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have caused me to have a complete meltdown.
    “Hello, Miss,” the smiley front desk manager said. “How can I
help you today?”
    “My name is Ella Riley.” I cleared my throat. “I’m here to meet
Mr. Abbott.”
    “Why don’t you take a seat, and I’ll let him know you’re here
Miss Riley.”
    “Thank you.” I took a mint from the bowl on the granite counter
top.
    “Can I get you anything to drink while you’re waiting?”
    “No thanks,” I said. Though a stiff drink was probably just what
I needed.
    I turned towards the seating area and found a firm chair by the
window. When I reached it, I sat down with my knees together and made a point
of sitting up straight despite the fact that perfect posture wasn’t exactly my
default setting. I rolled the mint around on my tongue and took a deep breath.
    It was time to not blow it. It was time to play ball. It was
time to repeat any motivational, confidence boosting cliché I could think of. At
least I looked the part even if I didn’t feel ready.
    I decided a black suit would be too boring, and after everything
Jackie said I figured a skirt wouldn’t work against me. Most importantly, I was
wearing my favorite jacket. It was a bold blue color that made me feel more self-assured
than I was. Plus, blue elicited trust in people, and that’s what I was going
for. I wanted Will to trust me with whatever the job was that he had in mind.
    I am the person for the job I told myself, and he’s just a
person. Just a regular guy.
    But then the energy in the room shifted and when I looked up, Will
was walking across the lobby like he was moving in slow motion. I think I
actually saw the light catch on his bright smile as he waved and nodded at the
people he knew. Which seemed to be everyone.
    “Miss Riley,” he said when he reached me.
    I stood. “Mr. Abbo-” The mint got sucked back in my throat when
I spoke.
    The smile fell from his face. “Are you all right?”
    I brought my hand to my neck and my eyes started to water.
    “Are you choking?”
    I turned my back to him and tried to cough, but the mint
wouldn’t budge. I put one hand on the back of the chair I’d been sitting in and
smacked the other against my chest. My forehead felt so warm I thought I might
faint.
    Then I felt two arms wrap around me and squeeze just below my
chest hard enough to lift my feet off the ground. My limbs hung like a rag
doll’s as the air was forced from my chest. A moment later, the mint shot out
of my mouth onto the chair in front of me.
    His thick arms set me back on my feet, and I started to catch my
breath again without turning around.
    “Ella?”
    My face was burning up. “Yes?”
    “Are you okay?”
    I turned around and stared straight into Will’s chest, letting
my gaze travel up his tie until I was looking into his grey green eyes. “I am
now. Thanks.”
    “Wrong pipe?”
    I nodded and took a step back. “So much for first impressions.”
    “Nonsense. Fresh breath makes a great impression. Plus, we’ve
already met.”
    The friendly concierge appeared beside him. “Is everything okay,
Mr. Abbott?”
    “Actually, Paul, would you mind removing the mints from the
front desk until they can be replaced with smaller ones?”
    “Of course, sir.”
    Will reached for the handkerchief in the front pocket of Paul’s
jacket. “Thank you.”
    Paul smiled at me and then made his way back towards the front
desk.
    Will held the handkerchief out to me and nodded at the chair
behind me.
    I grabbed the cloth napkin and turned around, pinching the mint
inside it. When I turned around, he was holding out his open hand.
    “You want this?”
    “I think it’s safer with me.”
    “Very funny.” I put the balled up hankie in his hand. “I’m very
sorry about that I-”
    “There’s no need to apologize. You had a mint before a job
interview. It could’ve happened to anyone.”
    “Thank you, but you don’t have to replace all the mints on my
account.”
    “Yes I do. I can’t