Page 71 of Go Deep (A Bad Boy Sports Romance)
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Epilogue – Cassidy
Five MonthsLater
Hello, New York!
It was days after our last final exam and a week before the NFL drafts. Slade and I were standing in the lobby of the Westin New York Hotel at Times Square. This wasn't a vacation, but it sure felt like one, walking up to the reception desk and checking in. When we got up to our suite, we had another surprise. The place was expansive, elegant and so well decorated, I knew I'd enjoy every second being here.
“Wow. Beautiful.”
“Yeah,” Slade agreed, and then I noticed he was looking at me as he said it. “This place is pretty cool too.”
“Awww honey.”
“I can tell from this place that you sure made an impression on the Lewis Holdings CEO. Not that I'm surprised.” He leaned over and kissed my cheek. “He'd be stupid not to give you this shot.”
The CEO of Lewis Holdings Incorporated, Mr. Matt Lewis, was the reason we were here in New York. I had kept his business card after the pitch we made at the Pet Adoption House. In mid-January, I summoned the courage to send him an email with my resume and cover letter. I needed to stand out, so I included an executive summary laying out a few more ideas on integrating pet adoption drives into established pet shelter channels.
Mr. Lewis didn't reply right away, but by the end of that month, I got a response from him, letting me know that his executive assistant would be in touch to coordinate a time to meet. Marjorie, the executive assistant contacted me within minutes of his email, providing two possible dates Mr. Lewis could see me. The first option was in late March, which would have been less than ideal, with project work to hand in and exam preparation. Thank goodness this second date worked perfectly. After I had sent my preferred date to her, she didn't just set up a time to meet. Marjorie emailed me a travel itinerary, complete with flight and hotel information for a two-night stay.
Slade was so excited for me, he offered to tag along. “It's your time to shine,” he'd said.
My time to shine.
I liked that, and I'd wholeheartedly agreed to him coming. The NFL combine was only weeks away at the time, and Pro Day right after that. Each event brought him closer to his destiny and made me value this time we were together that much more. Who knew where his future would take him. Or us.
For now, we were here.
In Midtown Manhattan.
I was nervous as hell. I only had about ninety minutes after checking in to get dressed for my interview at the company’s Empire State Building headquarters. That was no time at all in my wound up state. Just as I expected, an hour later I was hopping into a yellow cab and on my way. I looked down at my outfit—a navy one-button jacket with matching pencil skirt, a white, fitted button-down shirt, and four-inch navy pumps. My hair was down past my shoulders, but I brushed it out of my face and hopefully all that hair product would hold it in place. I pulled out my compact from my purse and checked my makeup. I’d just applied a bit of mascara, nude blush, and matte pale pink lipstick. All good. I was dressed well and I’d been preparing what I planned to say for weeks.
The taxi dropped me off at the entrance, and all my nerves came right back. It hit me.
I had an interview.
At the Empire State Building.
This could be the job to give my career a solid foundation for years to come.
I had to make it count.
I entered the building fifteen minutes early, finding my way to the staff elevators using the directions the executive assistant had provided. I got up to the floor, and as the doors opened, Mr. Matt Lewis was standing there. I stepped off the elevator, somewhat stunned and out of sorts, but with my hand extended for a handshake in case he was there intentionally to meet me.
“Hello, Mr. Lewis. It’s good to see you again. I was sure I still had ten minutes or so before my interview time.”
He gave me a curious look before recognition dawned on his face. “Good afternoon, Miss Greyson. Unfortunately, a pressing item has come up. We’ll need to reschedule.” My heart sank. He pointed to the left down a long hall. “Speak with Marjorie at the workstation down at the end there. She’ll set up another time.” Smiling, he gave me a nod and stepped on the elevator.
I spun around on my pumps and held the elevator doors. “I wish I could reschedule, Mr. Lewis, but I just flew in from Baton Rouge and will only be here until Sunday afternoon.”
“I see.” He looked at his watch, then back at my fingers clenched on the side to hold the elevator doors open. “Get on, Ms. Greyson.” I did, and after the doors had closed, he studied me for a few seconds, then he said, “It’s a twenty-minute drive to my next meeting. That’s all you’ll have, but my guess is you won’t need it.”
Shit. I guess I was a bit too pushy. Now I had to impress the hell out of him during a car ride across town. “Thanks, Mr. Lewis.”
“Where did Marjorie put you up for your stay?”
“The Westin at Times Square.”
