e door gently and leaned against it as if she were shielding herself from the world outside. Her mothe

lone twenty-pound note lay on the floor beside her as if accusing her. The memory of the champagne avalanched behind

didn't know was flashing on the screen. Telemarketer. Debt collec

same number. Again. P

her gut. She swiped the button to answer and

e was saying wasn't a question. It was an identification.

d to slush. She

nger. This was not angry. This was fact. "A vehicle wil

he word was

for gross negligence and intentional tort of proper

y will sue her. They will take what little she has. They will take t

of her stained uniform in the dark. She put on jeans and a loose sweater. She wrote a quick note, telling her mother she had to run out to cove

e was standing on the wet

eets we

ins were

d to a stop on time

d the re

pa

nd was cutt

r voice, rough as gravel. The

go

with a soft, e

ng sharp and citrus. The privacy

h. Someone was taking her away, against

't go to

ndered arou

wers of lig

the city, where the white-stone

harsh, modern structure,

entified the build

r opened

suite. You'

ngle, assessing glance that took in her scuffed trainers and made his lips thin, but he said not

lls was a ghost: pale, wide-ey

t, it felt like a museum. A wall of glass looked out over the endless sparkle of the city. There were no ph

had changed into a dark grey sweater and trousers. He look

said, with

perching on the very ed

o the desk, took a single sheet of paper, and set it on the short table on the other side of her. Then he

ad

irst words blurred, then snapp

ITY AND SERV

night for all public and private functions as may be required. This includes, but is not limited to, attendance at social

hieving the Term, the sum of £250,

the fulfillment of the Services is permissible. All terms of this agreement must be adhered to. Breach wil

a million pounds. It would pay off the debt. It woul

as i

joke," sh

is n

y me... to be y

have been... inconvenient. Your little performance tonight, witnessed by half the city's influencers, has made the n

like items on a spreadshee

say no? Yo

and a custom Thomas Mason shirt, valued at approximately twelve

rope thrown to a drowning woman.

uld hire an act

id, his eyes cold and knowing, "seek survival. You will

d was a lash.

s transaction, Miss Carter. You are a temporary solution to a public relations pr

0 seemed to pulse on the page. She saw her mother's tired smile. She h

alley forever, clutchi

ame, was hollow. "Wh

ll take you home. You will be contacted tomorrow with instruc

cold metal. She hovered it over the signature line. The

es at the gala. The p

ed something els

looked small and strange

d gave a single, slow nod. "The car is waiting.

nto a before and an after. She walked back to the elevator

rehead to the cool window. She had sold the next three months of her li

her curb. She got

Her mother was sleeping inside, unaware that h

l now had he