ie

my pet, much less a total stranger. I didn't even realize I was

iately. I grabbed the card from the

I was changing

ns, turned off the lights, and locked the door

wasn't fa

f. "Tessa..." My voice was calm but abrupt. "What would you do if

don't see anything wrong with it. But if I don't, I'd probably

aled q

ho are we talking a

h-no one." I forced a chuckl

n't afford not seeing you at work. It'

, that's sweet. But Sea

y lovebirds? Always kissing and rubbing each other's b

sica were always together. S

. Jessica's not m

t of my house, I paused. "Do you think I'm good enou

about Sylvia. You're an amazing person. Don't change that. Ok

ssa. You're a g

ow, yeah? Don't run away, Ari!"

promise!" I

peared inside her apartme

dy asleep, a deep

ther she left before me or didn't come home at all, b

it down with orange juice. I picked up my phone to check on Lilith, but it

uiet my mind. At least I had a free morning before w

to the kitchen and found Tiffa

her from the side. "Ari, you're awake! Your

making

and everything." I sat down. She g

t?" I

ything," she s

God, T

erything. School.

things happened to me. "Nothi

f the gas, and faced me fully. "A

! I'll spill. But I

they're for Blake. He called th

as she talking about? "Who

ared at me. "He's sick, so I'm making

ake? Of course. "Oh.

een able to see him

e they saw Blake last ni

would they k

ar. Everyone

een in bed for days. We FaceTime tw

the argument. Tiffany wouldn't believe anyth

ill. Was i

wallowed. "Yeah.

tell me– the man

g briefly. "He's b

all accident? He looks rich

But he wants me to marry him for th

ths? Is he insane? What does tha

said I should marry him

money? Grandma's sick. She's in the hospital right now. I haven't gone

ndma. But I don't have much right now. I gave ev

r a look.

t you some money before

. She really needed to know the truth. Blake isn't al

that man, what's in it for you if you mar

ely there was something I could gain. "You're right," I mur

o a flask and placed it in a bag. "Whateve

iffany." I wat

. I arrived at exactly 12:55 p.m. The first person I saw was Miss Sylvia, h

aw you standing with him when I drove by." Her v

ied quickly. "He was in a hur

ssa attend to him. Do you understand?! And my nephew said you w

oss. It won't

s. I hurried to the back, put on my apron, and handled everything

y phone rang. Mrs. Lilith. I balanced the phone against my ear. "Hello, Mrs. Lilit

grandmother. I deposited what I had, but it's not en

fell from my hand and

t? Are you okay?" she a

d the shards. I didn't even notice Miss Sylvia walk in until I saw her

. The slap was sharp and hard. "How dare you! Look at

the call in the kitchen.

ates at me. I dodged what I could, but still got cut. Bloo

I reached for the handle, Tessa arrived. "Oh my G

t myself with a

me treat it

to go." I slipped

into. All I knew was that I was doomed

the floor until Tiffany returned. "Why

e it." I forced a smile. I

ide me. Then a knock came. "Are

No

ver her face. "Hey, Tiffany. Is Ariel

es

k you, Tessa. I d

he asked. Maybe she f

tter," I

eaving. Tiffany closed the door and turned to me. "I didn't eve

l. I cut mys

e lived together for years.

ch. "My boss hit me with a kni

hell? Syl

been that way.

et Vista Hotel. The pay is way bette

ny. I don't want to

den," she insisted

I smiled and

ords sent my mind spinning. I grabbed my bag and pulled out his card. Tif

I'm ready to accept his

all him. Hear him out. Make your own deal.

thin

thing to be scare

ked up my phone, dialed the number o

the line connected, and