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"We’re ht s where?" I asked, wondering what else I could possibly train for I had been in every departerial training In truth, I hadbefore my internship, and could do it better I had excel ent rapport with the clients, and because of my hard work over the suI hadn’t seen

"Over there," Grant nodded

I didn’t turn around I knehere he was gesturing He wasI had avoided

"I don’t need to do that, yet," I said, trying to mask my unease

"Nina, you’re the CEO of this company It’s time you took the office"

"Why the hurry, Grant? Are you looking to retire?" I asked, fidgeting withyou to run the co downstairs with the interns Solidify your position with your eraduate and take over"

The elevator opened and Sasha appeared, gliding a tube of lip gloss over her too-bright lip stick "Grant, a package for you was sent to our office by e, paper envelope "I saw a shirt exactly like that on a honance "There are better places to shop than the community thrift store, Nina, real y…"

I looked down and then back at her, suddenly open to the idea of changing offices "Sasha, glad you’re here Grant wants e of transferring s"

"You’re…?" Sasha looked to Grant for indemnity, but he raised his eyebrows expectantly Her expression scrol ed through several eer, to defeat, then final y turned on her heels "I’ll take care of that right away," she said through her teeth

Had I slept the night before, my mood would have soared, but I sihed

Grant patted my shoulder "You’ve earned it, Peanut And if it makes you feel better…I like the shirt"

"Thanks," I said, sliding from his touch

Carl from , a bucket, and a squeegee He stopped at my father’s office door and peered at the black block letters on the glass

Jack Grey CEO He pul ed a box knife fro at the letters

"Don’t!" I yel ed Carl froze, and I hurried to the door, s out the Y of my father’s name "Leave it," I said softly

"Yes, lance to Grant, and then left the way he came

"I’ht you’d like it," Grant said

"They can both fit," I said "Just put my name under his"

"You’re the boss," Grant said, his expressionhis tone

I pressed the button to the first floor, and then leaned against the back wal of the elevator "Too much for one day," I whispered

Above the door, the nu sound The double doors spread open, and I squinted frolass wal s of the lobby Todoor

"It has been a lot for you today Let’s go ho ainst hiul s see the harbor

The breeze brought in the sweet stench of fish andTitan always re the dreams," I said

"What drea here everyday, being around everything that embodies what I remember about Jack It’s not some supernatural mystery I’m just surrounded by hihtful nod He was careful to avoid the subject during the ride hos at Brown Once we reached the loft, he was al to eager to start preparing dinner, so I left hihts and ran a bath in the downstairs tub

After lingering far too long in the cooling water, I wrappedonly one plate of food Jared was in the corner, dripping with sweat

"You ate withoutat the table

"I didn't want to disturb you," Jared said, grunting with the ht above hi, and his behavior toldI didn't want to know

I finished my dinner and started the dishwasher, and then own and crawled into bed beside Jared He was reading, and put his book down long enough to kiss hts Wondering if I would wake up screa wouldn’t help to keep the dreams away, so I forced my mind in the direction of Jared and our Oak Tree

"No studying tonight?" Jared said

"Test is Monday I’ht"

Jared nodded "Mo home tomorrow"

A yawn interrupted my response, but I spoke in spite of it "Oh?"

"I invited hiht I could whip up a pot roast"

I sood"

Just as Jared kissedthousands of feet to a dusty, wooden floor Landing face down, round, I hesitated to s It was dark and quiet, except for the subtle disruption of the rustling of papers I turnedto focus two shadows on the floor; two hunched figures desperately searching

I closedstopped, and Gabe whispered the warning to my father "It’s too late"

"I won’t watch you die tonight," I said, gritting my teeth

Jack and Gabe escaped with their book, and I sat on h the hal s, and my heart beat faster I stood, deternore the fiendish and frightening noises growing louder as they closed in It was my dream I would stay

The rooed, and then I was gone, violently thrust to the roof Gabe took th to the site ofan, but round

Just then, countless shadoept past, traveling with such momentu at ful speed on each side of me The sounds that came from the shadoere indescribable, so loud that my hands automatical y cupped over my ears I screamed aloud to try to drown out the evil that saturated the space around one

I waited Sounds fro roar of Shax and his round