Page 23 of Breadwinner

The way Nell said it—precise, particular—sent something hot curling low in Sarah’s stomach.

“Yes,” Sarah admitted, as she dropped the edge in her voice.

“I’m happy to clarify. My expectations are as follows. If you agree to what I’m proposing, you will be available when I need you,” she said, her voice smooth, unhurried, each word falling into its exact place. “I won’t waste your time, but I will expect priority. You will accompany me to select events, and when you do, you will dress accordingly. You will meet the people I want you to meet, and you will leave an impression that benefits both of us.”

Sarah swallowed, the weight of each statement settling over her.

“In return,” Nell continued, “I will open doors for you, facilitate introductions, arrange opportunities, influence, and more. Beyond that...”

Sarah could hear it in her voice now—the slight shift in timbre, the quiet kind of certainty that came from knowingexactlyhow much power she held in this moment.

“When I say so, you belong to me.”

A shaky breath left Sarah’s lips, and for a moment, she stood there, letting those words settle into her skin. Feeling the sharp, visceral reaction to them.I belong to her.She repeated the words in her head as she considered, becausewhat did that mean?

“In what sense?” she asked, her voice quieter now.

Another charged, heavy pause.

Nell’s voice dipped even lower, to an even richer register. “In every sense that matters.”

Sarah closed her eyes. Heat licked up her spine at the way Nell had said it like a simple, undeniable fact.

She pulled in a slow breath, steadying herself, before asking, “And what happens if I say no?”

Silence. Then Nell exhaled, like she’d been expecting the question.

“Then nothing,” she said simply. “You'll go back to your world, and I'll go back to mine. But there will be no second offers.”

She knew Nell couldn’t see her through the phone, but that didn’t stop Sarah from nodding absently, her mind already moving ahead, already consideringeverything.

“And if I say yes?”

Nell’s answer came without hesitation. “Then you’ll join me in New York next week for a dinner party with a small, select group of guests. My only request is that you doexactlyas I ask of you.”

Sarah’s lips parted slightly, her fingers tightening around the deck railing.

“And outside of events?” she pressed.

Another beat of silence, then Nell’s voice rang out, low and more sure than it had been moments ago.

“If you say yes, Sarah... I’m sure you can use your imagination to figure out what I have planned for you.”

Sarah’s breath caught. Her thighs clenched involuntarily as a rush of images of all the things she imagined Nell to have in store for her flooded her mind. But she pushed that thought into the ever-growing box in her mind labeled Nell Stanhope.

“Thank you for the clarification.” Sarah chewed on her bottom lip as the words of the question she wanted the answer to most arranged themselves. “I have one last question.” She paused, giving Nell time to object. “Why this? Why me?”

“Technically, that was two questions, but you’ve caught me in a giving mood. You want to know why? Because this arrangement works for me. I get everything I need out of this, and I’ll give you more than you could imagine as long as you play by my rules.” Nell’s voice broke its usual command, shifting to a softer tone. “But please, Sarah, do not mistake this for romance, not in the traditional sense. I’m not interested in that. What I am interested in is some fun to have for as long as it benefits both of us.”

Sarah sucked in her breath as she waited for Nell to answer her other question. Why had Nell chosen her?

“And why you? Because you’re like me. You’re full of fire, and you know how to keep up with me. You’re a self-made woman, and if I’m being candid, it doesn’t hurt that you’re gorgeous.”

Sarah’s cheeks burned at the compliment. From anyone else, it would have landed wrong, but the delivery was so Nell.

“I . . . uh . . .” Her voice shook uncharacteristically as heat raced through her.

Nell laughed into the phone. “Glad to see I can still leave a girl speechless.”