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Eric sped down the freeway and my body crashed into Luke’s at every turn, but we somehow made it to my office in just under an hour without being pulled over.
But when I stood on the sidewalk about to go in, I looked down at my jean shorts and t-shirt and groaned. “I can’t walk into the meeting like this,” I said aloud.
Turning his head, Luke scanned the street. Then he grabbed my hand. “Come with me.”
He raced us toward a store whose sign read closed, but a woman stood at the register staring at the computer. Luke pounded the glass door with his fist so hard I thought it would break. The woman pointed to her empty wrist and then the sign at the door. The store didn’t open for another half hour. Luke pounded harder, and the sign at the door crashed down onto the floor.
The woman rushed over and shouted through the glass door, “We’re closed! And if you break my window, I will sue you.”
“I’m Luke Crawford. I will pay you for your time. I just need you to open your store for us right now.”
“Crawford, did you say? As in Crawford Corp?” she asked, her eyes widening.
“Yes,” Luke shouted.
“Well, why didn’t you start with that?” She picked up the sign and unlocked the door. “Welcome to Charmed. How can I help you?”
Luke looked at me.
“Uh, do you have something I could wear for an interview? Something professional?”
“Yes, of course. Follow me.”
The woman took her time looking through racks of clothing when I said, “Honestly, anything will do. I just need to wear something other than this.”
She pursed her lips and stared at my waist. “Okay, I got you.”
In the change room, I zipped up a white fitted dress that hit just at the knees and sighed in relief when it fit.
“Thank you. I’ll take it,” I said to the woman.
“Go!” Luke said. “I’ll take care of everything here.”
I nodded and ran out of the shop.
Pushing through the glass front door, I raced to the elevators. Someone had already pressed the button, so I stood back and waited impatiently. I tapped my brown leather sandal on the marble tile, watching the digital numbers above the elevator descend.
No, no, no. Why are you going to the basement?
I pushed the button repeatedly, knowing it was useless, but it made me feel better. Finally, the elevator pinged and the doors opened.
When they opened again, Omar stood waiting for me in the foyer.
“Many of the partners have left the boardroom, but I think Damon is still there,” he said.
I nodded and rushed down the narrow hallway. Slowing my steps as I got nearer, I saw Faith’s head pop up from behind her computer. She stood with a hand on her hip and a smirk on her face, but I ignored her and knocked on the boardroom door.
“Mr. Fromer, sir. I’m sorry I’m late.” I held in a breath, giving my heart time to slow down and my voice to steady.
He checked his watch. “More than an hour after the scheduled time isn’t late, it’s disrespectful,” he said and shut his laptop.
“Mr. Fromer, wait!” I called after him before he could leave the boardroom. “I didn’t know the meeting time had changed. I was in Paris and I didn’t have my phone.”
He pursed his lips and nodded. “I understand.”
Relief washed over me. “Thank you.”
“But if you want to be a senior audit manager at Delmar & Tuch, you’ll need to make some sacrifices. The person we’re looking for has to understand that while you may not work weekends, you’re expected to check your phone for any changes to meetings and such. I’m sorry, Grace. I know you’re a hard worker. Perhaps the next time a position comes up, you’ll be ready.”
