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He rose to greet me and motioned me to the chairs in front of his desk with a pleasant smile "Erica, please have a seat"

I settled into one and breathed in the rich aroma of well-loved leather

"Let’s see You’re with the Harvard Review?" He arched a brow at ottenwith the well-known publication, and if this didn’t go well, soet kicked off the staff because of the favor she pulled

He looked at me expectantly

I sed hard and took a deep breath Here goes nothing

"Does the na to you?" I asked finally, watching him intently as I spoke the words

If theto him, he didn’t show it, his face frozen, void of e away

He glanced to his watch casually "I’m not sure it does How does this pertain to the interview, young lady?" His voice was even and incredibly coe to throw up Was I crazy for doing this? What if I rong? What if Marie had misinformation?

I shoved the doubt out of my mind and focused on the present I looked down at my hands that were twisted anxiously inI could speak to you about that"

He rose abruptly He crossed the office with fluid grace, shut the door, and then returned to his seat His eyes fixed on his desk

A long silence fell between us, and within it, the truth hit oing with this?" He whipped his glasses off and tossed the a hardened stare

Oh ave way to the unmistakable truth that this e of the seat,profusely I offered up a silent prayer he didn’t kick me out on the spot after I said what I was about to say

"I’ht in my throat They sounded crazy and presumptuous But they were true I knew it What if he didn’t believe ht and blurted it out before I lost hter"

He leaned back in the chair, his jaw tight, his eyes penetrating mine We stayed like that for what felt like an eternity My heart pounded inin the air between us

He exhaled slowly and leaned forward into his desk "So let’s get down to it Is this aboutabout"

I struggled to speak, but his words had cut throughcash from him? No, no, no Shit I shook my head frantically and rubbed the space between"It’s not like that I just wanted tofro like that

He hesitated for athe bridge of his nose with a sigh "I can’t say I was expecting this"