re and

hings the night

ation is loud

n't make offers unless the

stal chandeliers, champagne that cost more than my monthly r

owned. I smoothed my hands down my sides, steadying my breath as I scanned the room full of pow

re for o

ne

iend Maya whis

ke you're ab

t," I m

lled h

t. You ne

asn't

ent didn't care about dignity. And my mot

t pay for

, forcin

dn't expec

on him before Ma

mi

. Tall. Broad-shouldered. Dressed in a dark tailored suit that fit him like it had been

n't sm

him never

es scanning the room like he was evaluating assets, not peo

iosity in his ey

recog

been exp

y first, my

im," Maya

ivate. Rumor says he contr

art made my

t want.." I stopped myself.

se he

ed us. Neat suit. Polite smil

ss

oat we

es

n would li

ueezed

e got

't sur

proached, dismissing someone with a single look. Up close, he was even more intimidating, d

," he sai

steppe

ed me in sil

r his gaze, like every secret f

than I expected,

ver ei

kno

witched, n

speaking to y

ave comforted

d money," he continued. "

ed into the fab

es

oo

his drink, eyes n

ding my offers are anythin

I asked, surprised m

ontr

the gla

creet. Generous

art p

r w

Your presence. Y

eath

ounds l

clearly defined boundaries. You agree t

t. Men like him didn't

f I sa

darkened

our life continues exactly as it wa

y as i

ng their heads. Fear sitting h

allo

ong?"

mon

after

're

r

like it was just another business deal. Who lo

get out of

ble passed throug

e said. "A

tretched

have wa

aid, "What a

gaze sh

the momen

st stepped

pped into

never let g

ile when I asked

have been

ut a slim black folder, setting it between us li

m," he said. "No

. My name was printed on the

prepared this

es

f I a

h

ent down

really hav

y. "You always do. But don't

alm he was. H

didn't carry the weig

if I break a r

d onto mine, d

e reneg

esn't so

greed. "It

was worse

ing me, not yet but close e

f this makes you we

iffe

n't sa

"You're wrong, by the way. Weak people do

st tig

does that

fly to my lips before

ides who sinks a

m felt

myself to

like you o

orrected. "People choose w

ed away. Every par

I asked,

rst time,

"you're not pretending this

made my chest twist. No

ere

to be contro

ession h

don't

ill not embarrass me. You will not lie to me. And y

e it

ca

words and expe

allo

I get, beside

darkened

n. Stabili

d before I cou

settled over

"That would com

into my hands. His fingers brushed mine

ntil midnig

hat... I