se

e that I was impressed. Not just because he had achieved it, which was a feat

ted to achieve. I wanted to ask more questions, I wanted to hear

d. Right now, though he was an incredible person to learn from, that wasn’t what I needed.

my original purp

ly. “This seems like it would be a great opportunity for m

he other people that had interviewed me. Cayden Colbert had been professional the enti

for a moment long

tapping his fingers on the hardwood desk. “And then we would send a follow-up email, awaitin

ad been more of a desperate hope.I didn’t want to get ahead of myself, but I felt secure enough in what he

hed he

ocedure would be the wisest thin

job? Had I somehow done so terribly in this interview that he wasn’t ev

h all those loops and bounds. I believe that you’re a great fit for our company, and it would be ridiculous to take t

that would best put me on the path that I wanted in life. On

ould do was grab i

. I sat back a little, more reserved. “I am honored to

didn’t seem upset b

look at the contract after you get it, then please fill everything

ely no way that I could afford to miss

e a reputation to uphold, with our clients and our competitors, so we put a lot of emphasis on our dress code. You will be given a work cloth

much for this opportunity, I can’t begin

m again, and Cayden held his hand for me to shake. He then opene

start working soon, she seemed surprised. I wouldn’t

yet firmness he took my hand in. His eyes never parted mine, until the handshake was

ust wasn’t possible. I would have been able to convince myself that I had imagined the entire thing, but

ached home, I got out of the c

sn’t seeing wha

ng again and again, I had to accept tha

amed and then ran

me immediately, and I

doing here?!

ips. “You think my little sister can just roc

ut Rebecca was the most well-traveled,

e. “It’s Mardi Gras. I hope you have a great dress an

u

” I echoed.

ust l

u have

den

ur or two. But I didn’t have the luxury of time with her. There w

d if it wasn’t, I was more than happy to mat

t our team needed

to her, though, I knew that I coul

I didn’t really do parties, I had to be seen. There would be too many cli

y office to sort out the last few things for the day, and

hen I expected that much dedication from my e

l over it. It would be subtle enough that it wouldn’t be ove

i Gras. My clients would know who I was, and they would

ady, I headed

right. I hated staying for these things, but the formalities required

eet with everyone, just our most important ones. Only four more and then I could make my escape.

e. We ask that everyone selected please allow our coordinators

ok place, but Brudner had kept me there with his constant quest

and I watched as a woman came towards me. She did a little dip w

hip and pulled her close. I couldn’t recognize her and t

it was an easy dance, I couldn’t help but feel that w

yet, that wasn’t what I felt

, from somewhere. And yet, I knew that I didn’t. The song finished

diately, and I remembered that w

to enjoy it so I took it as an invitation. I touched more, I moved faster, and she answered just th

, the song f

was the slowest, and I he

again. But I couldn’t take the risk. If she was a client or the spouse of a

urs, I met two women who caught my attention and drew m

hts went out. It wasn’t planned, it wasn’t meant to

what it was

ps against hers. And the current that went through us both

n it wa

est exits quickly, this is not a drill,” the call came over all the other pan

n the direction of the people rushing. It wasn’t the sudden dark

lowed

st her in the crowd. Once outside, I lo

the moonlight, and I made my way toward her without th

when she took off her mask

er. Rose