BLACKTHORN'S GAME

standing under the towering glass building of Blackthorn Corporation,

he late spring c

an no one could talk about without lowering their

dent loan hell and maybe, just maybe, rewrite the rest of my future. I was twenty-three, broke, running out

ccented walls, and modern lighting that made even the air feel expensive. People walked

Isla

black blazer and red lipstick g

horn will s

her into the elevator, which rose in silence. She

oor. Instead, it was quiet, carpeted, rich and suffo

g hallway and stopped

can g

ked. "

ebrow. "Do you n

ed my shoulders, gave her a tigh

h, his fingers steepled beneath his chin, his expression unread

es locked. His eyes were gray, cold, and calculat

s Ha

a handshake, just said my name

're

wrist, 9:00 a.m sharp. "

d, not a smile, not even ir

it

gs felt like rubber, but I kept my chin up. If I was go

rnship at Blackth

s,

udies a woman, but the way a scientist

hy

ed. "Ex

Why this building

y calm. "Because I believe I have the skills, work ethic,

ieves that. M

t tossed it aside like it didn't

ck in his chair, fingers steepled again.

I look for a

. "What if every d

build

le

flicker of something,

d an

slightly. Relief flooded

low

ler office - minimalist, with floor-to-ceiling windows that looked over the skyl

first

Inside was a document filled with handwritten not

ntation. I want it on my desk by ni

"Yes, Mr.

ay, already

miss

folder like it held the keys

ying to process everything. The man was intense, sharp and scary, bu

d out into the street, my phone buzzed

you're worth t

d at th

art t

wasn't walking into an interns