Cassandra's POV
My hands shake as I stand in front of the conference room, but I don't let anyone see.
"The Chen-Morrison merger will save this company twelve million dollars," I say, clicking to the next slide. Twenty pairs of eyes stare at me from around the glass table. "I've spent six months on this strategy."
My boss, Mr. Hoffman, nods. He's actually smiling. This is it—the promotion I've worked three years for. The money that will finally pay for Mom's treatment.
"Excellent work, Miss Vale," Mr. Hoffman says.
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Marcus, my fiancé, squeezes my hand under the table. Everything is perfect.
Then Marcus stands up.
"Actually, sir, I need to make a correction." His voice is smooth, confident. "Cassandra helped me put this presentation together, but the merger strategy is mine. I've been working on it since January."
My stomach drops. "What?"
"I have all the original files on my computer," Marcus continues, not looking at me. "Time-stamped documents, email chains with the clients. Cassandra is a wonderful assistant, but the credit belongs to the lead analyst."
The room goes silent. Mr. Hoffman's smile disappears.
"Marcus, that's not true—" I start.
"Miss Vale, please sit down." Mr. Hoffman's voice is ice-cold now.
My legs feel like water, but I stay standing. "Sir, those are my files. My research. I can prove—"
"Security will escort you to HR," he cuts me off. "We'll discuss this privately."
The meeting ends. Everyone leaves quickly, avoiding my eyes. Marcus walks out without looking back.
I'm still standing there, alone, when Simone rushes in. My best friend since college, my roommate, the person who stayed up with me for three nights straight helping me finish this presentation.
"Cass, oh my God, are you okay?" She hugs me tight.
"He stole my work, Simone. He's lying—"
"I know, I know." She pulls back, her face full of concern. "Come on. Let's go to HR and fix this."
But HR doesn't want to fix anything.
The woman behind the desk—Ms. Peterson—slides a folder across to me. "Miss Vale, we've been investigating some irregularities in your accounts."
"What irregularities?"
She opens the folder. Bank statements. Transfer records. All with my name on them.
"Three point two million dollars has been moved from company accounts over the past four months," Ms. Peterson says. "All transactions used your access codes."
The room spins. "That's impossible. I never—"
"The evidence is clear." Ms. Peterson stands up. "Your employment is terminated effective immediately. The police have been notified."
"The police?" My voice comes out as a whisper.
Simone gasps beside me. "There has to be a mistake—"
"I'm afraid not." Ms. Peterson's face is stone. "Security will escort you out. You have five minutes to collect your personal items."
I walk to my desk like I'm in a nightmare. This can't be real. Four years of working eighty-hour weeks. Four years of proving myself. Gone.
My computer is already locked. My drawers are empty.
"They cleaned it out this morning," the security guard says. Not unkindly. "I'm sorry, Miss Vale."
My phone buzzes. A text from my bank: Your account has been frozen pending investigation.
Then another from the hospital: Payment required for Margaret Vale's treatment. Please contact billing immediately.
My knees buckle. The security guard catches my arm.
"Ma'am, I need to escort you out now."
Simone walks beside me, holding my hand. "It's going to be okay, Cass. We'll figure this out. You can stay at the apartment as long as you need. We'll call a lawyer. We'll—"
We step out of the elevator into the lobby.
Marcus is there. With his arm around Simone's waist.
I stop walking. "What?"
Simone pulls away from me, moving closer to Marcus. The pity on her face shifts into something else. Something that looks almost like pleasure.
"I'm sorry, Cassandra," she says. But she's smiling. "You were always so smart. So perfect. So much better than everyone else. It got really old."
"You?" My voice breaks. "You helped him?"
Marcus laughs. "Simone's been very helpful. She's the one who got me your access codes. Planted the evidence. Even helped me copy your merger strategy." He kisses her cheek. "She's been wonderful."
The betrayal hits me like a truck. My fiancé. My best friend.
"Why?" I whisper.
"Because I can," Marcus says. "Because people like you think hard work matters. But it doesn't. I have connections. I have money. And now I have your job and your reputation." He shrugs. "Nothing personal."
"Your mom has two weeks, by the way," Simone adds, almost cheerfully. "Without treatment, I mean. The hospital called me this morning since I'm your emergency contact. Well, I was your emergency contact. I had them remove me from the list."
I want to scream. I want to hit them. I want to wake up from this nightmare.
Instead, I run.
I burst through the front doors into the rain. It's pouring, freezing, and I have nowhere to go.
My phone buzzes again. A number I don't recognize.
The message makes my blood turn to ice: Cassandra Vale, you are wanted for questioning regarding embezzlement charges. Officers en route to your location. Do not leave the area.
Through the glass doors, I see two police officers entering the building lobby.
I run harder, my work heels splashing through puddles. My phone dies. My clothes are soaked. I have forty-seven cents in my pocket and a mother dying six blocks away.
This morning, I had everything.
Now I have nothing.
I stop at a corner, gasping for air, and that's when I see it.
A black car, expensive and sleek, pulling up beside me through the rain.
The window rolls down.
The man inside is the most beautiful person I've ever seen—sharp features, dark hair, eyes that seem to glow in the dim light. He looks at me like he's been searching for me his whole life.
"Cassandra Vale," he says, his voice smooth as silk. "You look like someone who needs a miracle."
I should run. I should scream. I should do anything except what I do next.
But I'm desperate, broken, and out of options.
"Who are you?" I whisper.
He smiles, and it's both terrifying and perfect.
"Someone who can give you everything you've lost," he says. "And so much more."
He opens the car door.
Behind me, I hear sirens getting closer.
Ahead of me
is a stranger who shouldn't exist.
I make my choice.
I get in the car.