like me-people who are barely holding it together, living paycheck to paycheck, with a resume that doesn't exactly scream world-class childcare

on Volkov is?" she'd exclaimed, her voice somewhere between shock and giddy disbe

stop me from juggling Cafe shifts and menial jobs for angry commuters-my mind swept back to Mike, my e

against it, arms crossed, watching as I zipped up my last bag. The smal

tone light but her eyes soft. "What am I supposed to d

into the bag. "You'll survive. You've got Jake, hunny. You

tugged at her lips. "Oh, sure. Jake and I, playing

s socks everywhere, right? I give it two days before I'm calling

ll figure it out. Maybe the

hot back, grinning now. "But fine. Go. Live your fancy na

her. "I'll call, Lou. All the time. You

led me into a hug, squeezing me tight. "You better," she mumbled against my

holding her just

r eyes quickly and sniffed. "Okay, go

ave a radiat

ent, Clarke," she

partment one last time, and nodded. "D

walked out, her voice following

as too still, the kind of quiet that made you acutely aware of your every breath and footstep. It sme

I clutched my bag. I still didn'

Vo

I met him in that sleek, glass-walled office, he hadn't been anything less than exactly what I expected. Tall, sharp

mine now. An

looked more like the headquarters of a multinational corporation than a home. I glanced at the call box by t

asked, her voice cr

trying not

He's asked me to get you settled in." She ste

tine white walls, and art pieces that I suspected were worth more than any college

corridor. "They're close to the Anastasia's room for convenience. You'll also

ike stepping into another world, one where everything

"Mr. Volkov values professionalism above all else

pause before fair, but I

r lived. The bed was queen-sized with crisp white linens, and a window overlooked

oftening slightly. "Oh, before I forget, Anastasia

a shaky breath and sank onto the edge of the be

w exactly what she'd say. Something like, "Look at you, living th

e thought, then stood

ia officially,

idence that made her seem older. "Are you going to stay forever?" she asked, he

u'll have me," I replied

ere to take care of me because he'

to respond to that

y when you smil

ace sheepishly. "That'

day was over,

quarters. The house was eerily silent at night, the ki

Volkov. I hadn't seen him since the interview, but his presence lingere

tences and seemed to keep the world at arm's le

to worry about. And in a long time