Chapter 2

The darkness of her bedroom eventually gave way to the harsh afternoon sun. Grace pushed through the heavy glass revolving doors of the midtown law firm. The blast of aggressive air conditioning hit her face, stripping away the lingering heat of the Boston autumn.

She wore a faded gray hoodie and washed-out jeans. She stuck out like a sore thumb among the sea of tailored suits and briefcases crossing the marble lobby.

She walked up to the massive reception desk. She gave the receptionist the name of the Vaughan family's private attorney. The woman behind the desk paused, her eyes flickering over Grace's outfit with a thinly veiled layer of judgment.

After securing a temporary visitor badge, Grace turned and walked toward the elevator banks deep in the lobby. The soft squeak of her worn sneakers was swallowed by the sharp clacking of leather oxfords echoing against the high ceilings.

She stood in front of the furthest elevator on the left. She watched the red digital numbers tick down. Her stomach twisted into tight, uncomfortable knots.

Ding.

The silver doors slid open with a smooth, mechanical hiss. The spacious, brightly lit interior of the cab was revealed.

Grace stepped forward with her right foot.

Loud, obnoxious laughter spilled out of the elevator. Grace froze instantly. Her foot hovered over the threshold.

Standing dead center in the cab was Adelbert. He wore a perfectly tailored black trench coat. One hand was shoved casually into his pocket. He was tilting his head, listening to a joke from the blonde guy standing next to him.

His eyes swept lazily toward the open doors. They crashed straight into Grace's.

Grace's heart violently contracted. Her fingers clamped down on the canvas strap of her tote bag. Her knuckles turned bone-white.

For a fraction of a second, a flash of pure shock broke through the ice in Adelbert's eyes. But it was gone before she could even process it, instantly replaced by a wall of absolute, freezing indifference.

Jax followed Adelbert's line of sight. He let out a low, sleazy whistle, his eyes raking up and down Grace's body.

Morgan nudged Adelbert in the chest with his elbow. He lowered his voice, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Is that one of your little freshmen groupies, Del?"

The elevator doors beeped a sharp, aggressive warning, demanding Grace to either step in or step back.

Grace swallowed the lump of glass in her throat. She forced her legs to move. She stepped into the cab and pressed herself into the furthest corner, right next to the button panel.

She reached out with a shaking finger and pressed the button for the 68th floor. The button was already glowing orange. Adelbert was going to the exact same place.

The doors slid shut. The small, enclosed space was instantly suffocated by the sharp, clean scent of Adelbert's cedarwood cologne. It coated her lungs. She couldn't breathe.

Jax took an arrogant step forward. He leaned his forearm against the metal handrail, jutting his chin toward Grace in the corner.

"You go to G University too, sweetheart?"

Grace pressed her lips together so hard they hurt. She kept her eyes glued to the digital numbers ticking upward. She didn't say a word. Her peripheral vision, however, was hopelessly locked onto Adelbert's profile.

She prayed. She prayed to a God she barely believed in that Adelbert would just say they knew each other. Just say they were alumni. Anything.

Adelbert slowly turned his head. He shot Jax a freezing glare. His thin lips parted.

"I don't know her."

His voice was a low, flat rumble. It held zero emotion. He stated it like a geographical fact.

The words hit Grace like a physical backhand across the face. All the blood drained from her cheeks, leaving her skin ice-cold.

Jax shrugged, losing interest immediately. He stepped back and picked up his conversation with Morgan about the weekend football game.

Grace bit down hard on the soft tissue inside her cheek. She bit until she tasted the sharp tang of copper. The physical pain was the only thing keeping the hot tears from spilling over her lower lashes.

The elevator ride lasted sixty agonizing seconds. Finally, the ding echoed through the cab. The doors slid open to the 68th floor.

Adelbert didn't even glance in her direction. He stepped out with his long strides, his frat brothers trailing behind him like loyal dogs.

A rush of cold air swept into the elevator as they left. Grace leaned her back against the freezing metal wall. Every ounce of energy drained from her muscles.

She watched Adelbert's broad shoulders disappear down the long, carpeted hallway of the law firm.

Now she understood the true weight of that word. Done.

She pushed herself off the wall. She straightened her spine. She walked out of the elevator and turned in the exact opposite direction toward her assigned conference room. Her steps were heavier, but infinitely more certain.