Page 49 of The Owner's Temptation

Mila gasps, her perfectly manicured hands flying to her mouth. She turns, wide-eyed, as the other girls clap politely.

“Your sponsor was impressed with your poise, your warmth, and the way you handled difficult questions with a smile.” Eve hands her the folder. “You’ll be meeting with him shortly.”

Hm, I thought the top girl got to pick her sponsor. I wonder why it was switched up.

Mila beams and glides out of the room with a confidence I can’t muster.

I swallow around the lump in my throat, trying not to feel the sharp pinch of disappointment. I didn’t think I’d be the top girl, but… hearing someone else’s name stings more than I expected.

Eve continues down the list, calling name after name.

“Bianca Monty.”

“Nicole Parks.”

“Addison Voss.”

Each girl receives her folder and exits the room with a mix of nerves and excitement, disappearing into whatever future they’ve just been handed. Their heels tap against the floor. Their giggles and relieved laughter linger in the air.

And I sit. Smile glued in place. Palms sweaty. Heart pounding.

It’s fine. Totally fine. I probably just wasn’t in the top half. Maybe I’m later on the list. Maybe she’s going alphabetically in reverse and I’m just low down on the order.

Another name. Another girl leaves.

One by one, the seats around me empty.

It’s not fine.

It’s getting harder to breathe.

My fingers twitch against my thighs. My vision flicks to the clock.

9:53.

Eve calls another name. Another girl squeals, hugging her seat mate before grabbing her folder and leaving.

I smile with her. Nod. Pretend I’m not dying inside.

My legs bounce now. I can’t stop them. I pinch my thumb and index finger together, a grounding trick I saw on TikTok.

It doesn’t work.

“Clara Jennings.”

Clara leaves.

Then there were two.

And then just me.

The room is silent now. The buzz is gone. All the laughter, the chatter, the electricity—it left with the others.

Eve doesn’t say anything at first. She just stands at the front of the room and clasps her hands together. Because she is all out of folders.

Her gaze lifts and lands on me.

My stomach plummets when she gives me a sympathetic smile.

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