You have it bad.
Courtney implied that he might be helping me for sex. I find myself suddenly very okay with the idea.
Besides, the more I think about it, the more convinced I am that Courtney’s just being paranoid. She doesn’t know the full story between me and Tolyan, and I shouldn’t let what she said bother me.
After a shower, I spend some time debating what to wear. It feels weird to be looking at all these options. For so long there were only functional, plain clothes in my closet. Now I have things I can mix and match.
I consider for a moment. I have a shift at Coffee Heaven today. Tolyan told me to quit, but I can’t really give notice when I don’t know what’s going to happen at the internship interview. Plus, Roy never does two things back to back. He seems to enjoy giving me a false sense of security before he strikes again, so that means I should be safe for at least a couple of weeks.
I finally settle on a coral scoop-neck top, a knee-length teal skirt and nude ballet flats with cushy soles that will work for the interview at the foundation, but are still casual enough to be okay at the café with the employee apron on.
Once we’re done with breakfast, Tolyan says we should take his car.
“Are you sure?” I say. “I need to go to the café after the interview, and I won’t be done with my shift until five thirty.”
“It’s only half an hour,” he says.
“Well… If you’re sure.”
“Very. Besides, your stepbrother’s favorite tactic is hit-and-run. My SUV is far better to withstand that. Also, I’m a better driver,” he says matter-of-factly.
That he is. I remember how he drove yesterday, his eyes constantly scanning our surroundings. He’s likely to spot Roy’s goons and react faster than I would. He certainly wouldn’t freak out and lose his cool like I did on Saturday on my way to the Pryce Family Foundation.
“Okay. Thank you.”
The commute isn’t terribly long, considering it’s Los Angeles. The penthouse is more conveniently located than my garage apartment.
And I do feel safe inside the car. Tolyan’s eyes constantly range back and forth, the SUV moving smoothly in the traffic. No matter how slick—or reckless—Roy’s drivers are, I just can’t picture one of them managing to hit us. Tolyan would move out of the way before that happened. Or ram them first if he had to.
I sign in at the security desk in the massive marble-floored lobby. It reminds me of an art gallery entrance.
I get a visitor’s pass and put it on. “The security here is really tight,” I say, looking at the turnstiles and cameras everywhere.
“We have a couple of financial and law firms in the building. They don’t like people being able to just walk in at will. The lobby’s shut down on weekends, so no visitors.”
We get in an elevator and go up. Financial and law firms or not, I’m sure it’s Tolyan who prefers that the security be set up like this. I wonder if there are booby traps, like in his home.
The floor the foundation is located on is open, with lots of space and desks and chairs. Half of them are already occupied with people working busily. As we walk past, most lift their heads and say hello.
“Who’s this?” a red-headed woman asks. She’s in her late forties or so, her eyes wide and bright behind glasses as she looks at me, then back at Tolyan.
“Angelika Wilks. She’s a candidate for the new internship position.” Tolyan introduces me in a dry tone, like he’s reading an English textbook in front of a class.
“Ooh, I was wondering when Elizabeth was going to fill that position.” The woman smiles. “Hi. I’m Rhonda.”
“Angelika,” I say. “Nice to meet you.”
We shake hands. “Welcome to the foundation,” Rhonda says.
I shift my weight. Should I remind her I haven’t been hired yet?
“She hasn’t had her interview yet,” Tolyan points out, saving me from having to explain it. “She’s a candidate.”
Rhonda sighs dramatically. “Yes, but she’s here, so I can welcome her.” She gives me a nice, motherly smile. “Good luck, dear.”
“Thank you.” It’s impossible not to like somebody as genuinely sweet as her.
I follow Tolyan. He points at an empty desk not too far from Rhonda’s. “That’s mine.” Unlike the other desks, most of which have pictures and potted plants, his is barren except for a phone. Without bothering to sit down, he places his laptop on the desk and hits a key on the phone.
“Lizochka, Angelika Wilks is here for the interview.”
“Good morning, Tolyan. Send her in, please,” comes Elizabeth’s warm voice from the speaker.
He gestures at me to follow. I clench and unclench my hands, my fingertips cold as anxiety and pressure swell in my chest. Suddenly, I feel like a kid walking into take the SAT, except there aren’t going to be any do-overs. This is it.
Elizabeth’s office is next to Tolyan’s desk. The door is closed. He knocks once before going inside.
She looks up from her laptop. She’s stunning in a sky-blue dress. Unlike on Sunday, her hair’s tied up in a topknot, and huge chandelier earrings dangle from her earlobes.
“Perfect. You’re right on time. Something to drink?” she offers as she stands and comes around a desk cluttered with piles of paper and framed photos of her family. I recognize her and Thomas. The dark-haired man with them must be the husband.
“No, thank you. I’m good,” I say, inhaling slowly to calm my nerves.
She gestures at the seating area. “Please, take a seat.” She looks at Tolyan. “Would you mind closing the door? Thanks.”
He does, and then it’s just me and her in the office decorated in soft, feminine colors.
She sits in the armchair near the couch I’ve taken. “I liked that outfit when you tried it on yesterday, but I love it today.”
“Thank you,” I say, flushing with pleasure. She has a way of giving compliments that feels genuine and puts me at ease. “You look wonderful, too.” Now that she’s out from behind her desk, I see that she’s wearing a pair of silver stilettos that set the dress off perfectly.
“Thanks.” She beams. “I read your résumé. You’ve had some interesting experience and seen a lot of the country.”
“Um. Yeah.” I smile mainly because I’m not sure if she means good interesting or bad interesting. Her timbre is warm, but I get the feeling that that’s her default state.
“I appreciate your diverse experience because the people we serve come from all sorts of backgrounds. I don’t understand their struggles at the most fundamental level because I haven’t experienced them myself. So it’s important that we have people who do know at the foundation.”
“I see.”
“So if you want, you can start anytime. Do you have any questions?”
“Uh…” I blink. My brain seems to be stuck because it can’t seem to parse what she said. “Do you have any questions?”
Elizabeth bursts out laughing. “Me?”
I clear my throat, suddenly flustered. “Well, um… This is an interview, but you haven’t asked me anything.”