AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I fly around the corner of William Street, spilling out onto the hustle and bustle of Wall Street and narrowly missing a group of Japanese tourists slowly ambling by.
“Excuse me!”
Shouting my apology over my shoulder, I continue to run barefoot at full tilt until the doors of Freemont Insurance come into view. When I’m within reach of my offices, I drop my half-size-too-big, thrift store black pumps onto the pavement and slide my feet into them once I’ve dusted the streets from my soles.
“Morning, Ms. Marquez,” Fred, the building’s security guard, calls across the foyer as I march directly toward the elevators.
“Morning, Fred.” My smile is genuine, and I slow my footsteps to toss him a wink.
“Suzie said to make sure to thank you again for the cake for Harris’s birthday. They didn’t stop talking about it all day.”
“Tell Suzie she’s more than welcome. My abuela has the best recipes!”
Fred’s answering smile is wide as I step onto the waiting elevator, shooting him a small wave of farewell before the doors close.
After I hit the button for the seventeenth floor, I take a moment to check myself in the mirror.
I shake my head at my reflection, smoothing the strays into place as best I can. My cheeks are flushed, and the mascara I applied whilst sitting in midtown traffic for longer than anticipated is not as sleek as I’d thought in the car.
Using my pinkie finger, I fix my lashes and nod to myself.
You’ll have to do.
Having danced for Lita and Penelope, breakfast was delivered to the three of us. We’d sat chatting about nothing and everything until Lita noticed the time and insisted I go to class.
My stomach had churned with nausea the whole trip into the city at the thought of being in the same vicinity as my would-be attacker—the same man who dogged my uncomfortable rough sleeping last night—but to make matters worse, thanks to a delay on 278, I was now late.
I’d called ahead, but my gut was telling me that Chad Freemont will be out for blood following the events of last night. A man like him wouldnottake kindly to a rebuff, let alone one as harsh as mine.
A shudder glides up along my spine at the revelation as I reach my floor, and the elevator doors glide open soundlessly.
Wide eyes belonging to Mary, the motherly receptionist sitting behind the desk facing me, land on my slightly disheveled state before jerking her head to the right.
“The head honchos are asking for you, sweetie. Boardroom five.” Her thick Jersey accent softens. “We all make mistakes. It’ll be okay.”
My heart drops as my stomach swirls, knowing instantly that Chad Freemont is at the center of whatever is happening here. “Did you pass on my message?”
She nods sadly, her sincere eyes holding mine as I fill my lungs and exhale a grateful, “Thanks, Mary.”
I square my shoulders, ready as I’ll ever be for what’s to come, as I stride across the lobby and into the office beyond.
The layout of Freemont Insurance is open plan, with rows of neat little desks running the length of the entire floor, separated by sheets of frosted glass to give the illusion of privacy.
Dozens of eyes swing around to land on me, and my feet almost falter under the scrutiny but I catch myself, absolutely refusing to show weakness now.
Clearly, they’re in on something that I have no idea about, and it doesn’t bode well. But hell will freeze over before I’ll let him try to take my pride today following his attempt to invalidate my choice last night.
Yes, I need this job, but I’ve been down before. I can rise again.
I know I can.
With steel in my spine and determination running through my veins, I cement a smile on my face.
Head held high, I walk briskly past every turned head, ignoring each one, with my eyes trained on the three men awaiting me behind the glass walls of Boardroom five, dead ahead.
The savior who hired me, Carter, is the first to notice my approach, and I can clearly see him mutter something to his colleagues that makes each head swivel in my direction in an almost practiced move.
I allow my eyes to linger on Carter first, who’s looking guilty, and more than a little shamefaced. I narrow my eyes minutely as I hold his gaze, smirking internally when he visibly squirms.
