After muttering a few words to the towering man behind the wheel, Ava quickly stepped down from the sleek black car, her heels clicking softly against the pavement. As the car sped off behind her with a quiet purr, she didn’t turn to watch it disappear—she couldn’t bear the thought of being spotted exiting such a luxurious, unfamiliar vehicle in a neighborhood like hers. She had made sure to be dropped off several blocks away. The last thing she needed was anyone gossiping or making assumptions about where she had been or, worse, with whom.
The morning air was crisp, a subtle breeze playing with the hem of her dress as she walked, clutching her purse tightly to her side. The longer the distance, the heavier her steps became. She knew what she was walking into—and no amount of prepared exp
