o
dy felt. A deep, bone-chilling
a thin cashmere throw the only thing covering her shivering body. The
est. The ache in her muscles, the rawness in
m. The massive bed was perfe
n front of her sat a single
ng hand, picking up the note. The
transaction
that could pay off her student loans, could save her apartment. But the price was her d
gh escaped her lips. It
. And again. She threw the confetti intopulled it on, not caring that it was inside out. She didn't look back as
, people shouting, the smell of exhaust and stale coffee. Nobody l
e door. She didn't stop there. She ran to the bathro
ed her arms, her neck, her lips, until her skin was raw and bleeding. She couldn't feel his hands anym
unter, the shrill ringtone
her shivering body. She looked at the screen. Me
trying to force the hoarse
p whip through the speaker. "I've been calling since last night.
al emergency." Cassidy gripped the edge
t by a bus. Get to the offic
dark circles under her eyes looked l
rent that went up every year, and a career that was the only thing ke
trength concealer, thankful for the high collar of her blouse. She put
conference room, her face red. The whiteboard was c
harity Gala. Every major investor in the city will be there. You are going to get me a meet
room full of billionaires. The exac
t-" she
nth?" Meredith cut her off, he
wed hard. She
ing every contact, until finally, a client who had a last-
was remotely appropriate-a simple black slip that she had bought on sale.
ke, professional smile that didn't reach her eyes. S
Someone bumped into her from behind, and she flinched, her throat closing up. The memory
of the door, counting the seconds until the next
and couture. Cassidy kept her head down, sl
ins, the murmur of the elite. Cassidy felt like an imposter. She grabbed a fl
e room for a friendly f
rned to ice
Taylor. He looked immaculate in a tailored tuxedo, his dark hair swept back,
looking r
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