Summary

Chapter 1 begins with our narrator, Lucy Hutton, telling us about her theory that love and hate are “mirror versions of the same game” (1). Lucy is the executive assistant for Helene Pascal, the co-CEO of the publishing house Bexley and Gamin. Originally, Bexley and Gamin had been separate houses, but they had combined when the economy went under. Bexley was a large, corporate house, while Gamin was small and independent. They merged and moved into a new building. Helene and Mr. Bexley installed themselves in the offices on top floor, with their two executive assistants outside in the lobby alone. Lucy sat across from Joshua Templeman, Mr. Bexley’s assistant, who she hated. They played a mirror game, matching one another’s movements. They bickered a bit, and threatened to report one another to HR. They had each received two warnings already. Lucy left...