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“I looked over the press for the event last year,” I say as we dig into our halves of the sandwich “It’s very generic Can I write a piece about your personal attachment to this project, which I assume exists or it wouldn’t be your pet project?”

“Nothing personal about me ever I don’t do press”

“Oh Okay Because you got burned when you took over the casino?”

“Because I don’t Talk to Dehlia at the shelter She runs it Find an angle with her We funded five college scholarships for kids living in the shelter last year Profile the prograh, not the kids I don’t want them labeled homeless sympathy cases”

There is soaze on him, and the minute he realizes it, he reaches for the phone and punches in a number Conversation over I’ve hit a nerve I don’t knohich nerve, but I’m certain there are many reasons we are drawn to each other, one of which I’ve now confirmed in my mind: namely, that we are both bruised but not broken

Another hour passes and Daht Go home, Ms Miller”

I’ain The name is a wall, a way to put distance between us “What about you? You’re exhausted”

His lips quirk up “And I look like shit, right?”

I don’t laugh “You look tired Let’s both leave”

“No” His expression darkens “You should go up before me”

I s hard “Oh” I push to my feet

He stands, too “If I ride up with you, everything we tried to achieve will be destroyed”

A wave of unexpected e my eyes shut I want him to come upstairs with me I want to know him, to understand what his bruises are

“Kali,” he murmurs softly

I inhale and force ht, Mr Ward” And I turn and head out of the office, wishing he’d stop me But he doesn’t