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he had a wife, or even kids, but when she glanced at his left

hand, she didn’t see a ring. She wondered what other jobs he’d

had. Where else he worked, or if this was all he did. He

seemed too talented to have only ever done these kinds of

photos.

“Still. It’s okay to be nervous. Stu will keep you safe.

Everyone looks after everyone here. It’s like a big family. The

world might try to shame you, but you keep your head up, you

hear. Everything’ll be fine. Wherever you want to be, you’ll

eventually get there.”

“Thanks.” The word came out small, but Cassia meant it.

Rodger was being very kind. Even Stu had been kind to her.

No one had treated her badly.

She hoped Rodger was right. That she would be safe, that

she could get through this, that she and the other girls, and the

guys who worked here doing security, the management, and

even the male employees, though she hadn’t met any of them

yet, could be a family of sorts.

God knew she could use one.

Aside from being nearly broke, she was also incredibly and

unbearably lonely.

Chapter 3

Adalynn

After a long day of leading workshops, doing

presentations, talking about her work, giving talks,

networking, mingling, and catching up, Adalynn was dead on

her feet. It was a lucky thing that the

half-hour interview she’d

agreed to give at the end of the night could be done sitting

down.