hard line. He looked her up and dow
ands on the marble counter and leaned forwa
e are you playing
f his presence. The small of her back hi
eady her racing pulse. She l
p manage your life right
e she had lost her min
w how to use the mi
eeks. She pointed toward
the entire apart
enched tighter. This level of order was beyond her. A calculated
he had left. He pushed the pen
My creditors will be at the
as only a few thousand dollars. If she took that mon
ast the expensive fountain pen. She gr
xed slightly. He thought
h brutal force. The crisp sound of tearing paper ripped through t
lute shock as the torn pieces fluttered
gain and again until it was nothing but useless
and into the trash can. She dusted
aid for richer or fo
a physical blow. He opened his mouth, bu
een them. Then, a low, distinct
of Alek's neck. He quickly turned his b
posture. She bit the inside of her
nience store and get someth
coldly. He walked away from the kitchen
grabbed her phone and her coat an
ed the front door open. The cold draft from
op. Her mind raced, calculating how to buy the most fill
nt door click shut. He immediately walked over to h
ooking back. He let out a cold scoff. He was sure s
to the bathroom and stared at his exhausted
street. She stood in front of the shelves, ca
ton of eggs, a pack of bacon, and a discounted
y. She watched the balance drop to nearly zero
ork wind whipped through her thin coat. She wrapped her arms arou
/1/114881/coverbig.jpg?v=f68e79a39e3c06510e76832344f53221&imageMogr2/format/webp)