Page 7 of Triplet Babies for the CEO

I glance around, watching the people striding past me with purpose, their phones pressed to their ears, their expressions confident and sure.

They don’t even notice I’m here. They don’t see me.

I bet they’ve all done this hundreds of times. They’ve all just walked into places like Thorne and Thorne without even thinking twice. And here I am, practically shaking in my heels, like I’m about to step onto a stage in front of a thousand people.

I take a deep breath, but it doesn’t help. My heart still feels like it’s going to beat right out of my chest.

I’m going to end up like my mom.

Then, clearly, as if she’s standing right next to me, I hear Jasmine’s voice in my head.“You are more than enough.”

It’s the same words she said to me the night I found out about Patrick, when I thought my entire world was crumbling.

I straighten up, shoulders back, and take another deep breath.

I can do this.

Brushing my hands over my skirt, smoothing the wrinkles out, I force myself to keep walking.

When I finally reach the Thorne and Thorne building, I’m struck by how sleek and sophisticated it looks for a construction firm.

The entrance is framed by massive, raw stone pillars, like something out of an architecture magazine, and the glass doors are outlined in a smooth, shiny platinum. It looks strong, solid, and immovable, like a mountain.

I stop for a moment, staring at the logo etched into the glass: two large, intersecting T’s that create a simple square shape. It’s simple, elegant, and somehow intimidating. I wonder if this is how all the clients feel when they walk in.

I place my hand on the cold door handle, my reflection ghosting over the logo, and pull it open.

This is it.

Stepping inside, my heels clicking against the polished marble flooring, the first thing I notice is that there’s no one at the reception desk.

All I see is an empty chair and a neat row of polished silver pens lined up like soldiers, their metallic sheen glimmering under the soft, recessed lighting. It looks as if someone tidied up and then disappeared, the chair pointed to the left.

I pause, glancing around, trying to make sense of things. I’m not sure what to do. Should I try to find someone or should I just wait here? I take a few hesitant steps forward, feeling a little like I’ve just wandered into a dream.

Poor girls like you don’t get office jobs at nice places like this.

A subtle scent of cedar mingles with a faint floral aroma in the air, making the atmosphere feel oddly welcoming. The clicking of my heels echoe off the vaulted ceilings of the lobby.

I’m so hyper-aware of them in this moment, and with each step, I grow increasingly aware of how tight andshortthis skirt is.

The lobby is luxurious, more than I had imagined last night laying on Jasmine’s pull-out sofa bed. It’s got these sleek, dark leather chairs arranged in a perfect row, each one looking like it’s never been sat in.

I catch my reflection in the polished marble floor below me. The flooring, like everything else in this place, is shining brilliantly in the morning sunlight. I admire the dark veins swirling through the white stone, giving it a cold, clean, and expensive look.

I look outside the large windows, stopping to keep the sound of my heels from echoing in the spacious lobby.

A large, abstract sculpture in the middle of the room, formed from some kind of twisted metal, catches the light in a way that’s mesmerizing. It looks like it probably cost more than my car.

Though, that’s honestly not saying much now that I think about it.

The walls surrounding me are lined with dark wood paneling, smooth and sophisticated, showcasing the space’s dominant grandeur. My eyes trail upward and see a stunning chandelier hanging above me, its crystalline pendants catching the light and throwing tiny rainbows across the room.

Those don’t look like the chandeliers at Home Depot. No, those look like real crystals.

The warm glow from the fixture bathes the lobby in a soft light, enhancing the rich colors of the decor. I’ve never been anywhere like this before, and I can’t help but feel like I’m way, way out of my league.

Everything about this place screams money—money and power. I'm overwhelmed to the point that it makes my stomach twist with nerves.

---