"Well, you shouldn't have," she snapped. "My internship may be a joke to you, but I care about it. I can't just leave the office whenever you ask."

Sean gave her a long, calm look.

​​

"Well?" she asked, feeling the heat of anger rise in her blood.

"Now that you're here, why don't we take an early lunch," he suggested.

"Are you serious?" she hissed.

"I am," he said. "And you ate so little at breakfast—you must be hungry."

She took a deep breath and said, "Fine, but after lunch, I want to go back to work."

"What do you want to eat?" he asked, looping an arm around her waist.

"Let's just go to the restaurant in the building," she answered. "It'll be faster."

"Alright," he nodded, leading her out of his office.

Outside the elevator, Drew waited for them, "Mr. Sean," he said. "The car is waiting to take you to lunch with the CEO of—"

"Tell him that something came up, and I won't be able to meet him after all," Sean interrupted.

"But he's flying to Tokyo this afternoon and—" Drew said.

"I don't care," Sean snapped. "I'm busy."

The small restaurant was located in the middle of the building. A large case of sandwiches sat ready for busy employees to take on the go. A few office workers sat at the tables and nibbled on sandwiches and pasta, but the restaurant was mostly empty—it was still early for lunch.

She ordered a cucumber and cress sandwich at the counter and took it to the table. Sean followed behind, carrying a club sandwich and two glasses of water. She ate quickly, but Sean seemed determined to take his time. Though she wanted to be mad, she felt her anger slowly melting away.

"You know," he said. "I've never eaten here before, but it's not all that bad."

She rolled her eyes, "Let me guess, you usually have your lunches catered from Michelin starred restaurants."

"Usually," he admitted.

"Well, welcome to the life of the common people," she teased.

He laughed, "Are you claiming to represent the common people?"

"More common than you," she laughed.

"There's nothing common about you at all," he said, his eyes suddenly intense.

She blushed and took a sip of water. He finished his sandwich and stood, offering her his hand. Without thinking, she took it. His large fingers closed around hers, and she felt strangely content.

"I'll drive you back to work," he said. "I just have to go up to my office to get those papers for Andy."

"Alright," she said.

He led her out of the restaurant, up to the top floor, and into his office. Drew waited for them by the elevator.

"I've been trying to get ahold of you, sir," he said.

"I was busy," Sean snapped. "What is it?"

Drew looked nervously at Catherine and then leaned in and whispered something in Sean's ear. Sean's face immediately darkened.

"Wait in my office, Honey," he said. "I have to deal with something."

"But I need to get back to work," she said.

"It won't take long," he snapped.

Without another word, he rushed away with Drew, leaving her alone in his large office. She stared out the window—everything below looked small—like a toy. She watched as cabs, cars, and red buses drove past and looked at the people the size of ants. After several minutes she grew bored and checked her watch. She crossed the room and opened the office doors, but there was no sign of Sean. With a sigh, she went back into the office and sat at his desk.

Without thinking, she picked up a pen and tore a page from his notepad. She started to sketch a woman. As she drew, inspiration seized her. Her hand flew over the page as she sketched a skirt and shirt and then a breezy fall coat. She shaded the items carefully, trying to add texture and pattern with each stroke. Immersed in the drawing, she almost didn't notice her phone buzzing in her purse.

Slowly, she lifted her head, grabbed her purse, and checked the phone. She had three missed calls from Sophia. As she looked, the phone began to buzz again.

"Hey, Soph," she answered. "What's up?"

A series of choked sobs came from the other end of the line.

"What's going on?" she asked. "Sophia, are you okay?"

"H-he killed her," Sophia sobbed.

Catherine's blood ran cold, "Your mom?"

"Yes," Sophia said. "She's—I—she fell and then—"

"Where are you?" Catherine asked. "Are you safe?"

From the other end of the phone came a loud banging sound and then muffled shouts.

"Sophia, where are you?" Catherine shouted.

"I'm at home," Sophia said. "In the bathroom."

"Keep the door locked," she said. "I'm on the way."

She sprinted out of Sean's office and jammed her finger into the elevator call button until the doors finally slid open. At the curb, she flagged a waiting cab and threw herself into the backseat. She quickly gave the address to the driver and called the police on her phone.

A calm operator asked her to describe the situation and the location. She tried to keep her voice as cool and even as the man's, but the words seemed to get stuck in her throat. As soon as the operator promised to send officers to the scene, she called Geoffrey and repeated the address.

"Can't you drive any faster?" she asked the driver.

"I'm going the speed limit, miss," he said.

She reached into her purse and grabbed a wad of bills from her wallet, and thrust them through the plastic divider.

"It's an emergency," she said. "Drive faster!"

The cab finally pulled up outside Sophia's building, and Catherine stepped out.

The building had once been a grand brownstone, but it had been split into apartments years ago. Paint peeled from the front door, and the gate hung crooked on its hinge.

She took a deep breath, opened the creaky gate, and climbed the cracked concrete stairs two at a time. She jammed the buzzer for the apartment, but no one answered.

Panicked, she jammed the other buttons, hoping someone was home to open the door. Finally, the intercom speaker crackled.

"Hello?" an elderly female voice asked.

"Hello," Catherine shouted. "Please let me in. My friend Sophia and her mother Linda are hurt."

"What? Are you the police?" the woman asked.

"Please, let me in," Catherine wailed.