Only that time is now, and my pride doesn’t taste so good going down.
The taxi pulls into a smooth stop outside the Winter Hotel. The main operations remain in the building itself, on a floor dedicated to office space. It speaks to the type of business this is. Old, family-oriented, and a little in love with its own legacy.
Stone columns flank the gilded entrance. Doormen wear a uniform, familiar to me after visits to this hotel with Percy and his parents. They loved to dine at one of its restaurants… and their son loved to meet his mistress here. It was a one-stop-shop for all Browne appetites.
“We got this,” Jenna murmurs between me and Toby. “Break a leg, Soph.”
“Lunch is on me after this.”
“Thai?” Toby says.
“Yes please,” Jenna chimes in.
We walk toward the main staircase, past the spot where I’d accidentally blabbed my heart out to Isaac Winter, CEO and one of the most influential people in New York.
“Sure,” I say. “Let’s have a glass of wine with it, too.”
I don’t look at the spot where I’d made a fool of myself. I don’t look toward the emergency staircase either.
You’re in control, Sophia.
“Just through here,” an associate in a formal uniform says, and uses her keycard to access the staff door. We’re escorted down a hallway. Into a conference room. And there, waiting for us, are the five people who make up the Winter Corporation’s executive team. I know all of them by name and position.
And at its helm sits the man himself. Isaac Winter.
Staring right at me.
2
SOPHIA
There’s a slight lift to one of his eyebrows.
That’s it, the only hint of recognition he gives. It soothes the jagged edge of my nerves and sets off my professional script.
I’ve done this many times before.
I extend a hand to the man closest to us. One after one, they all rise.
“Sophia Bishop,” I say. “It’s a pleasure to meet all of you. Thanks for considering Exciteur for this project.”
They introduce themselves. I don’t hesitate when I reach Mr. Winter.
His hand closes around mine. The skin of his palm is warm and dry, the grip firm. “Isaac Winter,” he says. “A pleasure, Miss Sophia… Bishop, was it?”
“Yes, that’s right,” I say. “Bishop.”
“Lovely last name,” he says.
Yeah. He remembers, all right.
“Thank you,” I say, and release the hand I’ve been shaking for a tad too long. “This is my team, Jenna Nguyen and Toby Sutton. They’re both invaluable to Exciteur’s business development department.”
Jenna and Toby have snapped into professional mode. Their voices are clear and comfortable, and standing side by side, they radiate competence.
We all sit down again.
I end up opposite Isaac Winter. Him, the head of the entire corporation. Me, head of my development team.