AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That sounds like a Halloween costume,” he jokes, leaning on the wall beside me sipping coffee.
I pull an outfit off the rack and turn to him, holding it up to my body. “What about this?”
His face twists into an expression that I can’t quite read. “Are you going for hot stepmother or law clerk?”
I look down at the tight black skirt and fitted jacket set, imaging the sheer blouse I could tuck underneath. “Hot law clerk?”
Ainsley nods. “Yeah. I think that’ll work.”
I let him buy me dinner and accept all of his good luck and good wishes.
Honestly, if nothing else comes of this whole experience, I will have gotten a great friend out of the deal.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Victoria
When Thursday finally arrives, I’m feeling less confident. I pack on deodorant to keep from sweating through the hot, synthetic fabric of my cheap suit, wishing I’d caved and let Ainsley buy me something nice. But it’s too late now.
“Victoria Easton. I’m here to see Cynthia.”
“Perfect. She’ll be expecting you. Head up to twenty-eight and you’ll see her at reception just outside the elevator.”
I thank the woman and make my way to the bank of shiny, gold elevators.
When the doors finally open on the twenty-eighth floor, I’m a nervous wreck. I suck it up and smile, though, stepping out of that lift like I own the damn place. The woman behind the reception desk looks up from her computer and smiles. “Victoria?”
I nod.
She rises to her feet and comes around to join me on the plush rug surrounded by expensive, comfortable looking chairs, hand outstretched. “Cynthia.”
I shake her hand politely and wait.
“Mr. Adams wants to meet with you personally, and I can’t say I’m all that surprised.”
Her words catch me off guard. I’m not exactly sure what I expected to happen when I finally made it up here. I hadn’t even really expected to make it this far, truth be told. But to be taken straight to Ben’s office as soon as I enter the building? It seems like a stroke of good luck.
Or my worst nightmare about to come true.
Either way, I'm about to find out. The tall, blonde actual professional in her expensive outfit and designer heels leads me down the hallway toward a set of double wooden doors.
She knocks and then opens the doors without waiting for a response, holding one open for me to pass through ahead of her. I walk into the large, airy, bright room with my eyes on my shoes.
“Mr. Adams, this is Victoria Easton,” Cynthia announces as if to the king.
“Thank you. You can leave us,” Ben dismisses her like an actual king.
The sound of his voice after so many weeks threatens to derail my confidence, but I suck the emotions down into the pit of my belly. And, with a deep breath, I finally look up.
Cynthia must leave, and the door must click closed behind her. Possibly, she even says something. I hear none of it, aware only of Ben. His presence is like a magnetic black hole, commanding all the energy in the room.
I stand dumbstruck by the sight of him for a long moment before he clears his throat and stands. I click back into motion and take a step forward. For better or worse, I’m here now. Whatever’s going to happen is going to happen right now.
“Hi,” I say, determined to be brave enough to speak first, even if it’s just one stupid word.
“Hi.” His eyes never leave mine as he walks around his desk and leans on the edge facing me, arms crossed over his chest.
After a long moment, he reaches behind himself and lifts a sheet of paper from the desk, holding it up between us. “This is an incredible work of fiction, Vic. You missed your calling as a novelist.”
