atching couples exit the building, their faces bright with a joy that felt like it belonged to another planet. My o

ian Sterling. He was tall, dressed in a perfectly tailored dark suit that made him look severe and untouchable. His face was sharp, handsome in a way t

anor Sterling, Julian' s grandmother. She was in her late seventies, her posture impeccable, her silver hair styled perfectly.

to me, her gaze kind but

. This is my gra

ice carrying an authority

s Elara Vance. B

ke she was pushing two unwilling statues together. I felt a wave

, didn' t say a word. He just stood there, a wall of cold indifference. His silence w

hysically took his hand and placed it in mine. His s

ef, tense moment before he pulled away. The forced intimacy was so

plasterwork in her Upper East Side townhouse. She' d treated me with such kindness, with a respect no one else in that world ever had. When my fa

ice steadier than I felt. I looked at Eleanor, my

signed the papers, the clerk stamped them, and just like that, I was Elara Vance-Sterling. Th

familiar, unwelcome

? Is th

my ex-boyfriend, and clinging

sy, ugly and immediate, flashed across his face. Chloe' s gaze, however, went straight

d me up and down. "Look what the cat dragged in. Caleb and I are getting ma

from grace. An impulse, hot and protective, shot through me. I grab

ord tasting strange and foreign. I forc

e looked annoyed, but then his gaze flickered to his grandmother.

barely perceptible no

been slapped. "You tw

red. The indifference in his tone was more cutting tha

Chloe. "Don' t be fooled. She' s pr

crisp lettering was impossible to miss, "it' s legally binding. Mrs. Sterling

s filled with a mixture of fury and fear. They muttered a

smile. "Excellent. Now, you two go ho

before getting into her own car and driving aw

, open space with floor-to-ceiling windows and stark, minimalist furniture. It wa

his keys on a c

oor on the left. Don' t tou

of the loft, the door clicking shut behind him. I was left stand

o feel suffocating, a cheer

-in-l

atures but a much warmer smile, bounded into t

ind Julian. He' s basically a grumpy housecat. I

a relief. I managed a sm

he loft. "Don' t let this place intimidate you. It needs a woman'

s time. "I' m not his keep

erence in this family.

s expression was unreadable, but I saw him misinterpreting this friendly exchange. To him, I was already networki

made a promise to Eleanor, and to myself. I would see this through. I took a deep breath,

ng inside, I saw him sitting at his desk, but he wasn' t working. He was just staring at an old, framed photograph of a smiling man and woman. His parents. His

open a little fu

erability vanished, replaced

e echoing in the large room. "I

as like a physical blow. I st

ered, retreating quickly

guilt for intruding on his private moment. I had to fix this. I decided I would

ed into fists. He was furious with me, but also with himself for lett

nooping," he said

h, Julian, stop being so dramatic! Elara is a wonderful girl. She'

ot the poin

one to take care of you. She

nly fueled his irritation. He

ore she could say more. He leaned back in his chair, th

-end men' s clothing store in SoHo, determined to buy him something. I' d just pick

l take

smug superiority. She tried to

t one," I said,

weetie. You can' t afford this. Did your new s

on. A few shoppers turned to stare. My face burn

or my own thi

n in a tailored suit, walked ov

trying to buy something she clearly can'

ized the look-it was the same discreet deference people always sh

polite but firm, "the item belongs to the cust

efeated and furious, she shot me a look of p

store, I didn' t see the black car parked across the street, or th

small, independent art gallery. It reminded me of my friend Maya, who was a fiery

a? No

rad program, a pragmatic and empathetic law s

at are you d

y god, it' s so good to see you! You look... different. Good different." She e

new life. She listened patiently, her leg

ving empty-handed." She disappeared into the back and returned with a small, beautifull

s a balm to my frayed nerves

sketch, I thought about Julian. He was probably starving. The man seem

ketch was awkward to hold, and the train was crowded. It was a physical r

the housekeeper, a kind-faced woman

ood, Mrs. Sterling," s

Maria. I' l

itchen and started cooking. The smell of g

om his office. He had changed out of his suit and was wearing a simple grey t-shirt and sweatpants. His hair was slightl

st stared for a second. He caught me looking,

" he s

uring to the gifts on the counter. "I got you these. The sweater

pression unchanging. I felt a familiar wave of f

o eat," I sai

his voice sharp. He gestured to the k

lders slumping in

ork scraping against the plate. As I scrubbed a pan, I muttered t

the table, and retreated back to his office. I was left alone

ang. It wa

g you well? He called me yesterday, he sounde

r me. My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the floor, the phone skittering across the cold

onscious on the kitchen floor. With a heavy sigh, he scooped me up and carried me to my be

al doctor. "Get ove

th Julian' s assistant, Mark. He quickly diag

s stressful environment," the docto

tching me sleep. My face was pale, and there was a dark bruise for

again. It was h

rd! What did you do

e said, his voice laced with

g her! You need to be kinder

ed. He looked back at me, a storm of c

ance at the clock sent a jolt of panic through me-I was late fo

m, Julian was sitting on the so

w record for oversle

nd focused on gettin

slid into my seat, trying to be inconspicuous, but it

ed, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Taki

. I tried to ignore her,

ripping with malice. "The Deckers. My father' s company is the one

h to the gut. It was them. They w

ight, but I knew it was pointless. I stood up, gathered my books, and wal

mphant smirk on her face. C

ent too far,"

Julian Sterling. Julian Sterling! Do you have any idea what that

nd I knew, with a sinking feeling, that this was far fr