u

t brea

unt. The type of breathing people do when they're

hasn't sa

ke I'm the delivery gir

" he says, voice

h, shou

al, unforgiving click. And for a se

to look. I don't kn

ts ago. Like I didn't fall apart beneath him with his hand gripping my thigh and

e. That this is part of some bigger...thing. But if i

he sa

it

gestion. It la

me tight and trembling. My skirt rides up a little when I sit, and

sk questions. What the h

in the best way possible and t

otice the tension thickening the air like fog. I pretend I'm f

n knots. Because wh

at's no

in his jaw, the way he blinked too ha

h

s up a sleek black folder. His fingers are precise and

rize it," he says, tone flat and efficient. "Meetings, calls, events. If I'm there, you'

freeze on

"You do not speak unless spoken to. You do not linger. You do not initiate pers

ng. What did hell kin

ld. He's taller than I remember. Broader in this lighting.

ly, "you do not look me in the

words - it's the way he says the

ly. "Unders

word ta

hen he looks away, as if I've burned him. He pulls a print

eting with regional heads at 1:00. You'll stay outside the rooms unless oth

pen is the only

te needs before I have to voice th

f my cheek hard eno

d pulls his tablet toward him, dis

here... where

en he lifts one hand without looking, gesturing to the small

e says. "O

iou

uickly.

ion on ice. My chest feels like it's splin

r opens slightly, and

e in this situation. "Just got off the call with l

say Mr. Grande do

ers. "I'm ready

s a polite little nod. "Miss

mile. "Yes,

t idea, Pa

s briskly, so I take the hint. I rise fro

sit. I try to focus, try to breathe, try not to feel like a kicked dog. I feel

hear fo

discussing, more like gossipi

s. I keep my head down, but I heard him stop mid-s

you doing?

jerks up

ed a sin. "You're supposed to be shadowing m

ce deeper tha

r, nearly knocking it ba

hout a second glance. Mr. Paul gives me a ti

ere, halfway to the elevator, so

his

being

ing pu

moaning at his touch, in a hotel bed whe

a moment, that it mig

i

ssional, I'll giv

my folders and follow, but m