Ebony and steel

led on her best clothes-simple jeans, clean sneakers, and a scarf her aunt had given

t, but fate had something far more dan

tions, and "we'll call you back." By afternoon, my feet ached and my

atform at Wall Street, her breath catching at the sight of towering buildings that seemed to cage the sky. She clutched he

e downtown to drop off résumés; she had marked out offices, cafes, and even shops where they might need part-time he

sneakers echoing on the pavement. The city s

-

he looked like any powerful businessman in a tailored coat. But his eyes wer

specialized in laundering wealth and erasing traces. His bodyguard,

ther day of chess with rival families, another ma

-

he wet sidewalk-résumés, a copy of her transcript, a small photo she had

out, lifting the photo b

ever seen-grey like morning frost, set i

only faintly hinting at Eastern

k you... I-I wasn't wat

ecessary. Something about her-wide, searching eyes, an innocenc

all right?

"Just... first day really t

t to himself. He hesitated, then nodded once, as th

ching her file. "

him. Amara watched them disappear into the

d feel so heavy on her thoughts. But she had no time t

-

y, Nikolai said nothing. But Viktor broke

shrinking street below. "Just..

nce meetings-felt the faintest spark. He didn't y

his world, nothing w

ara

ants wrapped around me, comforting like a memory of home. I ordered the cheapest tea on the men

d expensive, but it wasn't just that. It was his eyes-pale, cold, but not unki

self. You didn't come here to

o my chest, trying

w, somewhere in its endless noise and crowded street

e, a part of me couldn't help but

was big, but it

ossible things had