I stepped out of the van slowly.
The building towered above me, glass and steel catching the late afternoon light. It looked expensive. Too expensive. The kind of place I had only ever seen from the outside while walking past, pretending I belonged in that part of the city.
The driver cleared his throat politely and held the door open.
"This way, ma'am."
I followed them inside, still half expecting someone to stop us and say there had been some mistake.
The lobby alone was bigger than my entire old apartment. Marble floors, tall ceilings, quiet lighting that made everything glow softly.
Definitely Victor's style.
One of the men handed a key card to the concierge, who nodded like this happened every day.
Then we were in the elevator.
No one spoke.
My reflection stared back at me from the mirrored walls. I looked like someone who had just had her life packed into boxes and delivered somewhere she didn't choose.
The elevator chimed softly.
