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groaned at him and he laughed.
    "Go to bed," he said sternly. "Get some sleep tonight. We have a date tomorrow."
    " If my interview is a success," I joked, teasing him. "That was your offer, remember?"
    His sexy grin was still there. "Yeah, I remember, but I don't have any doubts. You’re a warrior. You're gonna kill it."
    "You think I'm a warrior now, wait until you see me tomorrow night if you're really making me wait," I replied through a very wicked smile.
    Justin stepped toward the cab and grabbed the door handle. "I'm almost scared," he said. "That makes it even more interesting." He opened the door. "Get to bed."
    I waved as he got in.

CHAPTER II
     
    P anther's office is right on Whitehall Street half a block away from the R line subway exit. It almost could not be more convenient since I was staying in lower Manhattan, at least temporarily. Like a lot of the buildings in New York, outside it was very unassuming, thirty floors of off white cement and rows of windows. Even the company name was a mere blip on the building directory.
    Inside, it was a bit different, I could tell right from their reception. Their company sign is a four foot hologram of a panther, pacing back and forth with its eyes fixed on you. The name and logo are carved into the side of the animal. It's damn impressive, and intimidating, as I imagine they wanted it to be. I didn't know yet how many employees the company has, but they certainly have money. Behind the receptionist there is a set of glass doors securing reception from the rest of the office. To get through the doors it takes passing a retina scan, and when they brought me in, I realized the glass doors were about three inches thick.
    They were not fucking around.
    A tall, exotic, infuriatingly beautiful black woman was waiting for me and my security escort. Lena Croft nodded my escort away politely and then quickly sized me up, not hiding in any way that she was doing it. I was wearing a black Max Mara wool skirt and cashmere jacket, and black B. Brian Atwood pumps. It is my single knock'em dead outfit that I save for the big interviews. I felt incredible in it all day—until just now. In one fail swoop, Lena Croft had outdone me.
    "Charity Powers, I'm Lena Croft. Come in," she said, extending her hand.
    I stepped into her office and shook her hand. "Hello," I said. "Thank you for meeting with me."
    "Anything for Justin," she says with a smile.
    Now I'm wondering if she had slept with him too. Thank God I was not going for a relationship with him. It would be too easy to go insane with jealousy. I'm already suspecting every woman that knows him.
    "Have a seat," Lena said as she hit a switch on the wall that made the door close. She hit another and the glass wall of her office turned dark gray and we suddenly had privacy. "There's some forms on the edge of my desk that you will need to fill out. Do you have a copy of your resume with you?"
    Of course I did, and I handed it to her.
    "Great, I'd like to go over this while you do the paperwork, if that's okay? It'll make it easier to discuss your fit if I have some background."
    "That works fine," I replied as I grabbed the tablet and papers.
    Most of the forms just needed a signature, background check acknowledgment and things like that. Their application took a bit longer, and Lena was finished with my resume and patiently waiting for me.
    We talked for a little bit about my skills and experience, about Panther Inc. and what the position entailed. Lena confided very early on that she liked me for the job. It was going easier than I had expected, maybe easier than it should be, but I am not about to say so and blow it.
    "I like that you're available now," she said. "We've been trying to fill the position for a month, and the temp doing the job, well, she's not doing the job. Let's take a walk."
    We took a little tour of the office that took us to meet John Fillmore, the Director of Sales and Marketing that the position was for. I thought