Chapter 1:

The Spark

The rooftop bar buzzed with Friday night energy, strings of golden lights swaying overhead like captured stars. I gripped my gin and tonic, the glass cool against my palm, and tried to ignore the ache in my feet from heels I only wore when I needed to feel powerful. Another week of back-to-back meetings, spreadsheets, and pretending I had my shit together. Twenty-eight years old and my biggest thrill lately was hitting “send” on a perfectly formatted report. Pathetic.

I leaned against the railing, city lights glittering below like scattered diamonds. The wind tugged at the hem of my little black dress, short enough to remind...