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Pleased with his reaction, and feeling better about this job by the moment, I shift my briefcase on my shoulder and head toward the main lobby Tall and broad, he falls into step beside me, and I am still far too aware of him It’s a problem I will need to fix, and quickly Which is exactly e enter the lobby, I do not look at Dana I don’t need her, or anyone else, reading rip on it Both he and the staff need to trust that I’ht-hand person

I punch the elevator button While Mr Ward lingers behind to instruct Dana to leave his es on his voice mail, the scent of hi the oddestthe holidays

A second nervous jab of the elevator button and, with Mr Ward on ne of his suffocating me with its deliciousness I face forward He does not, and I’this intentionally, playing a ga to test me

Steeling myself for the impact that is this man, I slowly turn to face hiainst my natural instinct, which tells me that we are too close, and h, I settle on standingaould co weakness

He doesn’t speak, and I can’t fight the need to fill the eood h important information, I’m all ears”

His eyes light with e I’d seen in his office “Why do you want this job?”

My not-so-far-gone post-college interview speech flows automatically from my lips “To be a valuable asset to your company and build a career”

“I value honesty, not politically correct answers you think I want to hear Why do you want this job?”

Honesty There’s a unique concept, which I think is more myth than reality, but I cannot deny him what I so crave in my own life “Security,” I say “Stability Pride in my success that lets me pay my bills”

He doesof his, and several seconds tick by in which I do not dare breathe, before he approvingly says, “That’s e of topic This one more sensitive than the last “I understand you moved here from Texas for a job that was eliminated”

“That’s right” While I am pleased with htness from my voice

“How do I know you won’t haul it back hoone?”

“I’ back”

“Now or ever?”

Knots form in my stomach “Ever”