"Stay put." His direct, piercing eye contact and gravelly tone made it very clear that this was a command and not a request. A first order masochist, I sat back down on my hard chair and embraced the stinging burn, while I waited for him to shake hands and dismiss people at the door. I tilted my head down and closed my eyes as the room grew silent. The door clicked shut and the soft swoosh of the descending window blinds...

I was taking quick peaks over my shoulders in each direction outside my cubicle walls between feverish strokes of makeup that I hadn't had time to apply before I left my apartment this morning. Another late night had left me short on sleep and thus short on time. Once I realized I'd turned off my alarm in a half-asleep still-buzzed daze, it was a mad dash to spray my wild wavy locks with dry shampoo and run fingers throug...