r eyes so hard she almost gave herself a headache. She actually let out this weird, half-sn

Elvano barked, all boss-mode, as if they were

e for telemarketers. "Yeah, actually, I do. I'm lat

e, blinking like someone had unplugged him. It wasn't just the fact she slipped away so e

internally, stalking off down the street

the irritation simmering in her gut-his stup

ack-and-forth. They already sparred enough in the office-no way

hurt. Elena always knew how to needle him with those razor-edged words..

er like it was some kind of alien artifa

always thought of Elena as the quiet type, maybe even a bit delicate if he was being real. But nope, she was pure t

n remembered what h

s solid, trained. And she just... did. Barely tried. Like she'd been dod

od there, stuck in rewind. He finally sucked in a breath, let it out

arima didn't even break stride, didn't even glance his way, j

s about that whole arranged marriage disaster, or if-god h

*

r thoughts. Narima's offer, the whole mess piling up behind it... felt like she was walking throu

out, scrolling through contacts, dialing one after another. She just need

you think I am-Jeff Bezos' secret twin?" That's basically how every chat went.

her friend chimed in, like th

"Yeah, sure, maybe," she mumbled,

ailing them out of trouble, even tossing them cash when payday felt too far away. B

notice," "You know how things are..." Maybe they were being honest.

st bet," the friend insisted. "Way

e 'helpful' advice her way. The phone hit the couch. She slumped back, hands scrubb

on a dumpster fire. His parents already eyed her like she was some go

f a bad soap opera. To his folks, she'd never be more than the kid whose mom "stole" their first love-her dad, wh

e anxious thoughts into the back of her mi

the bank?" she muttered under her brea

ng with fire-maybe it'd put out the flames today, but tomo

She jolted off the couch, almost like

pay back whatever I borrow once the check lands. I ju

irst into sorting through all her stuff. Hospital visit? Yea

past her. Next thing she kn

er hair. She'd turned the place upside down

matching watches she and her dad had rocked for years, some random fitne

signer labels? Pass. Comfort and practicality, that's what he alway

savings. God, she ho

r passwords like she could will the numbers higher just by typing fast. One b

the numbers stared back, cold and smug. Not even close. A hundred and fifty grand, mayb

hythm could shake loose some money. Her other hand held up her

too. She tried to do the math in her head, but even her most o

g that screamed "rich person in trouble." But no, she and her dad always went for th

case-even those little gold bars her dad kept tucked away

, little bricks of hope. She drove the cars to the dealer, barely listened to the guy lowball her. Whatever, just take the

suddenly blink and say "just kidding." Spoiler: they didn't. The bank balance glared back-cold, cruel, tot

enough, huh?" Half to t

how pissed off and just plain tired she felt. All those cars she and her dad use

blared to life. She flinched, glanced down, and there it was: one of

ff is wondering if... maybe salaries could

slow, heavy, like she was trying

conds ti

laugh. It wasn't happy. If anything, it sounded like

ered, voice flat, almost da

contin