Bella looked across her desk to where Madison sat rigidly before her. Even now, the girl was determined to force an air of defiance in the wake of the disaster she’d instigated.
Bella shook her head in distaste. Not only for the detestable young woman sitting before her, but for the undoubtedly unfortunate circumstances that she was sure had pushed Madison to this point. Bella herself remembered that desolate, desperate climb to the top. Clawing your way up from nothing was never pretty but allowing yourself to become so deadened on the inside was no way to live.
Her business wasn’t a pretty one – Bella knew that. But she’d worked herself to the bone to create a place where her workers could do their jobs efficiently, and in relative safety. However, the last few days had made it
