Jennin

ars had dropped. Before I could find my voice, my phone buzzed on the couch,

risis was an annoying delay to his dinner plans. I took a deep, shaky b

ed, putting the

with a forced, professional sympathy.

d. I already knew

e backup model. It's a three-million-dollar

n't just money. It was the culmination of a de

yself say, my voice eerily calm.

Chase. The last fragile light of

d, stating the fact as if it

reaction wasn't comfort. It was a fro

"The three-million-dollar one." I said the number again, wanting

ost see the gears turning in his head, calculating. I waited, p

out a short, d

contract?" His tone was laced with co

m, incredulous. "Chase, that was everything t

"*I'm* everything to you, not some job. You're about to b

e of my identity, my ambition, my worth. He wasn't

ands are ruined, my career is over, and it doe

ment. "What else is there? Karis is so torn up over your little 'accident'

ris. Her feelings were real, impor

cture, Clare," he said, his vo

th a rage I didn't know I possessed. "Am I even in your

window, running a hand through his perfect hair, agitated

xpression shifting as if he'd just

softening into one of magnanimous, conde

, my bod

is lips. "As compensation, you c

od ran

catching himself before he said the word I knew was on his min

orative position to keep me quiet and dependent. He was taking my life's

d in my mouth and realized I was

d, as if that was the only thi