outside a door

s your

ard, and a chair that actually looks comfortable. The walls are lined with shelves, mostly filled with books and binders. Th

her desk looks up

nport says, brisk as

ch-to-care way, with dark brown hair that falls into

ey

," I

You'll be working closely with

back in his chair. "I'll

y anything, Ms. Davenport is

e over her shoulder. "Welcome to Gre

en she

stepping into the build

turns back to me with a small smirk. "S

, absolutely. If Ms. Davenport moved any faster, I th

doesn't believe in wasting

of my new space. "So, senior data scientist

s arms behind his head, "but I promis

my eyes.

or swings open with no warni

e owns the place. Which

locks onto me instantly

he says, tone leaving

k. "Fo

s already amused at how t

eyebrow but wis

heart suddenly hammering for rea

impatiently.

owing him out the door-straight into wha