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Here for you always,

Polaris

The door swings open behind me and I quickly get up as a middle-aged man hurries past me down the stairs. Considering it’s time to head to Fleur, I move to follow him, but before I take my first step, I’m hit with an urge to turn around.

Time slows when I do.

Right before the glass door shuts, I glimpse a beautiful hummingbird stained glass window on the far wall. The cool daylight filters through the unique red chest of the bird, just like the lucky earrings I’m wearing.

My hands tingle.

I smile, watching as the door closes, the image of the bird branded into my mind.

Reading the whimsical name again—The Wing of Eternal Dreams—I notice my head and chest don’t hurt anymore.

Instead, the worries in my mind quiet, like the hummingbird somehow whisked them away.

If I believe it, who’s to say it isn’t true?

Filled with renewed energy, I trot down the stairs and leave Ravenswood Library, a place I know will becomemyhaven.

Chapter 35

“And so, our estimatedmarketing revamp costs, using data from the refurbishment of the Kensington Hotels brand five years ago, will be around $1.5 million dollars.” Sweat gathers on my palms as I press on the clicker to advance to the last slide of our presentation.

I’m cloistered in Ethan’s large office on the seventieth floor of Fleur Towers two hours later, finishing the initial strategy presentation Sandra and the team put together for Project Dreamer after consulting with other departments.

My eyes rove around the room—three folks from finance, three from marketing, including myself, all gathered around the conference table he has next to his large oak desk.

I studiously avoid lookinghimin the eye.

Rex was adamant I drive most of the presentations and interviews under the guidance of my team—part of the giving the intern meaningful work with exposure to upper management initiative.

Exposure—ha.

More like pushing me off a cliff and hoping I’ll somehow grow wings.

Seeing no raised hands, I continue, “The breakdown comprises rebranding, website overhaul, social media and digital advertising, and experiential marketing events such as pop ups or in-hotel experiences.”

With the end in sight, I rush through the plan our team laid out, keeping my eyes pinned on Sandra, who’s nodding encouragingly at me.

But nausea swirls inside me—the same sensation I felt when I had a milkshake and two hot dogs right before I got on the Cycle of Doom in Coney Island.

I nearly puked my guts out afterward.

He hasn’t said anything. No “Hi.” No “Keep going.”

Nothing.

I only feel his burning stare lasering me to the spot.

“Any questions?” I strain a smile after finishing the presentation.

A few nods from the team, but then everyone turns to look at the boss in the room—the icy king of numbers.

The Deliminator.

Ethan leans back in his chair, his fingers playing with his cuff links—the same pair he always wears. “How long until the project breaks even?”