Page 46 (1/2)

She pulled a sht it "At this point in my career, I didn’t think I’d still need to prove ht by now I’d at least have ht I’d have a "

"I never thought that was too"It wasn’t That’s the sad part of it all These kids want everything and want it now Byron doesn’t want one , he wants a floor-to-ceiling panoramic view Rhiannon doesn’t just want her own office, she wants the whole floor"

"Do you think they’ll get it?" I asked

"Hell if I know," Jackie said "The only thing I do knoe aren’t"

CHAPTER 26

"Take a chance The corporate body becoy surges--the end result inal plan, but the zeal hich the eanization Find a way to make use of it"

--Petra Polly

Tomson’s Bookshop in don Willow Falls was indie in all the right ways, the perfect venue for Ms Petra Polly Her photo--blonde, kitschy, vaguely Icelandic--hung prominently in the , copies of The Petra Polly Workbook for the Ne Creative Workplace stacked precariously high underneath If they intended for all of those books to sell, then ere not only in for a long wait in line, but we also had a lot of competition for her attention

So far as I could see, we had arrived before anyone else Eh the aisles, apparently not as excited as ere about Petra’s pending arrival Lukas, in contrast, was beside hiht blue button-down shirt, which was halfway untucked from his tattered black skinny jeans He wore a black sport coat, also ripped strategically, and a scarf made from leather and some material I assu soat hiize," he ht there"

He pointed to a rectangular table and forlorn-looking folding chair One young bookseller slowly began to stack copies of Petra’s book on the table With a sigh, she aligned three Sharpieat the door, his nerves giving hiht twitch He fluffed his hair over his bald spot and checked his phone "One half hour," he announced "She’ll be here in thirty minutes"

Byron smirked "Thanks for the clarification"

"I’ll speak to her first, as planned," Lukas said, ignoring hie lock her in"

My stoh I had a difficult ti onFrank, in a way I didn’t want to let anyone down

So I wouldn’t Petra Polly was toast

But she had to show up first People began to filter into the bookstore, congregating in sroups, until it becao-area fan base was representing

Lukas came up beside me "There is a possibility"

"What?" Either his outfit or the crush of bodies was getting to him Small beads of sweat dotted his upper lip and the sht lose my shit I feelvery connected to Petra In a way I’ve never felt with anyone"