od in front of the tall glas

et. Everything inside looked expensive. The walls were silver and smooth. The floor was shiny and blac

to her. No o

into a world that had

checked her name, and handed her a sleek badge with her photo

or button heading for

ht up, one after the other. Her reflection in the do

had not stopped mov

s not

s not pea

to the morning. It sat just under her skin. A feeling she could not explain. It made her

with a soft sound. Th

out onto the

differen

still the same smooth gray. The floors still qu

hange in

p. She slowed her steps without thinking. Her shoulders lifted

s not

e was

aw

her desk and gave her a short nod

d toward the dark double doors

d for a second be

n

w

Just the door slow

epped

oked the same

ing near the wind

quiet power. His face was still unreadable. Bu

and look

gave one s

ilence

od stra

rning,"

once. "You

are

not move aw

me strange heat mov

esk. Her shoes made almost no sound on the clean floor.

tell her to

wa

what kind of assistant she would be. It felt deeper

been stared at

t was not that he was l

ething in her w

ng so hard to speak, but

the way she was feeling. It did not

nothin

moving on the wall behind th

sat down. Slo

lded her hand

en s

t look unc

am

you s

ed. "I am t

hen turned and picked u

the upcoming investor call," he said. "It is in t

erst

was calm.

s something

ns

holding so

nded her and opened it. She

ds made

too warm. Her fingertips w

look

were stil

a question

es

k i

t me to work dir

pa

swer form in his min

en he

not kn

ade he

e words, but beca

ay something like that. Most people in

ckwood said he

na belie

made her feel colder

sed the

tart now,

nod and walked b

e could not see him, but her body felt him standing there.

there, the stronger

not kn

strange things. She like

th

ething she could

nside her w

the moment she lo

understand what s

ut her mind kept traveling somewhere else. The numbers and slides in the presentation beca

feeling was

r like a heavy weight, like something that was alive

lf from thinking about t

oss watching

ying to flirt or

else. Something

en by him in a way s

just about mystery. It was like her body kn

or a second and reste

eeded

e where the windows stretched high and wide. The sky outs

e could fe

ll present in the room. Even withou

like a shadow o

whispered, "What

d no a

did not feel lik

n a b

n a ne

de her had been asl

was starti

rned a

used on a document in front of him, but he looked tense. His jaw was

died him f

oked

about him was

he was holdin

torm that

k him something. She d

stopped

her seat and open

ak now, she was afraid

the room st

with s

lence, something

ither of the

f them cou

n the wall

eel the minutes passing by. The soft sound fille

last section of the prese

for a few seconds, but her thoug

en knew. No reason for her body to stay alert like this. No reason for her skin

alm against her

e review," she

m his desk. He gave

t again. Just

e the room

cked up h

own to my work

kay,"

owards the door, but before

ining just ab

ent she left this room, something between them would start to shi

back over h

till wat

man with

y seen the answers-but was

ittle nod, whil

iately let out a very deep breath she had n

to explain what

ew one thi

going to be

ng had

feeling it w