“Emma McLachlan?” the security guard grunts.
I stand up straighter.
“Yes, that’s me.”
He barely even looks up while handing my driver’s license back.
“Your meeting is on the top floor.” He points to an elevator bank in the far corner of the lobby. “Take the elevator all the way to the sixty-second floor.”
“Thank you,” I say smartly, trying to sound professional. Then, with my heels clacking against the marble floor, I step into the lift. My heart races as my cheeks flush. OMG, my palms are so sweaty and I scrub them vertically against my skirt because the last thing I want is to shake hands with the Senator’s staff while in this state.
But I try to calm myself down. You are a professional, I remind myself. You dressed the part, so now play the part. After all, I’m decked out in a blouse and sweater combo with a tan skirt and modest beige heels. It’s a far cry from the jeans and t-shirts I usually wear, but I have to admit that the outfit looks good on me. The colors bring out the green glint in my otherwise brown eyes, and in the interest of looking groomed and professional, I’ve pulled my curls back into a low, tight bun, leaving just a couple shorter curls to frame my face.
But much good that’s doing me right now because my curls seem to be sticking to my cheeks. Impatiently, I tuck them behind my ears, and then running my hands over the sides of my sweater I take a deep breath and nod at my reflection in the elevator door. I look nice, and more importantly, I look like a viable candidate. I just hope this works.
Finally, the elevator dings and the doors slide open. A middle-aged woman in a white button down shirt and black slacks smiles at me as I step out of the elevator.
“Hi, you must be Miss McLachlan. I’m Jodie Seen, Senator Mellon’s admin.”
“Hi, Miss Seen.” I shake her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
She laughs. “Please just call me Jodie. I’m not that old,” she adds. Then, the woman leads me down a hall into a large open space which is clearly a waiting area.
“Please, take a seat,” Jodie invites, gesturing to one of the grey couches. “The Senator’s in a meeting right now, but he’ll be with you soon. Please make yourself comfortable. Can I get you some water while you wait?”
I manage to sit gingerly. “Um, no I’m okay,” I say before swallowing the sudden lump in my throat. “But wait – did you say the Senator himself will be interviewing me? I just thought … well, I thought it would be someone from his staff.”
Jodie smiles reassuringly.
“Oh, the Senator likes to meet everyone who works for him,” she says with a wink. “You’ll be fine.”
I nod. “Thanks,” I murmur as Jodie turns and disappears. Then, I look around. There’s a coffee table in front of the couch with a large bowl of hard candies placed in the center. One wall of the room is glass, so I get up and wander to stare blindly at the street below. Why is the Senator interviewing me himself? Katy told me that she didn’t really even have an interview, period, although of course she’s Joseph’s daughter.
Suddenly, the doors open and the man of the hour stands there.
“Hi Emma,” Senator Mellon growls. “I’m glad you could make it in.”
I freeze like an idiot for a moment. God, Joseph is so handsome and I can almost feel his lips on mine once more. He’s got dark hair sprinkled with gray, bright blue eyes, and the physique of an athlete shown off to its best effect in a perfectly-cut suit. Ever the dummy, I smile back while nearly melting in a puddle.
“Hi Senator,” I say in a shy voice. “Thanks for interviewing me.”
“Thank you for agreeing to this interview,” he rasps, those blue eyes flashing. “I’m looking forward to our chat. But first, come inside, sweetheart. No need to interview in the waiting area.”
Quickly, I grab my purse and scurry into his office. The space is magnificent, and my breath catches in my throat. There are towering floor-to-ceiling windows behind an ornate mahogany desk, as well as a chandelier dangling from the ceiling as it sparkles with light. An ornate Persian rug lends warmth to the décor, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves display volumes such as The Federalist Papers and The Need for World Order. But a small movement catches my eye, and I turn to see another man seated on a couch in the corner. Who is this, and why is he at my interview?
Unsure of myself, I wait as Joseph gestures for me to sit down.
“Emma,” Senator Mellon says with a hint of a smile on those mobile lips, “this is Senator Gray Packard, representing the 28th district. I hope you don’t mind that I’m including him in the interview because actually, we both thought we could use your services. As you know, the 28th district borders the 27th, so we’re Manhattan politicians with many shared interests.”