Vanessa Sterling did not like to wait.
She sat in the dim, opulent lounge of her private penthouse, sipping a glass of champagne that cost more than Emily Hart’s entire yearly wardrobe. The glowing city lights stretched out beyond her floor-to-ceiling windows, but Vanessa’s attention was locked entirely on the sleek tablet resting on her lap.
A soft chime echoed through the room.
The screen blinked, loading a secure digital gallery. Vanessa leaned forward, her perfectly manicured fingers zooming in on the high-definition photographs sent by her investigator.
It was Ryan and Emily. Sitting on the campus bench.
"Look at you," Vanessa hissed, her eyes narrowing as she stared at Emily’s rumpled oversized hoodie and thick, ridiculous glasses. "A nobody. A pathetic little charity case."
Bu
