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CHAPTER 1

The city has that scent in the air, like it’s going to snoalk down the street and wrap hter aroundCar horns blare as I breathe in the exhaust and try to fathorasp it The look on Sean’s face, the way his voice sounded…

My stoave hi returnedall the cash at Sean was stupid, but I had to do it I don’t turn back I don’t look behind me I already know Sean isn’t there He doesn’t love me

As I walk along the sidewalk in a daze, a car rolls up next to me It’s late I don’t notice at first It isn’t until therolls down and I hear a voice that I turn and glance at the car The hipsevery which way My heels are inon h the silk It’s one of the only things I can feel in the stor me whole

This is why I had no relationships I lied to myself and said I avoided relationships because ed relationships, because h people to e to keep going

“Miss Stanz,” a male voice calls from the car

I can see his face through the openHe’s one of the guys that ith Miss Black the first time Sean set off my bracelet

I stare at hi the and the man steps out a th I say nothing

His eyes sweep over my face like he knohat made me like this “Are you hurt?” I shake my head He reaches forward for my shoes I hand theentleman and escorts me to the car

As we slip into the backseat, he re our ees and I know that I’m in trouble

One tiivable, but two times is not I just nod and stare out the

TheMiss Black’s building “Listen, I don’t knohat your story is or why you did what you did, but this job isn’t for people who can’t hold their shit together It’s an act The women who understand that survive The ones who don’t learn that lesson get crippled There’s no such thing as ‘just sex,’ Miss Stanz At the same time, that’s what you need to think in order to excel at this job”

I blink at hi me this? “Am I that transparent?”

The corner of his mouth pulls up Apparently so He tells ure out a way to harden your heart Don’t let them in, ever”

The car has stopped Taking a deep breath, I lean forward to get out I look at the guy and say, “Thank you”

“For what?” he asks The expression on his face says that the other girls don’t talk to hi

I shrug “For findingme out I’m not cut out for this, but there’s no other way”

His dark eyes seelances at the building and then back attoto repriive her any backtalk and she’ll keep you around Make excuses and she’ll kick you to the curb” He doesn’t say anything else Instead, he pulls the car door open and exits to the sidewalk

I slip out after hiive a subtle nod of thanks I can’t lose this job He hands s are ruined There are runs up the legs fro around barefoot