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As she waited, Rhiannon tipped back in her white leather chair and looked around the o ce fully visible from the glass enclosed room. She wondered if Carmela was in one of those o ces lined along the wall.

I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to see me.

The thought evaporated as soon as Liz sauntered in wearing a white suit and exuding a commanding presence.

“Rhiannon, it’s so lovely to see you again,” she said, giving her a warm, two handed shake.

The interview was more easy conversation than perfunctory questions like where do you see yourself in five years and what’s your biggest weakness. Liz was a no bullshit person, and Rhiannon liked her more by the second.

“So, what are you thinking? Can you see yourself here?”

Liz gestured behind herself.

There were still terms to negotiate and her dad had warned her not to look eager. Rhiannon took a sip from the sparkling water she’d been o ered and pretended to think about it. “I don’t think one of your agents likes me very much.”

“Well, you did. . . very accidentally I’m sure,” she winked,

“cost her a deal.”

Rhiannon forced herself not to react despite the cold sweat that spread over her palms. She hadn’t expected Liz to know about that.

Why would she tell anyone she messed up like that? I’d never admit that to anyone in a million years.

In the face of her telling silence, Liz spoke again. “I’m sure that with proper guidance, nothing like that will happen again. So, what do you say?”

Rhiannon kept a white-knuckle grip on her cool, but her smile broke through anyway. “Yes. Definitely. It would be an honor to be part of your team.”

“Welcome aboard,” Liz said with a firm handshake.

“Brandy will bring you a bunch of papers to sign and get you all squared away.”

As soon as Liz was gone, Rhiannon spun around in her chair and had a silent celebration before turning back around and waiting for the receptionist.

CHAPTER SIX

AT EIGHT IN the morning it was already

sticky hot and painfully humid. Carmela grabbed her blazer and heels for her client meeting later in the afternoon from the backseat and walked up to the o ce in her flats and a silk tank top.

“Morning, Brandy,” she greeted as she continued to her o ce to drop her stu and make a much needed iced latte.

As soon as she neared the kitchen, she wished she’d stopped at the co ee shop instead. The shark staring at the espresso machine was something she hadn’t bargained for.

Glancing behind her, she considered backing away quietly.

No one had seen her.

No. This is my territory. You’re the outsider, guppy.

“Morning,” she said without looking at the girl still trying to figure out how to work the machine.

“Oh, hi,” Rhiannon replied, staring intently at the machine that came with a fifty-page manual.

Carmela reached for a glass and waited her turn with no intention of explaining she had to plug the machine in to get it to work.

Rhiannon, her glossy brown hair loose around her shoulders, exuded confidence while clearly having no idea what she was doing. Carmela leaned against the counter, making a show of waiting for her to finish.

After pressing every single button, Rhiannon turned to her. With flushed cheeks and wild eyes, she put her hand on one narrow hip. “Are you going to tell me how this works or is this part of some hazing ritual?”