On my way to his office, I caught my reflection in the hallway mirror and stopped short.

Oh, hold up, did you think I went there with smudged mascara and puffy eyes?

Hell no.

I might have cried, but I refuse to look broken. Not for him. Not for anyone.

I retouched my makeup, fixed my lipstick, and straightened my blouse until I looked every inch the confident woman I wanted him to see. My hands were shaking a little, sure, but that was between me and my heart. Alexander Bells would never see ...