o

dy felt. A deep, bone-chilling

a thin cashmere throw the only thing covering her shivering body. The

est. The ache in her muscles, the rawness in

m. The massive bed was perfe

n front of her sat a single

ng hand, picking up the note. The

transaction

that could pay off her student loans, could save her apartment. But the price was her d

gh escaped her lips. It

. And again. She threw the confetti into

pulled it on, not caring that it was inside out. She didn't look back as

, people shouting, the smell of exhaust and stale coffee. Nobody l

e door. She didn't stop there. She ran to the bathro

ed her arms, her neck, her lips, until her skin was raw and bleeding. She couldn't feel his hands anym

unter, the shrill ringtone

her shivering body. She looked at the screen. Me

trying to force the hoarse

p whip through the speaker. "I've been calling since last night.

al emergency." Cassidy gripped the edge

t by a bus. Get to the offic

dark circles under her eyes looked l

rent that went up every year, and a career that was the only thing ke

trength concealer, thankful for the high collar of her blouse. She put

conference room, her face red. The whiteboard was c

harity Gala. Every major investor in the city will be there. You are going to get me a meet

room full of billionaires. The exac

t-" she

nth?" Meredith cut her off, he

wed hard. She

ing every contact, until finally, a client who had a last-

was remotely appropriate-a simple black slip that she had bought on sale.

ke, professional smile that didn't reach her eyes. S

Someone bumped into her from behind, and she flinched, her throat closing up. The memory

of the door, counting the seconds until the next

and couture. Cassidy kept her head down, sl

ins, the murmur of the elite. Cassidy felt like an imposter. She grabbed a fl

e room for a friendly f

rned to ice

Taylor. He looked immaculate in a tailored tuxedo, his dark hair swept back,

looking r