re's

man I'd mistaken for a high-end escort. Now, he was my n

led, replaying my audacious-no,

t good enough, and I wanted

n't I have just k

my throat. I couldn't lose this job. My mother's escalating medic

o steady my racing heart. Despite my best efforts, a t

rbed in conversation with an executive, his gaze far from my corner. A sliver of relief, icy and fleeting, w

hadn't looked closely enough to remember me. The conference room was packed, a sea

as I sat rigid in my chair, a col

been unwarranted. Lucius appeared utterly oblivious to my presence.

ized my chance, melting into the crowd, m

t my desk was grab Joey. She

oly shit, Claire! You slept with him? Are you po

'm terrified he'll remember me, seek revenge, and fire me. I have Mom and Be

you know how many women in this city wou

t bar to drown my sorrows? Why did I let myself be drawn to a stranger with such intense eyes? Why did I hand him a hu

obably didn't even notice you. Guys like t

nager's booming voice sliced through the office hum. "

to my stomach. This was it.

tepped inside, he was there, not in a crumpled hotel bathrobe, but

a nameless escort.

as determined to k

ced my arrival. I found myself staring at his thick blond hair, noting

rced a pleasant, professional tone.

ed on my most polished, innocent smile. I

ntensity that made my skin prickle. His expression was u

ble, like a small, exposed creature caught in the gaze of

ous leather chair. His voice was cold, cutting. "I didn

g, hitting a nerve. My carefu

ds flew out. "It seems your private

ssolute woman, then you're a high-priced play

ed ugly. A dark cloud de

ust angered

despite the defiant satisfaction bubbling beneath. My imp

ep forward,

et of his blazer. My heart stilled

te slowness, and withdrew three bills-two fifties, a crisp hu

voice disturbingly calm, "was wor

sed fury. I wanted to scream, to lash out. But then, the image of Mom's hospital bills, B

alm, C

e desk with two fingers, and tucked it into

ttle smile. "Pleasure doing b

ut, never letting him see the tremor

y legs buckled slightly. I pressed

ped the railing, cold fury threading thro

t cry. No

ver a

Joey was there immediately

ant?" she asked, eye

my response. "He just wanted to t

" Joey pressed,

tle too quickly, unwilling to

g," Joey sigh

more interesting?" I asked light

e'd developed a taste for. regular humans like you! An

t a strange turn of phrase. Aren't we all human? Though, given Lucius Watso

son, how many people would be green with envy?" Joey whispered, g

fire among the female employees. The way they

don't want people talking," I

ain. "Seriously, though, what wa

t. "Just. normal. You can try it

aid with a sigh, before

guely remembered his bright, unsettling eyes, the hard planes of his

But it didn't matter now. It would never happen again, and

rang. It

ing to push me abou

breath, steeling myself for th