The Billionaire's $500,000 baby

ra'

the blood rushing in my ears. I sat as far away from Xavier as possible, my wet uniform sticking t

ere," Xa

he brick was dark and slimy, and the streetlights were flickering. This was the place

the curb, right in front of the main entrance. The rain was a dull

was raspy. "I need to get my things.

e. He was looking at a tablet in his hand. "

n't just leave with not

the window

n't see it. Then, the light from the lobby ca

dies. Water was pooling around them. Next to the bags stood Mr. Henderson, the landl

ed the door handle, but it didn't bu

the locks clicked. I didn't wait. I thr

in the deep puddles. I reached the bags first. One was ripped at the top. I saw the corn

outed. "What is this?

ng at a cockroach. "I told you last week, Hayes. No pay, no stay. I've got a

my de

snapped. He reached down and picked up one small, heavy black bag that

some clothes and stuff in their too,The re

his notebook inside. My heart hammered against my ribs. "You can't do this. I've be

the curb. I saw his eyes widen. He saw the tinted windows. He saw the sheer wealth of the thing.

ast him toward the door. I felt my dads notebook to t

his face turning red. "The locks are changed, Liora.

t like the rain was washing me away. I

ld teacher's manuals. My childhood photos. Th

ned around and walked back into the lobby, letting th

ooked at the black bag in my arms. It was all I had left. Everything el

ooked at the trash bags again. I wanted to rip them open. I wanted to scream at the windows. I wanted to be the girl I was four hours ago,

ed at

me. Xavier was in there. He was probably watching the clock. He didn't care about my mom's boo

l in my hands. I'd alm

hrown this out, too. My father's notes. The only

tep was a struggle. I reached the door, and it opened automatically. The wa

the black bag to my

vier asked. His voice was casual.

h," I said. I was shivering s

won't need it where you're going.

n't jun

t tapped the partition. "Let

ow. I saw the black trash bags getting smaller and smaller. I

n my pocket. I had no address. I was just a girl in a wet

was back on his table

I asked. My voice so

g," he said. "Darian i

ked a

e doesn't like hearing about sl

just turned my head and

that I was here. I hated Darian Volkov. I hadn't even met him properly yet, an

t about the lady at the billing desk.

ad now. It was sitting

ity center started to loom over us. They were made of glass an

father's sa

d no armor. I had no weapons. I just

hought he was buying a ghost. He thought he was buying so

as w

glass. My eyes were red, but they were s

im regret the day he e