The sunlight reflected off tall skyscrapers, and the sound of honk

ay in bed for five more minutes. Bella tapped her fingers on the steering

it felt like it took a toll on her too. Her fingers were tired from another sl

rd work. Winning was not just wh

r cafés where college kids enjoyed pricey lattes. Her phone buzzed beside her, probably a sill

of her firm, the pounding in her head had lessened

l was one of the most respected firms on the East Coast. Getting in had once felt

oving the still-unopened letter deeper into

of interns practically bowed as she passed. Bella offered a small nod

the fifteenth floor

ly fifteen more seconds of pret

er arrival, and the doors slid open

er room that overlooked the thrum of the city. Everything about it, from the gl

wall caught the light: "Bella

Titles were easy. Wi

nt woman in her early thirties, looked

ell-oiled machine. "You have a client meeting at nine - the Ferris case

her bag onto the leath

sked, shrugging off her coat an

k. Everythin

th a soft sigh. The leather

the files for the Ferris me

typing quickly.

st a second, staring at the neat

Another mount

ath her chin, feeling the fam

some bat

-

the rhythm of her day when M

re," Monica

od, smoothing her ha

nheritance bigger than most lottery wins. Petty, ugly fights wrapped up in su

s, B

d inside. The two Ferris brothers sat stiffly on opposite sides of the lon

d, professional smile as

mily therapist to her unofficial job description), Bella emerged victorious - at least, for to

ce chair, rolling her shoul

kly, and Monica immediately appeared wit

ca teased gently,

nursing the mug between her palms. T

leaned back and closed her eyes briefly, her mind already shiftin

moving for

omething stiff inside her bag

le

ared at it, her mind too fo

s, the old-fashioned handwriting - made her chest ti

. Maybe a thank-you note. Maybe another

r under the flap and ri

r inside

. Be

work. Your talents, your v

e you will have a choice: join g

mer. An invitati

page, the words swim

hell..." s

b offer. It wasn

... a threat. Or

flipped the envelope over again, checked the p

d hand-del

at the door

gain, her expre

ners are ready f

ding it back into her bag like it w

ing her skirt with hands tha

e promise

ure this

e battles to fight

- undefeated, unbot

's what she kept