ch. I have about forty dollars to my name right now. But once I get a jo

er. She was offe

d, curiosity gettin

ollars? Over two years?" She loo

ed. That was roughly what h

explain. "But I'm a good architect. I

our money, Imog

thing. I don't take charity." Her c

he needed to feel like she wasn't being rescued.

ousand. Payable when you

e stuck ou

icals, her grip firm. As their hands touched, a w

e. "Compliments of the house. For... the entertainment." Sh

fold. She took a sip of the hot coffee, letting the warmth steady her nerves. "So," she began, trying

y're well-meaning but suffocating. They think a man isn't complete without a w

Linda and Dr. Aris. "Except in my case, it's less

e intelligence warring with the exhaustion in her eyes, the resilience holding the broken piece

s tone firm. "I'll handle my family. You just ha

n her lips. For the first time, the arrangement felt less l