Breaking Through His Walls

't mind trying my luck-especially a

a job?" he said, already

he continued, practic

ed, more out of curios

g. "He's everything. The coolest tech dude. His dressing, the way he

was ridiculous. Who sp

from someone like that? A man with so much power, he could afford to be mysterious. A man whose

into something

llowing down the lump in my

as I wanted to. But I

ybe we can hope. At le

m late, I might be in school," I add

on the forehead. "Please stay al

s. Go before he c

-

than O'Martin written in sharp, minimal print. No title. No f

t tighter tha

rtin Tech was quiet,

ndomly offered me a job while I was on th

the imagined

of pity. Rich people d

glass doors of O'Martin Tech twenty minutes later, my refle

belong

even slicker suit. She didn't glance at me. No one did. Thi

reath and

eceptionist asked, her

turned ba

in by Mr. O'Martin. He said I should c

then tapped something on

s assistant-appeared, still looking crisp, but no

he said. "Ri

heart climbing

s intense. I could hear the soft hu

in like this?" I asked, m

. But you'r

ked. E

d at the

here

-

mad

"I thought for a second you wouldn'

hat to say. Then his eyes

ts own secrets. "I was at that hospital for my secretary. He call

. Was tha

he actually passed out. So yes,

ut something about his de

the man who had accompanied me upstairs. "He'll s

o clean and modern I didn't know whether to walk or glide. We st

. The kind of space you'd expect for someone making six fig

ian said. "You'll go over everything with her. And p

t, he di

ked like they belonged on the cover of a workwear fashion magazine. I tugged slightly

sharp in heels and confidence-walke

she said, eyeing m

" I sta

ney. Don't

at?" I

n special recommendatio

" I bl

"Let me walk you through your role. You'll be Mr. O'Martin's se

suddenly

and close by 6 PM, M

start at 5 PM...

y an hour. This is

allo

sked, one brow raised. "If you're not interested, we've got

n hour late to c

d, then added, "You ca

, Mrs.

for him. But Lena..." She stepped closer, lowering her voice just a little. "Make sure to put

ling the heat of her wor

, heels clicking like pun

like that

I didn't

a man no one

ooked like

zzle I wasn't sure

-

t th

at. I wanted to scream, dance, even take a photo of the polished

lding, reminding myself

o deliver, and school to attend. It was all happening

d at the edge of

en't thanked

aded toward the executive wing, but just as I reached the c

erged, like he'd been s

eted with a kind smil

o sound out of breath. "I ju

ow, amused. "Y

odd

with a short chuckle.

ked, genuin

He's just... Ethan. No complime

said quietly,

smiled. "Good

, the city air hitting my face like a fr

-

d through YouTube videos for inspiration-"What to wear on your first da

rcy. I chose sneakers and a sleek pair of flat

t made me feel... capable. Then I headed home to

-

t, I coul

mysterious boss, Audrey's illness, fina

ng until my alarm jol

my brother, th

-

id, eyes twinkling with mi

him on the forehe

hour? You don't

-

ch building. My passcard was handed to me at t

pty. I stepped in a

doors closed, a ha

ors re

ha

lued to his phone. He pressed the floor

anted to

out looking up. "Thank me

sure if I should a

over me. "You look different," he said s

sure if that was a co

like that," he added. "

doors opened, and he stepped out-hi

e that, day

-

hether to exhale or hold it in. Just get the work done. That echoed in my head as I st

cally reflected my face-clear, shiny, and intimidating. A desktop monitor, a schedule notepad, and a no

oken another

forms to fill, and told me Mrs. Brown would chec

hone

it up before the second ring. "O'Marti

then a cool voice on the other e

"Who's call

her

via

nd high heels. It felt like someone who di

r how to transfer a call. I clicked the wrong butt

n's voice boomed from his

ust forward w

. "Yes, sir.

-

come around with a che

of calls, don't breathe too loud, and never-and I mean never-put anyo

t i

ou look more presentab

-

llway greetings, and trying not to stare whenever Ethan walked past

schedule Ethan requested via a message that read only: Need th

. No one told me i

buzz from my de

his vo

s,

omorrow. Earlier if possibl

a moment, then s

holding.

y bag, and left the o

n. Nineteen