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throughout the South taught me the good manners I needed to be an administrative assistant. My job is a lot of diplomatic smiles, talking on the phone, and sitting quietly in the room while Mary manages huge, network-sweeping projects.  
    I swipe my badge at the turnstiles, wave to the security guards, and head up to the office, my short heels clicking on the marble floors and echoing through the lobby. When I get to my desk, Mary’s door is open and the lights are on. Her corner office overlooking Grace Plaza at the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Forty-third street is one of the best offices on the floor. The view this morning is taxi cabs in traffic and endless red brake lights leading uptown.
    “Good morning, Mary. You’re in early.” I peek my head in before I even take off my coat, and Mary is searching through her email at her desk, her short, straight blond hair pinned back over her ears.
    “The kids all decided to get up at five. They have no respect for my schedule whatsoever.” She laughs and sips   her coffee. Mary has two young kids, and her husband takes the morning shift. “Bill didn’t want to get up, and since I had to be here early anyway, I got them dressed and came straight in.”
    “Do you need more coffee? I can run to the caf for you.”
    “No, thanks. There’ll be breakfast at the meeting this morning, right?”
    “Yes. I had it taken care of.” Taking off my coat, I slip back out of her office and hang it up.
    “Thanks, Laura,” Mary shouts from her desk. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
    “You’d be late for all your meetings and starve to death, Mary.”
    She laughs, and though I can’t see her, I know she’s nodding her head. “You’re right. Hey, come back in here.”
    I grab my moleskine I keep all my notes in and re-enter her office.
    “You look different today, Laura. Hot date tonight?”
    When I picked out my outfit this morning, I wondered if it was too much. It must be too much.
    “Is it too much?” I ask, sweeping my hands down. I left my long hair down and curled and decided on a black V-neck sweater that shows some cleavage. I wavered over my dark red skinny pants. All the time I spend in the gym (because I have nothing better to do) means I can wear the skinniest of pants without feeling self-conscious, but I tend to wear trousers to work or even jeans. We’re laid back here.
    “No, absolutely not,” she says with a smile. “You must be going on a date then. Who is he?”
    “It’s not a date. Just dinner. He’s some guy I met last night who’s in town for a few days.” I wave my hand and scrunch my nose. “Not relationship material.” I wish he was.
    “Okay.” Her sly smile makes me laugh.
    “Mary. I swear. Just dinner.”
    “I’m pretty sure it’s a date, Laura, but I’m happy to see you go out again… After Rene.”
    “Thanks.” I shift on my feet. I try never to think of Rene anymore. He was karmic payback for all the stupid shit I did in my twenties, for all the guys I met, slept with, and left.
    “How’s your mom doing?” Mary asks, sipping the last of her coffee and throwing the cup in the trash.
    “Good. The usual. Museums and fancy trips with the latest boyfriend, lots of walking, dinners with my aunt. Thanks for asking. I’m going to get coffee, and I’ll meet you in the conference room.”
    I was wrong to wear the hot, revealing pants for this dinner tonight. I shouldn’t flirt with Lee anyway. I can’t bring him home, and I don’t trust hotel rooms on first dates. Tomorrow, Lee will be on a plane back to Seoul, and I will never see him again. Well, too late now. I have nothing else to change in to.
    “Damn, Laura,” Dana, another admin, calls out as I pass her desk. “Those pants are awesome. Your legs look a mile long.”
    Turning all the way around as I hit my stride, I laugh back at her. The pants will be fine.

Chapter
Two
=
Lee

    The sun dips low in the sky, bouncing off the buildings, and blinding