SLOANE
I stood in front of the mirror and stared at myself for a long time.
Really stared.
My hair was pulled back into a clean low bun. No loose strands. No softness. Just neat and firm, the way serious women wore their hair. My makeup was light but sharp. Clean skin. Defined eyes. Lips calm and neutral.
I wore a fitted black corporate skirt that stopped just below my knees. A cream blouse tucked in neatly. A tailored blazer that made my shoulders look stronger than they felt.
I looked… grown.
Not like the girl who used to cry in courthouse bathrooms.
Not like the half-breed everyone whispered about.
I looked like a lawyer.
My phone buzzed on the dresser.
Adrian:
Dress up. Kill it on your first day.
A small smile touched my lips.
He’d sent that text late last night, right bef
