The morning sun peeked through the dorm window, casting soft golden lines across Liana's comforter. She stood in front of the mirror, smoothing down the lapels of her blazer, her stomach in tight knots. Today wasn't just any day-it was her chance to prove something. To herself. To the world.
To Grayson.
Even though she hadn't said a word to her brother.
N.W. Legal Group. Not Hayes & Co., her family's own high-powered law firm. Not a cozy publishing house. But N.W. Legal, a firm with a reputation for cutthroat litigation, a massive corporate client list, and the kind of editorial team that put out bulletproof legal documents with military precision.
She knew what people would think-why not take the easy way in? Use the Hayes name. Let her brother open a few doors.
But that was the point.
She wanted to earn this on her own. Without the shadow of old money or the weight of Grayson's last name dragging behind her. She'd only told Leona, Raye, and Talia. They got it. They didn't push.
Liana exhaled slowly and slipped on a pair of classic black heels.
"Ready to destroy the legal world?" Raye asked, lounging on her bed with a cup of coffee and dramatic eyeliner.
"More like be destroyed," Liana muttered, but smiled all the same.
"Don't forget," Leona said gently, stepping over to adjust her collar. "You're brilliant. Let them see that."
Talia gave her a mock salute. "Go make them cry. Or at least confuse them with complex grammar rules."
---
N.W. Legal Group's Headquarters sat in a towering glass building on the edge of the city's financial district. All clean angles, sleek steel, and elegant branding. The logo on the front desk gleamed in brushed silver-N.W. Legal-minimalist, commanding, and cold.
Liana stepped into the marble-floored lobby, the echo of her heels lost in the murmured buzz of conversation and the soft clicking of keyboards. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the skyline. The air smelled like leather, expensive cologne, and fresh coffee.
She checked in with reception and was directed to the 21st floor. The elevator ride felt eternal.
When she stepped out, a dozen other candidates were already waiting-confident, polished, laughing as if they weren't here to compete. Liana folded her hands in her lap, her resume clutched too tightly.
Then someone emerged from the interview room. A guy in a tailored suit... red-eyed, sniffling, clearly trying not to cry.
Liana's heart plummeted.
What am I even doing here?
But she didn't leave. She stayed rooted in place, even as doubt whispered cruelly in her ear.
Eventually, the receptionist called out, "Liana Hayes?"
She rose on trembling legs.
---
The interview room was a sleek, glass-walled conference space. A long table, minimalist décor, and three sharp-eyed professionals across from her: an HR rep, a senior editor, and someone from legal strategy.
They asked about her background, her editing experience, and how she handled deadlines.
She stumbled on the first question, her voice barely above a whisper. But when they asked her about her experience editing complex legal contracts and articles, something shifted. Her words came steadier, her sentences clearer. She knew this. She loved this.
It wasn't perfect. But it wasn't a disaster either.
They nodded politely. Took notes.
And then it was over.
---
Back in the dorm, Liana tossed off her heels the moment she walked in. "I survived."
All three girls sprang up from their spots on the floor.
"You did it!" Leona beamed.
"How was it?" Talia asked.
"Did you cry?" Raye asked. "Please tell me you didn't cry."
"I didn't cry," Liana said, smiling despite herself. "But someone else did. Before me. Not a confidence booster."
"You didn't cry, and you answered questions?" Raye said. "That's a win."
"Major win," Leona agreed. "And you know what that means."
Liana narrowed her eyes. "What?"
"Club night," Talia said.
"What? No-guys, I have an emotional hangover. I need soup and a nap."
"Too late," Raye said, already rummaging through the closet. "You're wearing the sparkly top. It's destiny."
---
By midnight, they were back in the dorm-slightly tipsy, shoes in hand, laughter still echoing.
Liana changed into her soft pajamas, her face still warm from dancing and mocktail shots.
She sat at her desk, absently opening her drawer.
There, nestled between pens and sticky notes, was a tiny rubber duck.
Bright yellow. A little faded. The kind of thing that had no business being on a college desk.
She picked it up and smiled.
Grayson had given it to her when she was five and afraid of the dark. "This deer",he'd told her with all the solemnity of a twelve-year-old, "is a fear-fighting warrior. It'll protect you while you sleep."
It never worked. But she kept it anyway.
She held it in her hand for a moment longer, then tucked it back into the drawer.
Liana climbed into bed, heart a little lighter, eyes already drifting shut.
Whatever happened next... she'd faced something scary today. And she hadn't run.
P.S Did u know male deer (bucks) sometimes get their antlers stuck in things-like hammocks, swings, or even Christmas lights-because they're not exactly the most graceful creatures when it comes to navigating backyard décor. They strut around like woodland royalty, but they can be total goofballs in suburban settings!
Xoxo hope you love my story
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Where Quite Ends
Любовные романы"coz she is clam ... until he pulls chaos in her life ." He wanted revenge. She just wanted to be invisible. Liana Hayes has always lived in the shadows-quiet, bookish, and overlooked in a family of legal titans. As a legal editor, she prefers her s...
