Bound by Contract, Freed by Love

, and my heart is racing too. I don't stir, hearing the hum of the air conditioner. I'm in Dominic's penthouse, in a

y dress is draped across a chair. I run my hand over the fabric and think of Perciv

ares back. I push my ponytail further back and comb out the front of

Good morning, Ms. Hart," he announces. He sounds calm and co

you,"

in a ponytail. I pick out tiny silver earrings from the jewelry box on the counter. I dress in the gray dress and

wn the joint," I

fice. There is a small stack of papers on the desk beside a nameplate glittered to a shine with filets: Elen

omes in, carrying a leather portfol

say, attempting

sk. "Now I'm going to show you co

This is the employee handbook. Dress code, commun

grab it.

the chair to

ood Industries. You will address me as Mr. Blackwood, never Dominic. You will refer to you

urious notes

. I should like to show you how to strut down the corridor, how

s ache, but I n

p of assistants standing near the elevators. "See them? Shoulders-width feet,

stand. Percival softly cautions, "Feet apart.

or. The director nods back, never lo

nt of a door marked 'Mr. Blackwood, CEO.' Percival knocks at the door. "We k

id 'come in.' He opens the door and enters. I glance about Dominic and see that he sits before an

e door and address

retreat. My heart is pounding. I advance and push against the door

flash to me, then to his papers. I retreat

t. Clear, concise, no apologetic tone

sigh of

ur home to visit you, you rise, you invite the guest to sit and welcome a

I straighten, put one hand on the arm of the chair, an

Not too hard, not too soft

nd draw in great breaths. My legs are long and straight as I push off fro

Perciva

re. Each time, I

ew these notes on the agenda board. You'll be standing behind Mr. Bla

get readjustments, investor relations. I jot down important words. A soft beep in my ear and Percival's voi

d qu

don't have a lot of small talk at Blackwood Industries, but we reserve it to build rapport. Talk about the

ing, Mr. Blackwood. I hope you had a g

that. And then wait for

. Blackwood. I hope you had a

ellent. Under five

lication on my phone. I'm mo

at the cl

desk. He closes the handbook and shoves it i

llow.

e folder in my hands. My heart is racing, yet I stand perfectly erect.

zes at me. I say, "Good morning, Mr. Blackwood.

ers in one, "Th

The room falls silent. Staff members take their seats. I pl

s behind me and

lipping to the front page. He readsjustifies his cu

in my mind. I can feel my own confidence building minute by minute.

iefing. Dominic glances at me and tells me, "

ith each of them as I state his or her name and tell him or her, "He

d thank me as

at in back of Dominic. I fold my arms. My face

me. He is talking in a low voice: "Yo

eply with a s

u'll have it

stubborn heart. Percival mentions lunch and office gossip.

nd my ground. "I thank you for

d. "Call me Perci

n reply, "Perci

. "You're

d close the door. I lean again

, my words elected. I recall my mother's expectation of

self, "I am wh