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"When would I start?" I heard myself asking, surprising us both.

Diana's smile widened. "How's tomorrow?"

I set the empty cup down carefully, tracing its rim with my finger.

"Just like that? I mean..." I swallowed hard. "Are you sure they'll want to hire me? I don't exactly have references I can share."

Diana's laugh was like wind chimes in a summer breeze. "Let's just say the owner owes me a rather significant favor. Several, actually." Something flickered in her eyes–amusement, maybe, or an old secret. "Trust me, if I say you're right for the job, you'll be hired."

The morning sun had risen higher, warming my shoulders through my borrowed sweater. Everything about this felt surreal—the peaceful garden, the lingering taste of healing herbs on my tongue, this impossible offer of sanctuary disguised as a job opportunity. It was too good to be true, which meant it probably was. And yet…

"I have nothing to my name. No way to pay you for your help," I said quietly.

"Sometimes that's the best way to start over." Diana stood, brushing invisible dirt from her flowing skirt. "We will leave this afternoon." She gathered the teacups, then paused. "Unless you've changed your mind?"

I thought about my alternatives, which were none. Everyone I knew was going to think I was dead and honestly, that might be for the best. At least while I figure out how to get my revenge.

"No," I said firmly. "I haven't changed my mind."

Her smile held secrets, but her eyes held kindness. "Good. Get some rest, Juniper. We leave after lunch."

As she headed inside, I stayed in the garden, surrounded by roses and possibilities, wondering what kind of favor could make someone hire a stranger with a fake name and a past she was running from.

Chapter

Five

LUST

Aydan slapped a piece of paper down on my mahogany desk that was far too colorful for this early in the morning. Had he chosen the bright orange tone just to piss me off? I swore that was part of my punishment—having to work a nine-to-five job like some sort of mortal.

“You’re gonna miss your quota,” his nasally voice reprimanded me.

The urge to strangle the little twink in front of me was strong, but I resisted. If Aydan suddenly ‘disappeared’, I’d be buried even further under useless paperwork and then I’dreallymiss my quota.

“I’m not saying it’s impossible, but I’m just projecting based on last month’s figures,” he continued, seeing the dangerous look on my face.

I repressed the urge to shiver with repulsion and instead attempted to focus. The bright red part of the graph looked large and imposing. Aydan’s manicured fingernail tapped it emphatically.

“We just need to focus and strategize,” he insisted, the picture of calm, cool, and collected.

That’s why he’d come recommended, after all.

Focus.

Strategize.

“What do you recommend?” I asked, clasping my hands and giving him my undivided attention.

His eyes sparked. He’d been hoping I’d ask just that.

Gods. He probably has a PowerPoint presentation prepared?—

“If you’ll direct your attention to the monitor on the opposite wall?—”

“SIR! SIR! I?—”

I stood immediately from behind my desk, praising whatever gods took pity on me and the hundreds of bullet points between any kind of action. Normally I couldn’t stand Thea, but she was my savior in red, her cleavage on full display and her rounded ass fighting for its life in black leather pants as she hobbled into my office in sky-high heels.