CLAIRE
The next day arrived faster than I wanted. I woke up early, my stomach already tied in knots, and spent too long staring at my closet trying to decide what to wear.
Julian found me standing there in my pajamas, clothes scattered across the bed. "You've been in here for an hour," he observed.
"I can't decide," I said, frustrated. "Everything feels wrong."
Julian walked over and picked up a simple black dress from the pile, one of my own designs. "Wear this," he said. "Professional but not trying too hard."
I looked at the dress, clean lines, structured but comfortable. "You're right," I admitted, taking it from him.
"I usually am," Julian replied with a hint of a smile.
I got dressed and did my makeup carefully, covering the dark circles under my eyes, making myself look compo
