Lily's point of view

I gazed at the invitation on my desk as if it were a ticking time bomb. The words "Grayson Logistics Private Executive Dinner: A Night to Celebrate Success" were constructed to represent exclusivity, and the glossy cardboard glittered under the fluorescent lights. The CEO's signature, accompanied by a flourish of gold ink at the bottom, made it obvious that I couldn't skip this.

"Why is the face looking so down?" I was surprised by Sarah's voice. Her keen eyes darted between the invitation and me as she leaned over the cubicle wall.

I put it in my drawer and remarked, "Mandatory networking. There's nothing to it."...