Chapter 1

The private room reeked of smoke. Music thudded through the cracked door, heavy in my chest.

I stood outside while Tony, the manager, gave me the same warning for the third time.

"Big clients in there. Especially Mr. Martinez, the guy in the middle. Self-made. Built a public company in five years. In Averyton, he's huge. This birthday party's for his fiancée, so stay sharp. Read the room. Keep everyone happy."

I smiled and nodded. "Got it. I've done this long enough. I know the rules."

I took the tray, breathed in, and pushed the door open.

Smoke and laughter hit me all at once.

The room was packed, but everyone's attention was locked on the couple in the center.

The guy lounged on the couch, sleeves pushed up to his forearms. Sharp features. Cold eyes. The kind of guy who kept people at a distance without even trying.

A gorgeous woman sat beside him, leaning in to whisper something.

He tilted his head to listen. The cold edge in his expression eased. Every now and then, he'd reach up and casually pat her head.

I dropped my gaze and headed for the table, setting drinks from my tray.

"Oh? Tony sent us another hostess to entertain us?"

Someone whistled, openly checking me out.

"This one's way hotter than the last one."

The room burst into laughter.

The woman on the couch frowned and glanced over.

The word hostess had clearly rubbed her the wrong way. No girlfriend wanted to hear that with her boyfriend sitting right there.

But the second she saw my face, she froze.

"E-Elle Emerton?!"

Her shrill voice sliced through the room.

She shot to her feet, rushed over, and grabbed my hand.

"Oh my God. It really is you. What are you doing here?"

The room went quiet.

I said nothing.

Her face got even more dramatic, her eyes bright with some weird excitement.

"Why aren't you saying anything? Don't you recognize me? It's Vanessa!"

I looked at her and smiled. "Long time no see."

Recognize her?

How could I not?

Vanessa Shannon.

My ex-best friend.

"Elle, after your family went bankrupt, I looked everywhere for you. I wanted to help, but I couldn't find you. I even tried sending money, but you wouldn't take it. I was so worried."

Vanessa's mouth trembled like she might cry.

"And now I finally find you here? How did you end up in a place like this? These years must've been so hard. Your mom would be heartbroken if she knew..."

She made sure the whole room heard every word.

Whispers rippled through the room.

"Bankrupt? Emerton?"

"The Emerton family from a few years back? They were huge. Then the company crashed, and the chairman and his wife jumped to their deaths."

I stood there, listening as the voices spread around me.

My nails dug into my palms.

The reason my family lost everything.

The reason I lost both my parents overnight.

The person who caused it all...

Was Vanessa.

"How about this?" Vanessa sighed, looking way too pleased with herself.

She turned to the others with a helpless little smile.

"Elle's my best friend. Since we ran into each other tonight, do me a favor and let her join us."

Someone answered right away. "If you're asking, obviously."

Vanessa pulled me over and got me a seat.

Across from me, the man stayed slouched on the couch, blank-faced.

Someone beside him leaned in to say something.

"Mm."

His voice was low. Impossible to read.

He didn't look at me once.

Vanessa, though, was all smiles, dragging me into game after game.

And somehow, no matter what we played, I kept losing.

Drink after drink burned down my throat. My stomach was on fire.

The cards hit the table.

I lost again.