a gr

h her skull like knives. She immediately shut them again and buried her

ness in her chest wasn't just from the hangover. It was grief, rage, hu

r legs touched cold marble flooring. Her gaz

her. Wait.

ains. The sleek white vanity. The photo of her and

here?" She asked no one in particular while rubbing her temple

pieces dr

cl

dr

y good-looking man-the one

pretty escort! Did I grab his tie?" Sh

at as she fell back onto the be

kidding me, Elira...

the one she'd shoved down all night-slammed

so

li

her.

again, ch

d stop them. She clenched the comforter

st everything in one night?" She beat her hand ligh

oice

. "Why didn't I listen to Sabrin

't just bee

't just h

s bet

best friend like I was nothing. But what hurt even worse,"she paused as she wiped

hed as she in

ring at her disheveled reflection. Her eyes were red-rimmed and pu

ld herself, voice shaking.

in the corners of her apartment with only her laptop, coffee, and a dream. She worked

a giant-quietly, becaus

peace. Priv

id they do? They took the fame. They smiled for the cameras. They made speeches usi

uckle escap

whose company it rea

at herself harde

's time

tantly become the country's youngest self-made female bi

eat-media attention, scr

her eyes

njoy the spotlig

mirror with fire b

to take i

s to move. The house was quiet-almost too quiet. Elira padded softly down the hallw

ep stil

otionally. Her though

ment? Call a press conference? C

nto the kitchen when something

ho

and a wave of warm

il

p, her wide brown eyes sparkli

like a koala. Elira bent down and scooped her up without hesitation, burying h

with laughter.

layfully, carrying her to the couch. "You

ed in to whisper, "You l

lly. "How dare you! I

eclared, giggling even h

chest felt light. This tiny human had no idea the weight El

gry?" sh

tically. "Can I have

d, gently setting her down a

h the door, a voice cut throug

red softly-bu

slowly. Lil

ed, one brow raised, lips pursed. Her no-nonse

eart sank

ver, beame

for her daughter. "Go find Daddy

turned to Elira and blew a

d-air and grinned.

giving Elira a polite nod and th

e that, the

settle on her

inet just to give her hands something to do. She c

lira beat her to the punch. "Before you start lecturing me," she blu

said n

rning around. "I know you were trying to look o

ice cr

. And ashamed. And

wet again. "You were right, Sab. About

s face s

s shoulders. Elira didn't hesitate this time-she leaned int

dn't say "I told you

pered. "You don't hav

something ins

Sabrina. Six fucking years! We built a l

cely. "Just not to him. But

cried

y were schemers. They knew. They plotted to ta

roze. "Yo

d, wiping her face. "I should hav

ed her head.

hen walked to the

Monro

na bl

e ag

arted it from scratch, worked behind the scenes, and let Jaso

ps parted. H

t?" sh

e. I wasn't unemployed, Sabrina. I was runnin

ss from her, abs

ded the biggest energy contract this year? You

house at the top while I pulled t

ke she'd just bee

ed to push

mall shares behind my back. Convincing board membe

turned to anger.

weakly. "You'l

hand on the table. "

whispered darkly. "Let them enjoy the fame, t

d t

everything. And make them watch as I drag their repu

haled slow

. If the rest of the board sides with them, they could

rowled. "I'll help you. We'll

-exhausted,

a's express

slowly. "About that man who

flin

she asked

ense. Dressed like he owned half of Europe. He

t her che

eone. But not his

rried you to bed, Elira. Then dr

inked. "

, I'm rich and prob

.. might have call

hoked. "Y

, "He looked so hot! And I was drunk

er in stunned silence.

at the hell did you