Chapter 3

3

Not many people at the club knew my real identity or background.

Barney knew too much, which meant Clarissa had fed him every detail.

I realized then that this wasn't an interview at all.

It was an ambush designed to humiliate me.

My face went cold as ice.

"If you want to hear me sing, buy a ticket at the club. I don't owe you a performance."

"And I don't want this job. Tell Clarissa to keep her fake charity to herself!"

I turned to walk out, but I didn't get far.

A sharp pain exploded at the back of my head as Barney grabbed my hair.

He pulled me back, his face twisted with malice.

"Who do you think you are, you little lounge act? You don't walk out on me!"

"Today, you're going to sing, and then I'm going to see what that mouth can really do…"

His hand reached for my waist, and I couldn't break his grip.

Panic flared, but I remembered the self-defense moves Frank had taught the girls.

I was wearing heels today, and I thanked God for that.

I slammed my heel onto his foot with everything I had.

As he howled in pain, I delivered a sharp kick between his legs.

He collapsed, groaning on the floor, and I bolted for the exit.

I didn't stop running until I was inside my house with the door locked.

My heart was hammering against my ribs, and my legs finally gave out.

I slumped onto the floor, gasping for air.

Just as I managed to calm down, I heard the front door open.

"Sadie! Are you home?"

Hearing Zach's voice, the composure I had fought for shattered.

I opened my door, desperate for some comfort from him.

But instead of a hug, I got a furious glare.

"Sadie, what the hell is wrong with you? Why did you hit Barney?"

"Clarissa went out of her way to get you that job! You're so ungrateful!"

I stared at him, stunned into silence.

The tears I wanted to shed dried up, replaced by a cold realization.

Zach saw my red eyes and seemed to realize his tone was too harsh.

He stepped forward, trying to grab my arm.

"I didn't mean it like that... I just think you shouldn't be so impulsive."

"Come with me to apologize. I'll smooth things over so you can keep the job."

I shoved his hand away, my voice trembling with rage.

"I am not apologizing to that pig, and I don't want that job."

"If you want to know why I hit him, go ask what he tried to do to me!"

"Zach! Professor Miller needs you back at the lab. Something went wrong with the experiment!"

Clarissa appeared at the doorway, cutting me off.

"I'm coming," Zach called back.

He turned to me, his expression hardening again.

"Sadie, think about what you've done. We'll talk when I get back."

With that, he followed Clarissa out without a backward glance.

For the next two days, Zach didn't come home.

On the day I was set to leave, Frank called me to a local diner.

He insisted the whole crew from the club wanted to give me a proper send-off.

When I arrived, I passed a private booth and heard familiar voices.

It was Zach and his college friends.

"She's basically your sister, man. You really okay with her working for Barney?"

Zach gave a light, dismissive laugh.

"Clarissa checked. Her uncle was just joking about the singing."

"Besides, that boutique is respectable. What other decent place would hire someone like her?"

"I'm just trying to settle her future so I don't owe her anything anymore."

"True. You're going to be a professor. You can't have a stain like her on your record."

The words hit me like a physical blow to the chest.

The air felt thin, and my heart felt like it was being squeezed by cold hands.

Zach knew exactly what Barney was like.

He just didn't care about me, or the hurt his fiancé was inflicting.

I didn't want to hear another word.

As I turned to leave, I bumped right into Clarissa, who was waiting for me.

She didn't mince words. "Sadie, I know you've always been in love with Zach."

"This is the money you spent on him over the years. I'm paying you back."

"There's extra in there for your troubles. It's enough to live on without working for a long time."

I didn't take the envelope. I forced myself to remain calm.

"Does Zach know about this?"

She stepped closer and shoved the thick envelope into my arms.

"Of course he does. This was his idea."

"Since you won't take a real job, he figured you just wanted more cash."