The CEO She Rejected

. Lunch with a senator's son by noon. Every second of my life is scheduled, calculated,

Industries, phone pressed to my ear, trying to silen

adly they want it. I said the shares

the board member

l crowd had gathered, the kind that forms when something entertaining or ridiculous happens in public. I rar

And I did it. It was you who made the plate s

Poor. Calm.

ny thousands of beautiful ladies every day

She wore a faded black t-shirt and jeans frayed at the edges, like they'd been washed more times than her body

linch. Not at the man's yelling. Not at the curious stares. Not even

nking a small purse from her side. "Just not w

harder than th

dent unfold, still liste

I crossed the street. I did

I asked, voice low, comma

tely-from superiority to submission. "M-Mr. Knight

as though she had come into con

he didn't kn

cou

mployee?" I a

just... she br

she wasn't looking at where she was going. The girl

I held it back to avoid spoil

. "It's fine, sir.

my eyes on her. "

itated.

I said, nodding at the man

ed. "I don't ta

. "It's not pity

tes

eone like you would

ple like me? You

ged. "E

an to drift away, bored or intimidated. The

ood there. Unmo

ow your name," s

che

ed. "Just

l you need

er pa

ay. "I don't need

ke to me, as though she had no f

alked

politicians. Not people in authority. Not wome

d. Like I

sappeared around the corne

hesitantly. "Sir, a

n't a

n't felt since the night my father told me

her,"

r blinked

follow

at wasn't the end. That girl-with fire in her voice and steel in her