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“All right.” Nadia did the same with her folder. “There, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”

Haley raised her eyebrows at her friend, not missing the worry that Nadia was trying to hide. “Clearly, you have put your blinders on. You know I can’t get three words out in a row on a good day, much less when I’m nervous.”

Nadia waved her anxiousness away. “I’ll write down everything you need to say. Just memorize the script I give you. You got this.”

Giving a low sigh at Nadia’s optimism, Haley stared across the desk at her skeptically.

“You’ll see …” Nadia continued breezily.

Haley was pretty sure Nadia was trying to convince herself as much as her. She could already feel the tingling in her overwrought nerves. Her resting pulse rate went to panic mode anytime she was out of her comfort zone. Tomorrow wasn’t only taking her out the comfort zone, it was throwing her in the pool without a life preserver. She needed her life preserver.

“Are you sure there isn’t a way that you can at least come with me to start the meeting then leave?” Haley wasn’t above begging.

“I won’t be able to start the meeting with you, but if mine finishes early, then I may be able to take over the meeting from you.”

The brewing panic attack eased. All she had to do was keep her head above water until Nadia showed up and saved the day. Haley had no faith that she would be able to convince the man in the folder to donate the amount of money needed for a cup of coffee, much less the thousands they needed.

“Then let’s go with that plan.” Haley nodded as if it was a done deal.

“Plan?” Nadia frowned. “It’s not a plan. It’s a maybe!”

Haley gave her an unperturbed smile, returning back to the numbers that she was much more comfortable dealing with and pushing her glasses back onto her nose. “I’ll hold down the fort until you can get there.” Haley gave her another nod. “This will work much better … What could go wrong?”

The two women stared at each other, unaware that the same thought was now going through both their minds.

A million things.

One

Haley nervously studied her reflection in the plate glass mirror of the double glass doors that she was about to enter. Then, blowing a swatch of her hair out of her eyes, she forced herself to open the heavy door.

You can do this, she tried to encourage herself silently.

No, you can’t, the pessimistic side of her mind shot her down immediately before she could even reach the information desk.

“Good morning. How may I help you?” the attractive woman behind the desk greeted her.

Clearing her throat, Haley gripped her briefcase tighter. “I have an appointment with Desmond Beck at eight. My name is Haley Clark.

“Certainly, Ms. Clark. Mr. Beck is expecting you. I’ll just double-check to make sure Mr. Beck is on time.” The woman gave a nod and a professional smile in acknowledgement as she began clicking on the keyboard behind the computer. Reaching into a drawer to her side, the receptionist took out a plastic card attached to a metal clip. Placing it within her reach, the woman who made her feel like leftover stale bread gave her another professional glance, which Haley swore she planned to incorporate into her own arsenal. “Take one of the elevators behind me to the thirtieth floor. Mr. Beck is running ten minutes behind schedule. I hope that won’t be a problem for you.” The receptionist didn’t bother to raise her eyes from her keyboard.

“Not at all,” Haley hastened to assure her. “Mr. Beck can take all the time he needs. I’m not in a hurry. No rush. I’m more than happy to wait until he can fit me into his schedule.” Biting her bottom lip to keep herself from making a fool of herself, Haley held on to the handle of her briefcase in a death grip as the receptionist gave her a sympathetic smile at her nervous chatter, as if she understood the cause of her anxiety.

“Ten minutes should be sufficient. If there will be a longer delay, Mr. Beck’s assistant will keep you apprised. Have a great day.”

Haley didn’t have high hopes it would be a great day. She had every expectation her day would end up in the toilet.

When she didn’t move away from the counter, the receptionist stared up from her keyboard quizzically. “Is there something else I can help you with?”

Not unless she could move time ahead for the next two hours and the meeting with Mr. Beck was over. Taking a guess the receptionist couldn’t fulfill that request, she moved on to what the woman could accomplish.

“My partner is meeting me here when she is able.” Haley wasn’t about to get on any elevator unless she was assured her life preserver would be able to reach her.