Hold onto me

The alarm screamed at 5:30AM. Emily Carter shot up in bed, gasping. Sweat clung on her neck,her heart was pounding like it wanted out of her chest. ****** The same nightmare. Again. She was four. Standing in the doorway in her little pink pajamas, clutching a stuffed bunny. Her dad had suitcase in his hand. “Take care of them”, he told her mom. His voice was cold. Empty. Then the door closed. And he never came back. Emily pressed her palms to her eyes. Men leave. That’s what they do . Her mom raised her alone after that. Two jobs. Late bills. Cold nights. That’s why Emily didn’t believe in love. Love was a lie people told before they walked out. ****** She forced herself out of bed. Today wasn’t for crying. Today was her first day at sterling corp She fought for this job. 50 applications, 3 interviews. If she messed this up , her mom’s rent wouldn’t get paid. ********** By 8:00AM she was standing in front of the 40-story glass building downtown. Sterling crop. The name alone made people nervous. Inside, the lobby smelled like expensive coffee and power. Everyone was in heels and tailored suits. And here she was in her one good blazer from the thrift store. “Emily Carter? For Accounting?” The HR lady barely looked up, “Yes ma’am,” “Floor 32,Don’t be late.Mr sterling hates that,” Floor 32. The CEO’s floor. Her stomach twisted as the elevator climbed. Keep your head down, Do your work,Go home. That was the plan. The door opened. And the entire floor went quiet. Class offices, silent assistants.And at the very end, a massive door with a nameplate: DAMIAN STERLING, CEO Emily clutched her folder tighter and walked to her desk. She didn’t see the way his dark eyes tracked her from the moment she stepped off the elevator. She didn’t hear his assistant whisper, “sir, the new girl in Accounting ,” Damian sterling set down his pen . A new rule in his company. And he already wanted to break it. “Who is she,” he murmured.