It takes my mother a whole two days to notice I've moved my stuff out. I've ignored her calls and texts. It feels liberating. I'll give her a few more days to calm down before I call her back.

As Shane promised, I signed the onboarding paperwork for Clever Corp on Monday morning. I'm officially a paid employee. I plan on celebrating with Alex and Skylar this weekend.

Right now, I'm working on my first project as an employee with Beth. I think she was the most excited to see me get hired. She said she loves seeing more women around the office.

My desk phone rings and it startles me out of my concentration.

"Hello, Emma speaking," I answer.

"Emma, come to my office, please." It's Shane.

"Um, okay," I reply. I've never been called to his office before, so this must be serious. I quickly save my work and head towards his office.

Shane has kept his distance from me. He's professional and polite, but not overly friendly. Which is a relief. After he kissed me, I didn't know how things would play out between us. But thankfully, he seems to respect my decision.

"Hey," I say, knocking on his open door.

"Come on in, have a seat," he says, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk.

"What's up?"

"Nothing serious," he assures me. "You can relax."

"Oh, good," I sigh, sinking into the chair.

"I just wanted to check in with you. See how you're doing. Are you settling in okay?"

"I'm doing well. Everything is good."

"That's great. How are you liking the job?"

"I'm loving it. Thank you so much for this opportunity. It's honestly the perfect job for me."

"No need to thank me. But I do have something to ask you," he says.

"Okay, what is it?"

"Well, there's a company meeting. I say meeting, but it's a get-together. We have someone important flying in for a couple of days. They're looking into buying a significant share of Clever Corp and expanding it. We are trying to woo them and show off the people behind the scenes, so to speak. And the team wants you to come and be introduced. One of our most promising new employees."

"Oh, wow. Really? I'm not sure..."

"It'll be a great opportunity to meet new people and network. Beth and I'll be there too. It'll be fun."

"Well, okay. When is it?"

"Tomorrow, actually. They're set to arrive around lunchtime, and the party starts at five. It's a fancy dress event. There'll be food and drinks and everything. We're renting out a ballroom in one of the hotels."

"Wait, tomorrow?" I repeat, surprised.

"Yeah, is that a problem? I'm sure Beth would understand if you can't make it."

"No, it's not a problem. Just, give me the details and I'll be there."

I have so much planning to do. At least I don't have class or anything, so I can spend the morning getting ready. What do I even wear?

"Perfect. Thank you, Emma. This is gonna be a great opportunity for you."

"Thanks," I say, still a little shocked by the news. "I'm looking forward to it."

"Good," he smiles. "I'll email you the details."

"Okay, great."

"See you later," he says, waving me out.

"Bye," I say, standing up.

Once outside his office, I let out a deep breath. I can't believe I'm going to a fancy party tomorrow. This is the kind of thing I've dreamed about. Networking with big wigs and learning about business. It'll be good experience, and I'm looking forward to it.

When I get back to my desk, I have an email from Shane with the details. It's a black-tie event, so I'll need to find a dress. I'm sure I have something in my closet.

I spend the rest of the afternoon working, but I'm distracted, thinking about the party.

"Emma, you okay?" Beth asks, approaching my desk.

"Oh, yeah, sorry. Just, a lot on my mind," I reply, smiling.

"Is it about the party tomorrow?"

"Kind of. I've just never been to a party like this. It's a little intimidating."

"Don't worry, honey. It'll be fine. It's really just a meet-and-greet. You'll get to mingle and chat with people. It's a great chance to network and learn. And I'll be there if you have any questions."

"Thanks, Beth. That makes me feel a bit better. I'm excited."

"Me too," she smiles. "I can't wait to show you off."

"Awe, thanks," I laugh.

"Now, let's get back to work. We've got a lot to do before tomorrow. I know you're off tomorrow, but I'm trying to get enough done today that I can take off, too."

"No problem. Let's do it."

Beth and I spend the rest of the afternoon working. She's a great mentor and boss. I'm lucky to have her.

By the time five o'clock rolls around, we've accomplished a lot. Beth is pleased with our progress, and I'm excited for the party tomorrow.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Emma. Have a good night."

"You too, Beth. Thanks for all your help today."

"Of course. See you tomorrow," she says, giving me a wave before leaving the office.

I take a minute to close down my computer and gather my things. As I stand up, my phone chimes with a text. It's from Ares. I want to open it, to tell him everything that's going good in my life, but I think better of it. Instead, I tuck my phone away and leave the office, ready to start my evening.

