Lilly
I
gnoring
the curious stares at my back as I followed Richard to the elevator, I hugged my messenger bag to my chest and held my breath. Nerves tickled my gut, and I had to keep myself from glancing around the reception area and risking catching someone’s gaze. It was increasingly obvious with each passing second that he rarely gave personal tours of the building, and the probing eyes locked on me sent tingles skittering just underneath my skin.
People couldn’t decide if I was an artist or not, and relief surged through my chest when the elevator gave a shrill ping and opened up to swallow me. Stepping into the box first, I adjusted my grip on my bag as Richard and a few other people climbed on board after me. Standing at the back corner, I closed my eyes briefly before one short
