of the apartment building, dragging a single, vintage leather suitcase behind her. It was small. It contained only t

ght was gone, packed away into the deepest recesses of her mind. In her place stood a woman who remembered who she wa

lipped her extra umbrellas, stepped forward. "Mrs. B

le. "Thank you, Henry. But I have

The rain soaked her coat instantly, chilling her to the bone, but sh

garage entrance. Kiley recognized the engine purr

tinted window on the driver's side rolled down halfway. Ever

houlder, her blonde hair perfectly coiffed despite the humidity. She looked out the window a

He looked at the small suitcase. He looked at her wet hair plastered to her ch

bway?" he called out over the

e darkness of the street was sliced ope

sn't a taxi. It wasn't an Uber. It was a Rolls-Royce Phantom, painted in a custom two-tone midnight

of the vehicle, the kind usually reserved for top-tier executives of multinational conglomerates. It

halt right in front of Kil

ed out, ignoring the rain, and snapped a massive black umbr

from the inside before

fford emerged from the car. He stood tall, over six-two, radiating an aura of absolute, terrifying power

aybach. "That's Bradley Stafford," he whispered, disbel

eyes narrowing. "The billionai

ored the doorman. He ignored the wo

y a word. He reached out and took the handle of the suitcase from her h

his bespoke suit jacket. He draped it over Kiley's soaking wet shoulders. He pu

him. Her lip quiv

d, his voice low and r

s a tender, protective gesture, lingering for

es turned white as he gripped the leather wheel. A ho

nows him?" Ev

nd. She's been planning this. She probably secured her next 'sponsor' months ago. That's why sh

sense. Kiley, the trailer park girl, the nobody, had somehow seduced one of the mos

Evertt hissed. "I'

olls-Royce. Before he got in, he paused. He turned

elt the weight of that stare. It was a look of pure,

ld of luxury Evertt could only dream of accessing. The Rolls-Royce pulle

t, the engine idling. He gla

ber

a beat. Today wa

e had bought him thoughtful gifts with her meager allowance.

it down, burying it under layers of righteous anger. Sh

r stomach theatrically. "My tummy hurts a

ley in the rain. He put the car in gear. "I'm t

ed in his mind, fueling a bitter narrative of betr