As I stood outside the boardroom, an overwhelming rush came over me. What was I doing here? How could I ever think, as an older, pregnant, single woman, that I could try to enter the world of Corporate America after all of these years, and without any kind of experience? And why did I choose New York to enter this life, instead of gradually moving up from the small hometown I had loved? My sink or swim attitude had done this to me. I had to stand beside my choices. I had done my best to prepare, but the days leading up to this meeting were not forgiving enough for me to learn an entirely new career. I had to go with what I had, and that was unnerving.

Could I throw them off of my lack of experience by dressing and acting the part? It was worth a shot, right? I had spent the last few days looking for the perfect outfit and accessories for this meeting. I wasn’t sure that I had gotten it right. Just then, I caught my reflection in the window beside me. I had to admit that I did dress the part. I could pass as a businesswoman. I stood there wearing a navy-blue hand-me-down Chanel suit from my sister. The tailoring of the suit made it fit me in a way that made me think the seamstress had a vision of my curves when designing it. Even my sister couldn’t deny having to part with it after seeing me try it on. I had paired the outfit with my classic nude pumps, which I consider my “Power Shoes,” giving me a few more inches and making me feel more powerful. All in all, my appearance was the one thing I was confident about. Time had been pretty good to me, and my looks.

The large door to my fate was right in front of me. The hallway was freezing, and it was not helping me to call down as I tried to get all of the butterflies out of my stomach. It was pure torture. What were these people going to say when they find out that the only experience on my resume was working as a waitress for my father at the family restaurant? Over the years waiting tables, I had spent countless hours daydreaming about what it would be like to be a businesswoman working in an office. Here I was, at the beginning of the road in my daydream, and I was terrified.

I thought about the comfort of the restaurant, and how I had stayed to help with the family business, because it was safe and comfortable… and what I knew best. I was far from my hometown of Muleshoe, Texas, and the culture of the big city was extremely overwhelming. After all of the years of staying in my hometown, I thought about how I had stayed because I knew deep down that my father enjoyed spending our work days together, as did I. I always wanted to be there for him, but I had never imagined what it would be like when he wasn’t there for me. Now here I was, alone, trying to find the career I was determined to have.

These executives are going to eat me alive. I had to get my shit together. I had no choice, but to go through with this interview and hope for the best. With Dad’s passing, and the selling of his business, this was my chance, my chance to make something of myself. It was the chance to stop wondering, and just do it. It all had to start somewhere, and it was going to start with this meeting, in this boardroom.

The chill from the eighth-floor air conditioning vent blew heavily on my neck, offering a feeling of relief as my sweat started to dry. I had to go in. I looked at my watch, 9 o’clock on the dot. They would be expecting me. I tugged my jacket down to relieve the garment of any slightly wrinkles, and grabbed the door handle. I’ve got this, I thought. It’s now or never.

Entering the room, which was even colder than the hallway, I gazed around, not prepared for what was in-store. Around the table sat a handful of people, all younger than me, and definitely dressed better than me. The gaze of their eyes on me as I stood there, had me wonder if they could see the fear in my face. It was hard to imagine them as executives, as some of them could have been young enough to be a kid of mine, in another life. What had I gotten myself into? The ridicule I was preparing myself to accept was keeping me from being completely aware of my surroundings.

It was then that I saw a dark figure in the corner of the room, looking out the window, with his hands in his pockets. It was difficult to see the details of his features, as he stood in the shadow. His stature said it all though. He stood much taller than the average man: and he stood proud. He gazed out on the city, and even with his back to the group, he gave off the feeling of having power over everyone in his presence. As he heard the door close behind me, he turned, and I realized… it was him. It was Gavin.