The next morning, I wake up early, excited for the party. My stomach is full of butterflies as I think about what the evening will bring. I can't wait to network. I don't plan on leaving Clever Corp anytime soon, if ever, but I can always take on smaller freelance jobs for others. I made sure my contract allowed me to continue freelance work.

I spend the day getting ready. I take a long shower, shaving my legs and exfoliating. I put on a face mask and do a deep conditioner. By the time I'm done, my skin is glowing. It's been too long since I've taken a real good shower, the kind where you feel like a completely new person.

I'm standing in front of my closet, trying to decide what to wear. I have a few cocktail dresses, but none of them are exactly formal enough for a black-tie event.

"Hmm," I hum, scanning the rack of clothes.

Finally, I settle on a black silk dress. It's a floor-length gown with a high slit. It hugs my curves in all the right places and shows just the right amount of cleavage.

I pair the dress with some black stilettos and a simple clutch. I put my hair up in an elegant bun and keep my makeup light and natural. I don't want to overdo it and embarrass myself.

Beth is picking me up tonight, and we're going to ride to the hotel together. I'm a bundle of nerves as I wait for her to arrive.

There's a knock on the door, and I open it to find Beth waiting for me.

"Wow," she breathes, taking in my appearance. "You look amazing, Emma."

"So do you," I say, returning the compliment. She's wearing a dark green dress that compliments her pale skin.

"Are you ready?"

"Yeah, let's go," I smile.

We drive to the hotel in Beth's car. I can't stop fidgeting, my nerves getting the best of me.

"Emma, relax," Beth laughs. "It'll be fine. You're going to have a great time."

"I hope so. I'm just a little nervous. I've never done anything like this before."

"You'll do great. You're smart and charming. And you look amazing. Everyone's going to want to talk to you."

"Thanks," I say, blushing a little.

"Seriously, though. You're going to be the belle of the ball."

"I doubt that, but I appreciate the vote of confidence."

"Just wait and see. You'll be the talk of the party. Mark my words."

I can't help but laugh. "I'm pretty sure the guest of honor will be the talk of the party."

"Yeah, well, who knows," Beth laughs. "Maybe he'll fall in love with you and whisk you away from all this."

"I'm not sure about that, but a girl can dream."

Beth parks the car and we make our way into the hotel. The ballroom is already crowded, and the music is loud. People are milling around, chatting and drinking.

"Here we are," Beth says, leading me towards the bar.

I scan the room, taking in the sight. It's a lot more glitz and glamour than I was expecting. But then again, Clever Corp is a very successful company, so it makes sense.

"Let's get a drink," Beth suggests, motioning to the bartender.

"A glass of white wine, please," I say.

"Coming right up," the bartender smiles.

He hands me my drink, and I take a sip, feeling a little calmer already.

"So, how are you feeling?" Beth asks.

"Nervous, but excited."

"That's good. Just try to relax and have fun. I know it's a little overwhelming, but you'll do great."

"Thanks, Beth. I'm glad you're here with me."

"Me too," she smiles. "Come on, let's go mingle."

She takes my arm and leads me into the crowd. We make small talk with a few people, and I do my best to charm them. But I'm still feeling a little awkward and out of place.

"Hey, guys," Shane says, walking up to us. "Having fun?"

"Yes, we are," Beth smiles. "Emma is a hit."

"I knew she would be," he replies, winking at me.

I've tried to figure out who the guest of honor is, but haven't had any luck scoping them out. Beth doesn't even know who it is. She told me they aren't usually announced.

"I'll leave you ladies to enjoy the party. I have a few people to greet," Shane says, excusing himself.

"See you later," Beth calls after him.

"Come on, let's check out the buffet," Beth says, pulling me along.

The food is delicious, and I help myself to a couple of plates. We eat while we make small talk with a few other people. By the time we finish, I'm feeling much more relaxed.

"Want another drink?" Beth asks.

"Yeah, I'll take a glass of red this time," I say.

"You got it," she smiles.

We make our way back to the bar and Beth orders our drinks. We stand by the bar, sipping our wine and watching the crowd. Shane finds us again, and we make small talk with him.

"Oh, that's him," Shane says, looking at someone behind us. "He's coming this way."

"Who's who?" Beth asks, turning around.

"The guest of honor," Shane replies in a whisper before raising his voice to normal. "Mr. Bradshaw, hi!"