2

My heart does a funny little stutter as I look at him. What am I doing? He's... He's... Well, I'm not sure what his game is actually, but I make fun of him, and he probably chases anything in a skirt. The heat on my face feels like a furnace. He will think I'm an idiot who doesn't realize who he is and, despite everything, I want this contract; doing security at Janus Industries would put my small technology consulting firm on the map. I wouldn't come to a meeting without asking the CEO, would I? And here I am with my silly sense of humor about to completely ruin everything by playing a crazy game with the guy who will probably make the decision whether or not to use my company. Ugh. Stupid, Joe. I open my mouth to say God knows what - but I hope an apology will flow somewhere - when we come to a jerking stop and, before any of us can say anything, the doors part with a strong ping.

Janus moves around me, giving me a half-smile, which only makes things worse, before exiting the elevator.

"Nice to meet you, uh...I didn't catch your name...? » he said.

"Look, I'm sorry..." I start as the doors start to close. I frantically search for the off button, but before my hand can reach it, I'm whisked to the twentieth floor and my appointment.

The small reception desk on the twentieth floor is all glass lit in glowing triangles, and I bite the side of my nail, sweat running down my spine. The office stretches out before me like an airplane hangar, offering a breathtaking view, through the partitions, to the other side of the building. Colorful glass walls run through the space interspersed with gray steel pillars, light carpet marking the walkways between workspaces. You'd need sunglasses to look at the lime-colored sofa in reception. Wow . The vibe here couldn't be more different from the atrium downstairs, and I'd give my right arm for an office like this.

But all this overt trending isn't helping. Did I really try to take the CEO of this place in his own elevator? What is happening to me and am I bothering people? I have to find him and apologize.

My phone vibrates in my hand. Nora. Why is my finance manager calling me now?

"Nora?"

"Hey, Jo, I'm sorry to call but, uh, we're having a cash flow problem."

What? "How much is in the account? »

"About ten thousand dollars." His hollow voice echoes through my phone.

My God. Payroll goes way beyond that.

"I'm sorry but the rent had to be paid on Friday. The payroll this month is forty thousand, Jo.

I'm not saying I know. I don't say anything. The bright colors of the office hit me, success oozing from every pore. I feel like an ant. A very poor ant.

"What's the situation with Caltech's money?"

"I'm chasing, but they said three weeks at early ."

Oh my god . The bank won't lend me a cent – I've been down this road before.

I lower my voice to a whisper and take a few steps away from the reception. "Look at the credit cards, Nora, see if we can borrow anything," I said.

She sounds like she's been crushed under someone's heel, and I don't blame her. Cards are a terrible idea, but what options do I have? Here I am hanging on by my nails.

"Sorry, I know it's a bad idea, but it's all I have right now. I have to go and give this presentation.

"Sorry, Jo, and good luck! Fingers crossed. This could solve all our problems.

Yeah. RIGHT. I hang up and slip my phone into my pocket. Do unicorns work with ants? Or do they just trample them?

I scrutinize the receptionist's oversized plaid shirt, her lip piercing, and her knit hat that moves as she types.

"Is Janus Phillips coming to this meeting?" I blurt, and his gaze turns to me, resting where my hands are now clutching my laptop case. Damn.

"I'm sorry, Miss Williams, I don't know." She gives me a soothing smile. "This is Bob Sugar now," she says, pointing to the red carpet that runs straight through the offices, from one end of the office to the other. "I'm sure he can answer all your questions."

I groan inwardly as a tall man with peppery hair walks towards me. My arms are wet, a burning heat in my body, just before one of the biggest meetings of my life. Great.

Be professional.

Be professional.

Be professional.

If I repeat it enough in my head, maybe it will happen. Then Bob is in front of me, holding out his hand and bringing me back to reality.

"Jo Williams!" His serious face is all wide smiles. "It's good to see you again! I hear your business is doing well. You come highly recommended.

I'm doing well ? My whole body tenses. He wouldn't say that if he saw how empty our bank account was. But anyway, did someone recommend me to Bob? After the fiasco that I'll now call the elevator incident , the very idea that I was somehow selected... I feel nauseous. Can't I find better behavior somewhere? I put on my best professional smile and extend my hand.

"Me?" God, even my voice sounds wrong. "Good to hear. Good to see you too, Bob. You were a legend when I was in college.

Janus poached Bob from one of the top tech universities in the country, and he has a reputation as a genius at managing people and projects. He's close friends with my old professor at NYU, so we've crossed paths once or twice before. He's the kind of guy who hums as he walks down a hallway, tilts his head as he listens. A safe pair of hands. Lucky Janus. Des and James lead my small team and I love them immensely, but I also know that we are all young and inexperienced.

His eyes drop to the floor as if the reception carpet held hidden secrets, then he moves, giving me a broad dismissal gesture.

"Okay, okay, enough mutual pats on the back. Did anyone buy you a cup of coffee?

"I'm fine, thanks," I say, and we walk through desks and walls, past a large kitchen area where two guys are hitting balls on a ping-pong table. "Um, is Janus Phillips joining this meeting?"

Bob smiles at me. "This man is his own law. It's on his calendar and it should be there. Whether it is is another matter. Have you met him?

Condemn. "Um, not officially. Actually..." I should say something about the elevator problem, right? If Janus shows up at the meeting and...

Bob lets out a little groan. "He has a certain reputation, which is not undeserved I might add, but he is an outstanding entrepreneur and boss. I love him very much.

Oh my God, really? That's high praise coming from him. I remember the smirking amusement from earlier, the head down, the knowing look in Janus's eyes as he scanned my body: Bob admires someone like that? I'm probably not hiding the surprise, because Bob frowns and waves his hand again.

"The media prints a lot of nonsense. The rumors about him are terrible. He smiles. "Oh! Being thirty and single again.

This makes me laugh.

"Bob, I'm sure you don't really mean that. You and Mandy are a legend.

Mandy is his wife, and the story of how they supported each other early in their careers is tech industry folklore. They are totally devoted to each other. No one has ever tolerated my quirks like that. Bob's eyes sparkle.

"It's good to know that I have a certain reputation myself, even if it's different. But to answer your previous question, Janus did say that he intended to join us, to meet you.

His last sentence makes my stomach turn over. I just met him, I think, and it didn't really go well.

Bob's smile fades and a small frown appears. "We are concerned about the security breach, Jo. We need to get to the bottom of things and quickly. We have international customers who rely on us.

We stop in front of the open door of a meeting room, sunlight spilling onto the light gray carpet. As I cross the threshold and meet three pairs of curious eyes, I breathe a huge sigh of relief when Janus's is not among them.