IN THE HANDS OF TIME

n Year

his office, Rachel" Trina,

hours on her computer screen when she looked up. Though the figures had been running together in front

inquired, already closing her file

head, "Only th

. Having worked at Atlas for five years, she understood tha

ned to cope with the stares. Some admiring, some envious. At twenty-four, she was the youngest senio

the juggling act that is being a single-parent climbing the rungs

er supervisor's sol

a gruff voi

air perfectly groomed as always. Beside him stood a woman Rachel

ames motioned to the

xpressions. At most corporations, this was the prelude to a termination.

mes said, folding his hands. "Atlas

werhouse, headquartered in her hometown, which she

nexpected,"

tinued. "We've managed to keep it quiet until all the te

calculating what this implied for her role

is mean to us

the foreseeable future. But for you.?" He hesitated, looking at her face. "We need s

eated, slowing, her heart beginn

. "You're from there

oice intentionally even. "B

this. You know the city, and more importantly, you know our systems bett

, Rachel. You would be our interface with their execut

to Darian, her son, who had just adjusted to his school, made friend

," James replied. "P

escaped. Back where memori

Rachel replied cautiously. "Thi

individuals at Atlas who were aware of Darian. As Stephani

he merger is going ahead, and we require our top players in the field. Your ca

nslation. Either accept i

" Rachel asked, already calc

ng expenses, naturally. And there's a substantia

e. Rachel opened it and almost gas

ct that the sum would alleviate so many of her money worries, like

said to her straightforwardl

pheaval in her heart. She had obligations to her son, to h

"And I'd like to fly out this weekend to look at other ac

assistant. And to help you settle into your new position, Liam Carson would be

s added, "There is something else. I have three rules for this assignment." He raised a finger. "One:

el n

r hindrance directly to me, n

her

fice romance. This merger is complicated enough as i

e romance was the furthest thing fro

ing it. Aspen. After all these years. The town was filled wit

f running into Kohen Anderson were slim, and even if she did

with a text messa

formed me. You a

was immediate: 'Do

'You always have choices.

smile. Typical Stephani

ut feel she was getting herself into something more than a career move. There was a disquieting sensation that

now.. was just how accurate that