adjusting the collar of her thickest, highest cashmere sweater. It was charcoal gray and stifli

mask the shadows left by a sleepless weekend. The nausea from the

Irving since his Sunday night "hope you ha

g's Instagram. Nothing. His tagged photos were clean. But the d

sounding like an accusation. The lobby was a hive of activity, heels

up like a lifeline. She made it to the design d

red with fabric swatches, sketches, and half-finis

ali's work friend, rolled her cha

ra whispered, her eyes wide. "But

e forced a smile, booting up he

rew said they found a woman's dress in Ezra'

hot coffee onto her wrist. S

the gala. Everyone is trying to guess who. Some say it wa

g against her ribs. Or maybe a junior a

said, her voice soundin

he aisles. He paused at Hali's desk, picking up a sketch she

glasses. "Very aggressive. It has a certain... disruptive

from her face. "Oh, I... I was

desk. "Don't be so modest. I need you in the con

y before she

chair. Being noticed was danger

ation box popped up in the bottom right corner of her screen

iend R

eople as friends on Slack

ed the no

r:

e:

screen. The avatar

z

he company server. Where IT could see. Wher

er the Accept button

invading her workspace, remind

t going to play this game. She wasn'

or to the Decline

st De

had just rejected the CEO. She was

ed to focus on a spreadsheet,

sk rang. The shrill

li Andrews, she answe

e came through the line. "Mr. Gardner wo

d her eyes

middle of p

Ms. A

ne wen

ing at her with pity. "You're getting called

standing up. Her l

hing her notebook to her chest. She pre

oors opened onto the 45th floor, a spac

ide the double mahogany doors. He

ight

to the door

te

ing window, his back to her. He was wearing a suit that cost mor

ld his phone in his han

iddle of the room, ke

to see me,

rd her, his steps slow and deliberate. He stop

reen was the notification: Hali

, his dark eyes

ncé? he asked, his voice low a

ed, backing up until her heels hi

boxing her in. The scent of sandalwood enveloped her again, tri

his mouth was inches from her ear. "And declinin