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There was so the top of her pen to herdeeper, more complex than he wanted to reveal But what?

r />"Good , Winnie"

"Good ed a firm, professional smile It was the competent smile she knew executives preferred "The president of Shipley's Bank just called Would you like et him back on the line?"

"Not just yet I have a couple of things to take care of first I'll let you knohen I'm ready"

"Of course, Mr Grady Is there anything else I can do for you right now?"

"No Just hold all calls"

"Yes, Mr Grady I'll do that, Mr Grady"

His door closed and she sank back into her chair and covered her face with her hands Could she possibly sound more pathetic? Mr Grady No, Mr Grady Isn't the sky perfectly blue, Mr Grady?

She sounded like a si idiot Winnie, you need a life

You need to be good at so

You need to have interests other than Morgan Grady You need to stop waiting for soood to happen

And suddenly tears filled her eyes, ridiculous tears that had nothing to do ork and everything to do anting sohow to accomplish any of it

Once the tears started, she couldn't see because she was the hter and the only one of her sisters asn't spectacular Alexis and Megan were stunning, and talented, and incredibly popular Unlike Winnie who'd never even been invited to the proh school dance

She'd never been beautiful or special, and as horrible as the tears were, as e as they were, they were real It's hard to be plain and unexciting when the world embraces style and beauty

The tears continued to strea at the office, grabbed a tissue fro forced to pull off her glasses and wipe her eyes dry

"Are you all right?"

It was Mr Grady, and his voice was co from above her desk She hadn't heard his door open or his footsteps approach

Winnie struggled to hide the tears and quickly tossed the dareat"

His skeptical gaze swept her face She knew she was a wreck when she cried Some women were delicate weepers She was not Her nose went shiny Her eyes turned pink Her complexion took on a mottled hue But she squeezed her lips into a smile and prayed it'd work

It didn't His brow creased deeper "You look like you're in agony Do you want to go home? Take an early lunch?"

"Heavens, no It's not even nine-thirty, sir, and it's nothingit’s justit’s just"

"Just what?"

"I've made a mistake"

"I'm sure it can be fixed"

"No, it's too late"

"Is it a stock order? A market transaction?" he asked, clearly dumbfounded

"No, it's about my job This job, and the job in Charleston I don't knohat I'ht anyled to get her glasses back on, but in her haste she bypassed one ear and the black fra off her face

"I think you've ently

"An ear, sir" She hiccupped, took the glasses off, and slid thelasses around each ear with asthe fact that her nose had gone stuffy and her voice sounded thick and she'd just been sobbing her heart out She wasn'tsense and it only made her feel worse

"I' to cal in my eye-"

"I think those are called tears, Winnie"