Free My Tomorrow by Megan Nugen Isbell

good with pillars and turrets and draw bridges. “I was eight when I drew this.”
    “It’s cute,” I said, moving even closer, taking the paper from him and looking more closely at it. “Why are you showing me this?”
    “I keep this drawing so I can remind myself of how this all started.  I had a goal and I made that goal happen.  I know you have goals too and I’m showing it to you to show you that you can have anything you want as long as you want it badly enough.  Whatever you want tomorrow to bring, you can make it happen.  You choose your tomorrow, Natalie.” 
    The way he said the words, I knew he was serious and then he took the paper from my hands, putting it back into the folder and returning it to the desk. 
    “Well, hopefully someday I’ll get what I want in life,” I said, meeting his gaze and I thought I noticed his eyes moving over my body.  Perhaps I was imagining it, but I felt a heat in my own body when his eyes were on me.
    “You will.  I can already tell you’re a hard worker and I like a hard worker,” he said, taking a breath before continuing.  “That’s why I insisted Leslie hire you.”
    I was quiet for a moment, taking in the words he’d said. 
    “I didn’t know you had.  Thank you for taking a chance on me.”
    “No need to thank me,” he said, stepping closer to me so I caught a light hint of his cologne.  I loved the smell of men. I always had and whatever he was wearing was nice. “I’m a good judge of character and I liked you instantly, Natalie.”
    “Thank you.  I hope I don’t let you down.” 
    “I’m sure you won’t,” he said, sitting down behind his desk chair and gesturing for me to sit down in the chair across from him.  I sat down, crossing my legs and folding my hands in my lap as I waited nervously for him to speak. “How was your first day, Natalie?”
    “It was good, thank you.” I made sure my voice was steady and strong.  He couldn’t know how nervous I actually was.
    “Tell me about it,” he said, and I realized I was staring at him.  Court was right.  He was alarmingly attractive.  He looked like someone you’d see in a chic magazine spread with an equally beautiful woman, not sitting five feet from me.  I couldn’t recall ever seeing someone that looked like him in person. 
    “Court showed me all of your active accounts.” He just nodded, but was quiet and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “I never realized building things was so complicated,” I said, feeling as if I had to say something and saying the first thing that came to mind and instantly regretting it.  I sounded like an idiot, but I couldn’t take it back, so instead, I just smiled.
    “It is quite complicated, but it’s a beautiful thing,” he said, grinning back. “Hopefully you’ll be around long enough to gain the same appreciation I have for the business.”
    “I already have.”
    It was quiet again and Drew was looking at me inquisitively, as if he wanted to say something, but he didn’t.
    “I should probably get going,” I finally said and he nodded, almost as if my words had pulled him back from some deep thought he was lost in.
    “Yes, you should.  You’ve had a busy first day and it’s only going to get worse from here,” he said, his green eyes lighting up as he stood from the chair and I did the same.  I felt his hand on the small of my back, leading me out of his office and back to my miniscule desk.  I gathered my purse and I saw Drew take his coat from the coat rack, sliding it on. 
    “I’ll walk out with you,” he said, and I was surprised when he stepped in beside me.
    “That’s alright.  You don’t have to do that.”
    “It’s no big deal.  You’re leaving.  I’m leaving.  Why not walk out together?”
    “Okay,” I smiled and I was surprised to feel his hand on my back momentarily as he led me out.
    “Good night, Leslie,” Drew said as we passed her office.  She was busily working at her desk and