Page 74 of She Haunts Me Still

She doesn’t want to stop noticing.

Mallory dares to move even closer.

“To being afraid,” she echoes, tightening her grip on Saskia’s hand, “and doing it anyway.”

Mallory gathers her bag, casting one last look into the mirror. And for the first time in days, she doesn’t worry about what might be staring back.

18

Pierce Development Group’s headquarters is in a high-rise building overlooking Providence River, a thirty-minute drive from Shore’s campus. Mallory had spent the car ride trying to hold on to her courage, hoping they could find what they came for without running into Ezra’s father. They review their plan in whispers as Saskia parks in a garage, then hurry up the leaf-covered sidewalk in the chilly morning fog.

The building’s lobby is drenched in cool marble, punctuated with glittering chandeliers and mirrored walls. As they dart toward the elevator bank, Mallory eyes her reflection, taking in her paler-than-normal skin, the darkened shadows under her eyes. Inside, her stomach feels nauseatingly empty, despite the bagel she wolfed down in Saskia’s car.

Shoving the feelings aside, Mallory scans the directory. “Nineteen A,” she reads. “Of course. The penthouse.”

At the top floor, the doors open into another lobby, this one decorated in sleek black. A pair of leather sofas sit in the center of the eerily quiet open space, peppered on either side with lush potted plants. On the far end is a reception desk brandishing an engraved cursiveP,and at the computer is a young man in a dark suit and red tie. His blond hair iscombed neatly at the sides, and he eyes them as they approach.

“Hi,” Mallory says. Her voice echoes in the sterile air. “We wanted to see if you have any internship opportunities? We’re Shore College students, if that makes a difference.”

At the mention of Shore, the man brightens. “Pierce Development is always happy to provide opportunities to the SC community,” he says, tugging open a drawer. He produces two clipboards, sliding them across the desk. “You can have a seat and fill these out. It might be a couple of weeks before you hear back, as our CEO likes to look over all applications himself.”

Mallory skirts a glance to Saskia. “Would that be Victor Pierce?”

The man lifts his eyebrows. “You’ve done your research. He’ll be happy to hear that. Mr. Pierce makes a point of getting to know everyone who works at his company.”

“Is he here today, by any chance?” Saskia adds a grin. “We’ve just heard such incredible things about him.”

“I believe he’s tied up in meetings this morning,” the blond man says, and Mallory’s shoulders soften.Good,she nearly says aloud.

“What’s it like?” she asks instead. “Working for him?”

The man smiles, but his expression is unsettling. Too serene. Far-off and hazy. “It’s changed my life.”

Mallory forces herself to smile back and takes the clipboard. “Then I guess we’d better fill these out.”

Saskia is at her heels as they cross to the sofa to fill out the paperwork. The couch could hold three people, but Saskia sits close enough that their shoulders brush, her elbow grazing Mallory’s thigh with every scratch of her pen.Mallory dents her lip with her teeth. Neither one of them moves away.

“Remember—don’t write your real name,” Saskia suddenly hisses, and Mallory freezes.

“Shit. I already did.”

“Mal. Go ask for a new one.”

“We’ve been here too long.” Mallory eyes the receptionist. “I’ll just say I changed my mind before we leave and ask for the application back.”

“That’s too risky. What if—?”

“Come on, we’re losing time.” Mallory finishes the form with a flourished signature and stands up fast—

Too fast. A wave of unexpected dizziness hits, and she inhales sharply, steadying herself before marching across the room to return the clipboard.

“Thanks so much,” she says.

Saskia hands her own clipboard back before asking, “Is there a bathroom we could use?” She smiles, just like they rehearsed. “Our cycles are synced. Can you believe thatactuallyhappens?”

The man blinks at her before understanding flickers across his face, cheeks turning pink. “Of course.” He points behind them. “Take this hall and turn left. Can’t miss it.”

“Thank you,” they say in tandem.