Emily’s POV

The rest of the afternoon passed in a suffocating fog. I couldn't focus on a single lecture. When my final class ended, Ethan was waiting outside the building, asking if we could go on a date or if he could at least drive me home. I just shook my head, completely ignoring his hurt expression as I hurried straight to the curb and slid into the back of a waiting cab.

As the taxi crawled through afternoon traffic, Daniel’s text replayed on an endless loop in my mind: Be back at the penthouse by 5:00 PM sharp for your payment.

A treacherous, heavy heat flared low in my...