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Chapter 1

IT WAS A breezy fall lass skyscraper inhorns and pedestrian chatter behind to step into cool quiet My heels clicked across the darkheart With damp palms, I slid my ID across the security desk My nervousness only increased after I accepted e and headed to the elevator

Have you ever wanted so it?

There were two things in my life I’d felt that way about: the man I’d stupidly fallen in love with and the administrative assistant position I was about to interview for

The man had turned out to be really bad forway I couldn’t even think about walking away fro, deep inside ’s assistant hat I needed to spread s and fly

Still, despite ht when I stepped out onto the tenth floor and saw the slass entrance to Savor, Inc The company’s name was emblazoned in aand relish every moment

Waiting to enter, I studied the nu around the reception area Unlikelast season’s styles secondhand I doubted any of thee, either I was at a disadvantage in nearly every way, but I’d known that and I wasn’t intimidatedmuch

I was buzzed through the security doors and took in the café-au-lait walls covered with photos of celebrity chefs and trendy restaurants There was a faint aro scent from my childhood Even that didn’t relax me

Taking a deep breath, I checked in with the receptionist, a pretty African-Airl with an easy sainst the wall to stand Was my scheduled appointment time—for which I was nearly half an hour early—a joke? I soon realized that everyone was set for a brisk five-minute audience, and they were marched in and out precisely on time

My skin flushed with a light mist of nervous perspiration

When my name was called, I pushed away from the wall so quickly that I wobbled onuy down the hall to a corner office with an open, unmanned reception area and another set of double doors that led into Lei Yeung’s seat of power

He showed me in with a smile “Good luck”

“Thanks”

As I passed through those doors, I was struck first by the cool modern vibe of the decor, then by the woht’ve been lost in the vast space, with its stunning views of the Manhattan skyline, if not for the striking crilasses, which perfectly matched the stain on her full lips

I took ahow the strip of silver hair at her right teed into her elaborate updo She was slender, with a graceful neck and long arms And when she looked up from my application to consider me, I felt exposed and vulnerable

She slid her glasses off and sat back “Have a seat, Gianna”

I moved across the cream-colored carpet and took one of the two chrome-and-leather chairs in front of her desk

“Gooda trace of my Brooklyn accent, which I’d practiced hard to suppress She didn’t seem to pick up on it

“Tell me about yourself”

I cleared na cuas—”

“I just read that on your résuht s I don’t already know about you Why the restaurant industry? Sixty percent of new establishments fail within the first five years I’m sure you know that”

“Not ours My faenerations,” I said proudly

“So why not work there?”

“We don’t have you” I sed That ay too personal Lei Yeung didn’t seeaffe, but I was “I ic,” I added quickly

“We?”

“Yes” I paused to collect myself “I have three brothers They can’t all take over Rossi’s when our dad retires and they don’t want to The oldest will and the other tell, they want their own Rossi’s”

“And your contribution is a degree in restaurant ement and a lot of heart”

“I want to learn how to help them

realize their dreams I want to help other people achieve theirs, too”

She nodded and reached for her glasses “Thank you, Gianna I appreciate you co in today”

Just like that, I was diset the job I hadn’t said whatever she’d needed to hear to make me the clear-cut winner

I stood,ays I could turn the interview around “I really want this job, Ms Yeung I work hard I’ It won’t taketo anticipate what you need before you need it I’ll lad you hired me”

Lei looked at ledyour honors GPA You’re sreat I just don’t think I’d be the right boss for you”

“I don’t understand” My stomach twisted as h me

“You don’t have to,” she said gently “Trust ive you what you’re looking for”

I lifted my chin I used to be proud of my looks, uessing all of that now

Impulsively, I decided to reveal why I wanted to ith her so badly “Ms Yeung, please listen You and I have a lot in coht?”

Her eyes blazed with sudden fire at the unexpected mention of her former partner who’d betrayed her She didn’t answer

I had nothing to lose at this point “There was a man inI just want to do the same”

She tilted her head to the side “I hope you do”

Realizing I’d come to the end of the road, I thanked her for her tie

As far as Mondays went, that was one of the worst of my life

“I’M TELLING YOU, she’s an idiot,” Angelo said for the second tiet that job today”

I was the baby of the fahteous anger on my behalf made me smile despite myself

“He’s right,” Nico said The oldest of the Rossi boys—and biggest prankster—buelo out of the way to set my meal in front of me with a flourish