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“And I appreciate conversations that actually have a fucking point.”
For just a moment, I think I’ve gone too far. This guy is going to boot me out. I’m not going to get the meeting and I’m going to have to go starve to death. That’s it, right? That’s what’s going to happen.
Only, he doesn’t kick me out. Instead, a slow smile creeps up his face.
“Okay,” he nods. “Have a seat.”
Was that some sort of screening test? I don’t know. I passed, I guess. I should feel happy about this, but I just feel extra nauseous and uncomfortably nervous. Terrible, I know.
I turn and walk to the chairs while the man lifts up his desk phone and makes a call. There are three chairs here. Two are by the floor-to-ceiling windows that line the wall with the elevator. They’ve got these tall backs that make you sit straight up, like a throne. The third chair is in the center of the lobby area and it’s more of a stool. In fact, I’m quite sure it’s a stool.
I don’t have a seat.
Instead, I stand at the window and pretend I’m interested in staring out of it. I imagine that I look professional and very businesslike. If the reception guy is looking at me, I definitely look pensive and a bit particular. I don’t look stupid or lame. Nope. Not at all.
“Alexandra? Mr. Shadowvale will see you now.”
I turn and the receptionist is standing. He’s so much taller than I thought he was.
“Shit,” I blurt out before I can stop myself. Then I cover my mouth with my hand. He just smiles.
“I get that a lot.”
“How tall are you?”
“Almost seven feet.”
“You’re a monster.”
“A bit too skinny to be a monster.” He smiles, and I realize I’ve somehow found an unlikely friend. He gestures for me to come with him, and we walk side by side to a hallway located beside the lobby and just past the reception desk. The weird floor continues. My shoes made loud noises as we walk, but the man’s are silent.
“What’s your name?”
“Damien.”
“Have you worked here long?”
“Yes.”
“How’d you get your shoes to be so quiet?”
He laughs but doesn’t tell me. Before I know it, we’ve reached a large door. There are no signs here indicating that it’s Ryan’s office, but something tells me that it is.
“This is my destination, huh?”
Damien nods.
“Any tips?”
He smirks.
“Just be yourself.”
Then Damien’s gone, and I’m alone.
For a long moment, I just stand there. It’s not too late to bail, I tell myself. I can bail. I can totally bail. It won’t be a big deal at all, right? I’ll just turn and leave. I can say I forgot something in my car. Then I can run away and never come back.
Only, I still won’t have a job.
