a

dge of the folder, a faint tremor she couldn't stop. Her mouth was dry, c

t her. Residence to be de

again,"

idn't move.

of

d glass. Same cedar scent that now felt less like luxury and

ployer approval. All appearances c

ly by the employer's team. Wardrobe, statem

ess contact reported

e with security protocols is mandatory.

b," Nia said. "T

otective a

lled with be

sts because someone, at some point, created a problem tha

stake waitin

iable he inte

on the seat between th

use

counsel. I want to talk

, then reached for her phone. "Mr

stopped beside an elevator with no buttons. A man waited there-tall,

ing a hand. "I handle Mr

ake it. "You

Mr. Hayes dict

know it'

d, almost a smile. "I

d into a conference room with floor-to-ceiling windows and a table long

d. "Residence. What do

live where securi

an apa

as an eviction no

imb her throat. "You

Mason sat, calm as still wa

where I'm

e contract across the tabl

n requires ninety days' written

f I want out, I have to ask pe

o follow th

it. That's a host

nt and a job that no longer covers your expenses. You are not in a positio

he hated him for saying it. She

up her bag.

ps toward the door be

he eviction, the back rent, and six months of living ex

and found the door

walk?" s

me way you came in. Broke

y. "You're not very goo

threat. It's

She hated that it al

the table and sat d

n wa

n. Ninety days becomes thirty. And I wa

a long moment, then no

on answered. A real an

sk

y m

ow, looked out at the city, and for the first time since

," he said. "Backgrounds, histories, ris

ach tighte

se Mr. Hayes was very spe

et. Nia's pulse t

an answer,

greed. "But i