amiliar mix of stale air condi

a soothing presence. I gently rested a hand on my growing bel

picking up a passe

y, expecting an

ere. The executives from the Beaumont C

with a sense of minor authority

nd my breath cau

Brandon

laminated ID badge clipped to his pocket. It read "Be

irst. He just saw a woman standin

His condescending smirk faltered, r

ed, his eyes wide.

xterior a fortress against t

e designer handbag, the quiet confidence in my posture. His eyes lingered for a moment on my lack of a wedding ring on my left hand-a Eu

ht I was

egan to creep back onto his face. The shock was wearing off, replac

g to a low, intimate tone that made my skin crawl. "Five ye

audacity of his words, another v

darling, w

s dressed in a flashy, brand-name outfit that looked a size too small, her makeup thick and

ipping with false sweetness.

e like it was a bad

tinued, her eyes raking over me critically. "A little tired. Li

eld it in check. I was Ava Beaumont n

at them, my ex

e man who told me to wait for him while he married my cousin to break a fake curse. He stood befo

pinster who had crawled back fro

o thick I could

really well now. I'm an assistant manager here at the Beaumont

nsportation department was wha

nt on, completely wrapped up in his own delusion. "And I can't sa

a's arm, and she pre

I can help you out. I could probably get you a job here. Maybe in the cleaning

at honor, a king offering a crust of bread to a be

hat I would be grateful for any s

ea who he wa