Swiveling my head back and forth, I scanned for anyone who seemed to have lost the card. The staff were distracted by my mother’s poor condition. Nobody was even looking in my direction. As it shimmered in the light, a thought crossed my mind.

I could use this for Mom. It was my best and only option. Rising to my feet, I traipsed toward Doctor Asclepius with a stab of fear in my stomach.

“Here,” I said. Handing the plastic card to him, he plucked it from my palm and then lifted his silver-lined glasses and squinted.

“This belongs to Andre Kingsley, the CEO of the Mars Group. They’re one of the biggest enterprises in Dragon City.” He pointed to the card’s logo. “Why would you have it?”

“I’m a recent hire of his. His administrative assistant, in fact,” I added. Doctor Asclepius held his chin, knitting his brow in suspicion. My heart picked up in pace, but I remained outwardly confident. My mother’s life was on the line, after all.

“I shoved it in my pocket without thinking. He said it was for a salary advance until I received my first check.”

“Strange you’d forget something like that.”

“New job, mother in the hospital. You understand, right?” I asked, remaining as calm as I could to maintain the lie.

The doctor glanced at me and wrinkled his forehead in question. I held my breath, preparing myself for the letdown of having to return it before I could use it. But then he reached out and squeezed my shoulder in reassurance.

“Head over to the front and pay. We’ll take care of your mother.”

“Thanks,” I said, swallowing down my guilt. I was filled with remorse but also relieved. After making my way to the front desk, I handed the admin the credit card. I licked my lips nervously, panic tingling my chest as I prayed it wasn’t flagged for fraud.

After she ran it, I heard a few clicks. I tapped the wall, my palms sweating. She glanced at the computer, and then I saw the receipt printout.

“You’re all paid up.”

I held my chest, breathing a sigh of relief, and then thanked her. That was a hefty bill, and there was no way I wouldn’t be caught. It was time to turn myself into the source. After leaving the hospital, I found the yellow bee cab.

Once I was in the back seat, the cabbie asked, “Where to next?”

I held up the credit card.

“I have to return this.”

The driver inhaled, raising his brows, and abruptly turned around. Promptly, he started the car and drove off. Everyone knew Mr. Kingsley. Some were afraid of him, too, judging by my driver’s reaction.

Once we arrived, I couldn’t believe my eyes. The mansion reached upward in an oblong shape, the windows perfect reflections of the dusty blue sky. It was several stories tall, and as I stepped out of the cab, I felt its looming presence.

I wasn’t going to let a building intimidate me, though. I’d been to prison. A CEO’s place was nothing compared to that. Squaring my shoulders, I ascended the front steps.

After walking through the high-tech rotating doors, I was in an open area with an ornate carpet and wood-paneled walls. Several pictures and plaques hung, glinting from the decorative lights. To the left was a large winding staircase with glass between the railing and the steps. It was modern-looking and elegant.

To my right was a wide hallway that led to several rooms with closed doors. People were walking around, heads either on the phone or carrying various household products. It was more like a business than a place to live.

“Oh, Dan. Can you grab my coffee?” a woman with cherry-painted lips and platinum hair said. Her hair was wrapped in a braided ponytail tied with a black ribbon; her earrings glittered as she moved. She balanced a phone in her right hand while adjusting her six-inch jet-black heels with her other. Dan plucked her coffee from the front desk, which drew my eye.

Behind a desk, straight in front of me, was a perky woman in a slate pencil skirt, her chestnut hair slicked into a bun with a fancy pin that had butterflies on it. The wings rotated in color depending on the angle of the light as she rapidly swiveled and wheeled herself around the desk. I could see a gleaming silver wireless earpiece that was connected to a phone as she answered repeatedly.

“Mr. Kingsley’s residence, Sarah Triton speaking. How can I help you?”

Standing there, I must have been a sight, wearing my sweater with wayward threads fluttering in the breeze of passersby and my jeans peppered with rips, exposing my pale skin. Glancing at my sneakers, I felt embarrassed from the separation at the toes and dirt-covered laces. Even the servants were dressed better than me.

Still, I had this card, and I needed to return it. Lifting my chin, I continued. Sarah was jotting something down as I approached. She barely had the patience to look up at me as she twisted her burgundy lips in concentration.

“Can you hold, please?” she asked the person on the line, tapped her earpiece, and then gave me a once over. “How can I help you?” she asked, tapping the desk with her matte violet nails.

“I have something of Mr. Kingsley’s.”

Sarah scoffed, shaking her head.

“Which are you? A contractor, a journalist, or just a fan?”

My chest radiated with heat as my frustration mounted. I didn’t appreciate her dismissive attitude. Keep it together, Olivia, I thought.

“I’m none of the above,” I answered.

“Well, Mr. Kingsley doesn’t see random nobodies, I’m afraid.” She flashed a purposely egregious grin and then went to the side computer and began typing. