Chapter 1

The Austin summer heat was brutal, sticking to my skin like a second layer. For two months, I' d breathed in the smell of smoked brisket and sweet barbecue sauce, working for the Chadwicks.

My classmate, Gabrielle Chadwick, had offered me the internship at her family' s famous restaurant, "Chadwick' s Smokehouse." She said it was a paid position, a great opportunity. I needed the money. My mom was struggling with my brother' s medical bills back home, and my community college financial aid didn't cover Austin's rent.

I did everything. I ran their social media, filmed promotional videos, and even helped haul equipment for their food truck catering gigs. I worked sixty-hour weeks, fueled by free pulled pork sandwiches and the promise of a paycheck that would keep me in school.

The day my internship ended, I went to Mr. Chadwick' s office to collect my wages. He was there with Gabrielle.

He leaned back in his leather chair, a big, friendly smile on his face. "Elyse, you've been a tremendous help this summer. A real go-getter."

"Thank you, Mr. Chadwick. I learned a lot." I waited, expecting him to pull out a checkbook.

Gabrielle stood by the window, scrolling on her phone. "We're so glad we could give you this experience. It'll look great on your resume."

A knot formed in my stomach. "About the payment, we never discussed the final amount."

Mr. Chadwick' s smile tightened. "Payment? Elyse, the experience was the payment. And all the free meals. Do you know how much our brisket costs per pound?"

I stared at him, my mind going blank. "But... Gabrielle said it was a paid internship."

Gabrielle finally looked up from her phone, her expression shifting from boredom to annoyance. "Oh, Elyse, don't be so obsessed with money. We gave you a chance. You should be grateful."

"Grateful?" The word came out as a whisper. "I worked for two months. I need that money for school, for my family."

Mr. Chadwick' s folksy charm evaporated completely. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a crumpled hundred-dollar bill, and threw it on the desk. It slid to a stop in front of me.

"Here," he said, his voice cold. "Take the charity and get lost."