O

d steel, towering up like it was trying to show off. I stood on the

talk I give when Alex is being a handful. You're Lora Blake,

expensive. The receptionist was stunning, like she walked right off a magazine

arrock, I said, trying

Morrison will meet you at

ucked a loose strand behind my ear, and reminded myself that I earned this. My work

eyes and a no-nonsense vibe greeted me. Ms. Blake? I'm J

u for ha

oking folks in fancy suits worked hard. Everything felt so m

topping outside a corner office with bi

a three-year-old, so caffein

emember those day

waited in what I guessed was a waiting area, trying not to stare at the incredible view of Manhattan

ay of the corner office was the man from the hotel, the father of my

roze. Then his face turned completely blank and cold. Please, co

huge, stylish, and screamed success. He moved behind his desk and

arrock, I said, settling into the chair. T

lder-my portfolio, neat and organized. Your

steady, but inside, my heart was racing. He takes chanc

e world as a battle to fight. I've freelanced successfully for three years, working with sev

What made you freelance? That felt pointed. Like he knew the

nough. I enjoy the challenge of working with different businesses. Fami

your p

as unreadable. Do you have family, Ms. Blake? That question hung heavy between us. I could lie. I

ething crossed his face- pain? Anger?

st be tri

rength show in my voice. Mr. Marrock, are we d

me, he looked commanding. This project would require relocating to New York for about six

disappeared from my life like smoke. The same guy wh

big time

orrison mentioned. Plus relocation expenses

Alex and me. A college fund, a house down pay

ent, his serious mask slipped. I saw something flicker in his golden eyes- desire? Desper

It's a business dinner, Ms. Blake. Nothing mor

ie. My plans were pizza and car

row,

y portfolio and what was left of my dignity. Business dinner. Nothin

elt wobbly. Leaning against a marble pilla

. And I was going to sit across from him at di

own. My phone buzzed with a text from Maya: How did it go with the corporate

a Fortune 500 company, and apparently a master at making hotel security forget he existed. And tomorr

ng to ever happen to me, or it co

it woul