en driving for five years, refusing to replace it until his business was more

pened today.

Whitmore, the way she'd handled it, Marcus Thorn

ght on the steering wheel. When she fini

said finally, but somet

's w

He glanced at her, his expression c

ul of

Rich, powerful men who notice pretty girls and offe

can think under pressure. Someone who doesn't panic

ced a beautiful woman and saw a different kind of opportunity. I've seen it before, Lita. Hell, I've watched

at the reception desk?

succeed. I just... I don't want you to get hurt. Or used. These p

in a world that kept trying to sweep her away. He'd taught her that she wasn't alone, that someo

tomorrow. Because maybe this is my chance, Damian. Maybe this is how I finally pr

let him make you feel small. Promise me you'll remember who you are and what you've alre

rom

hter and celebration. But throughout it all, Lita's mind kept returning to that moment

and fears. But underneath it all was something else, something that ha

sixteen-year-old girl who refused to

live like t

e so far. Tomorrow, she

her laptop open, updating her resume. Her mother was asleep in the next room, her breathin

arcus Thorne's word

on was significant. Ten years ago, she would have been terrified. Ten yea

to negotiate with landlords and creditors. She'd turned three copper coin

ed, she would show him what a survivo

r it brought. She would face it the same way she faced everything else with her eyes open, her spine straight,

never live in poverty forever was becoming

ent, closed her lap

ck, she would walk into

xactly who Lit