it would be the last time I got to.
He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the edge of his desk.
“Three months. Exceptional job performance and one letter of recommendation—a letter I am not promising unless I see that you deserve it.”
I nodded, my heart racing with a very dangerous thing: hope.
“Alright, Miss Levine, I’m going to need you to start right away.”
Chapter Five
T his i s nice,” Hazel said and put one of my suitcases down. One of the only two I had. Plus the dry cleaning bag that had two gowns in it. Gowns I had worn a few times over the years to major political galas.
“Yeah, it is nice,” I said, and looked around.
There were hardwood floors throughout, a small light-blue couch, and white wood fixtures. Two big windows let in sunlight and a view to the grounds. The main mansion—aka house-office-extravaganza—was two football fields away. Everything was perfectly decorated and quaint.
“Oooh, purple sheets! I love it!” Hazel called from the bedroom. I peeked in and saw that the bed took up most of the room. It had four cherrywood posts and was covered in rich hues of lilac and grape. “Pretty sweet setup you have here.”
“For the next three months or so,” I mumbled.
It was plenty of time to work hard, save my paychecks, earn a letter of recommendation, and make contacts for a future job.
Hazel wandered around, then settled on the couch and splayed her arms over the back.
“I’m going to miss you.”
My chest hurt a little because I was going to miss her too. “You’re only two hours away, and Columbia is going to be amazing.”
She smiled and I recognized that look. Pride. Something I hadn’t felt lately. But Hazel deserved only the best things to happen to her.
“We can always meet in the middle,” she offered. I smiled and nodded, not wanting to bring up any issues, like the fact I didn’t have a car. Hell, Hazel was the one who drove me out here in the first place.
A light knock came from the open front door and a very handsome man walked in. A man with piercing blue eyes and black hair.
“Settling in alright?” Leo asked.
Hazel instantly stood and I adjusted my shoulders, not sure whether to reply to Leo first or pick up Hazel’s jaw off the ground.
I decided to reply. “This is really lovely. Thank you, Mr. Savas.”
He frowned and took one step inside, but hovered by the doorway. “Mr. Savas? Since when are we on a formal basis, Red?”
My cheeks heated just a touch, which I hated since I rarely blushed. Politics was like poker—your face could give away your position. Unfortunately, Leo knew exactly which buttons to push . . . considering he pushed some—or rather licked them—at the bar.
Hazel looked surprised too, but in a giddy way.
Leo smiled and extended his hand to Hazel. “I’m Leo.”
She shook it.
“So great to meet you. Paige told me all about you and this new job and . . .” Hazel looked around the apartment with wide eyes and breathed deeply. “This is just really wonderful.”
“Well thank you,” Leo said. “And Paige told you all about me?” He glanced at me and smiled.
Hazel nodded and I wanted to roll my eyes. Instead I clarified. “Of course, I told her about the interview.”
He raised an eyebrow and smiled. “That was a memorable exchange.”
“Paige always makes a good impression.” Hazel nudged my arm in support. If only she knew the secret conversation Leo and I were currently having.
“That she does,” Leo said.
“Well, it was so nice to meet you, but I have to hit the road.”
“Thank you for the ride, Haz.”
“Of course! I’ll see you soon for girls’ night. I’ll talk to Amy and arrange a meeting place. I know you’ll be busy, but don’t forget to call me.”
She hugged me, and everything about Hazel exuded genuine. Too bad I wasn’t genuine back. I loved her and Amy like sisters, but I never shared anything too deep or personal. Everyone had lives, and
He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the edge of his desk.
“Three months. Exceptional job performance and one letter of recommendation—a letter I am not promising unless I see that you deserve it.”
I nodded, my heart racing with a very dangerous thing: hope.
“Alright, Miss Levine, I’m going to need you to start right away.”
Chapter Five
T his i s nice,” Hazel said and put one of my suitcases down. One of the only two I had. Plus the dry cleaning bag that had two gowns in it. Gowns I had worn a few times over the years to major political galas.
“Yeah, it is nice,” I said, and looked around.
There were hardwood floors throughout, a small light-blue couch, and white wood fixtures. Two big windows let in sunlight and a view to the grounds. The main mansion—aka house-office-extravaganza—was two football fields away. Everything was perfectly decorated and quaint.
“Oooh, purple sheets! I love it!” Hazel called from the bedroom. I peeked in and saw that the bed took up most of the room. It had four cherrywood posts and was covered in rich hues of lilac and grape. “Pretty sweet setup you have here.”
“For the next three months or so,” I mumbled.
It was plenty of time to work hard, save my paychecks, earn a letter of recommendation, and make contacts for a future job.
Hazel wandered around, then settled on the couch and splayed her arms over the back.
“I’m going to miss you.”
My chest hurt a little because I was going to miss her too. “You’re only two hours away, and Columbia is going to be amazing.”
She smiled and I recognized that look. Pride. Something I hadn’t felt lately. But Hazel deserved only the best things to happen to her.
“We can always meet in the middle,” she offered. I smiled and nodded, not wanting to bring up any issues, like the fact I didn’t have a car. Hell, Hazel was the one who drove me out here in the first place.
A light knock came from the open front door and a very handsome man walked in. A man with piercing blue eyes and black hair.
“Settling in alright?” Leo asked.
Hazel instantly stood and I adjusted my shoulders, not sure whether to reply to Leo first or pick up Hazel’s jaw off the ground.
I decided to reply. “This is really lovely. Thank you, Mr. Savas.”
He frowned and took one step inside, but hovered by the doorway. “Mr. Savas? Since when are we on a formal basis, Red?”
My cheeks heated just a touch, which I hated since I rarely blushed. Politics was like poker—your face could give away your position. Unfortunately, Leo knew exactly which buttons to push . . . considering he pushed some—or rather licked them—at the bar.
Hazel looked surprised too, but in a giddy way.
Leo smiled and extended his hand to Hazel. “I’m Leo.”
She shook it.
“So great to meet you. Paige told me all about you and this new job and . . .” Hazel looked around the apartment with wide eyes and breathed deeply. “This is just really wonderful.”
“Well thank you,” Leo said. “And Paige told you all about me?” He glanced at me and smiled.
Hazel nodded and I wanted to roll my eyes. Instead I clarified. “Of course, I told her about the interview.”
He raised an eyebrow and smiled. “That was a memorable exchange.”
“Paige always makes a good impression.” Hazel nudged my arm in support. If only she knew the secret conversation Leo and I were currently having.
“That she does,” Leo said.
“Well, it was so nice to meet you, but I have to hit the road.”
“Thank you for the ride, Haz.”
“Of course! I’ll see you soon for girls’ night. I’ll talk to Amy and arrange a meeting place. I know you’ll be busy, but don’t forget to call me.”
She hugged me, and everything about Hazel exuded genuine. Too bad I wasn’t genuine back. I loved her and Amy like sisters, but I never shared anything too deep or personal. Everyone had lives, and
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