The cool night air rushed around me, brushing against my bare legs. My coat barely covered me, and the brush of wind felt like hands trailing over my skin. My heels clicked softly on the pavement as I crossed toward the glass doors, the sound echoing too loudly in my ears. But I lifted my chin higher, pretending I had walked into places like this all my life.

Inside, the lobby stole my breath all over again. The floors were polished marble, so shiny I could see faint reflections of the golden ...