ince when did ushering jobs in

curious Maya who was a

ng on you? Eww, I thoug

ntly. I couldn't help but revel in the softnes

e sounded rushed

s this

dn't it? They provided outfits

the

issues." I heard a little crash in the background

ended a

rched on our

is for a high

d her hand

e money, and I need you to take me to that new club I told you

eyes. "I don't even kno

s against me, her eyes sparkling. "Girl, you

to some pervy billionaire all night,

ur makeup right. If you're working a

lf in our bathroom mirror, barely reco

d waist catching my curve with tiny sequin de

lved hours of walking around. My hair was pinned up i

id from the doorway. "Like, be

ver stud earrings, the only jewelry I owned that didn't loo

with a text. The

anything wei

ne we

he squeezed my arm. "Be s

driver opened the door with a slight bow. I slid into the backseat, e

ther workers?" I ask

Sterling.

realized we were heading toward downtown Manhattan,

road but pulled right up to the glittering front ent

ites I recognized stepped out of their

ing as the car stopped. "I'm staff. I sho

. "These were my instr

door opened from the outside. A han

e red carpet with camera f

a! Ove

idn't you arri

aking such scandalous ac

orward, through the doors and into an enormous ballroom glittering with chandeliers a

k dress. The servers passing trays wore crisp white uniforms with an embroidered hotel logo. Everyt

job. I'd bee

my small handbag that screamed "didn't belong here." A text f

gossip she was obsessing over cou

d ring, but the voice tha

't be here

down my spine. I knew that voice. I'd heard it from videos o

behind me, and m

I could turn, he was right beside me. His large hand

re skin sent another chill up my spine. My hear

he doing

esh lavender this time. My hands went numb, fingers tingling

't sur

see the flawless stitching on his tuxedo lapel,

de profile, the neatly trimmed beard, the curve of his ear. He was b

n eyes catching mine with an inten

lift at the cor

not standing here, in this dress, w

a gentleness you wouldn't expect from someone like him. The contrast between tha

you doing?

afeteria, did you?" His voice was low, hand sliding

uit cool against my skin. He was so tall, I had to tilt my head back to maintain ey

I felt was hi

ips o

yes was k

ember how to function. I should have pushed him away, kneed his balls, done an

in. My hands remained at my sides, my

was: the man I am supposed to destroy, the man who ruined m

es had darkened to a caramel shade. His thumb wi

ce was surprisingly steady despite what had jus