Chapter 1

 

It started out as one hell of a morning, so of course it had to be a Monday. It didn’t help that I only had three hours of sleep, thanks to work keeping me up at night. My brain was unable to shut down.

I needed coffee.

Stat.

The day had to get better—the new hire was starting. Maybe I wouldn’t be in the office until midnight almost every night. The prospect of having a life again, thanks to the new employee, was wonderful. Not that I had much of one before. I’d been working sixty to seventy hours a week for the last four months since Vivian left us high and dry. I needed a vacation.

Hell, I’d settle for leaving before five one evening a week.

I pulled into the parking lot, zipping into my usual spot, and looked into the rearview mirror. My usually bright, expressive eyes were dull and bloodshot from lack of sleep, reflecting dark circles underneath and standing out against my pale skin. My hair was not cooperating, dirty blonde strands sticking up in all directions. I bru