our, her wet clothes clinging to her body like a second, colder skin. Her mind was a whirlwind of Raka's mocking face and the little girl's bright yellow raincoat.

" she hissed throu

he had ever encountered. She sat on a plastic orange chair in the corner, clutching her paint box. She didn't have much money-j

d, her phone vibrated in her p

how expensive the world is. I've already told the maids to pack you

d by a cold, hard knot in her chest. She deleted the message and blocked his number. He thought he

d out of a restless sleep. In her dreams, she was painting a massive canvas, but

joints ached. She used the sink in the laundromat's tiny bathroom to splash her face and try to tame her hair. She looked pale, her eyes s

arettes and damp wood. She spent her hours at a public library, scouring the internet for work-any work. But Raka hadn't been lying about

ock again, but this time it didn't u

sign, when she saw a familiar black limousine parked at the curb. A crowd ha

eaming at the top of her lungs. Her nanny, an older woman who looke

her is in a very important m

lady! You said we would find her

top this

it was a deep navy, and his face was a mask of pure, unadulterated frustration. He looked like a man who

Adrian c

o! You're mean! You were mean

man was a jerk, and this wasn't her problem. But then she saw Mika's face

p herself, Liana pus

ik

, her eyes puffy and wet. A huge, toothy grin b

nocking her over. Liana instinctively reached down and hugged

her from her worn-out sneakers to her tired face. He look

his voice drop

er has a very loud voice. You might want to listen to wh

to faint. Adrian's eyes narrowed, his jaw set so tight Liana thought it might crack. He stepped clos

daughter better than I do?" he aske

Liana said, her heart hammering against her ribs, but her voice remaining

looked back at Liana, his expression shifting from anger to a strange, brooding calculation. He saw the s

Adrian said, turni

nywhere with you

eat properly for three days because she's been 'looking' for you. My house is in chaos. I don't have time for a de

right, but hearing it o

this morning-she couldn't handle the stress. You seem to be the only person this child responds to. Com

n she looked at Adrian. He wasn't offering a hand up; he was offering a transact

"But I'm not a nan

mer for all I care," Adrian said, open

like a lifeline, while Adrian stared out the window, his phone glued to his hand as he fired off emails

n clearer. The walls were glass, overlooking the entire city. Everything was

to take Mika to the playroom. Mika didn't want to go, but Liana whisp

drian leaned back, his

don't care. But my daughter has developed a fixated attachment to you.

she didn't let it show. "And you th

You are responsible for Mika's schedule, her well-being, and most importantly, her

the catch?"

onal drama. And do not-under any circumstances-think that this makes you a part of my life. You are an employee.

solved everything. She wanted to throw his offer in his face. But then

rebuild. If she had to deal with a huma

studio," L

blinked

re I can paint. And I want two hours a day of unint

pecially not people who didn't have a penny to their name. A small, almost imperceptible smir

hours. Don't make m

y will," Lia

sliding a thick cont

way again. But this time, it felt different. With Raka, she had bee

ingers briefly brushing hers. His skin was warm, a startling con

to get your things. Be at the house by

ate people who think they're the center of the univers

spond. As she left the office, she could fee

was just trying to keep her head above water. But as she saw Mika waiting by the elevator,

gerous thing, but

ode in the back of the luxury car toward the Dirgantara estate-a massive fortress of stone

ice of yours? It's going to melt. And I'm go

e mouth of a giant beast. Liana took a deep br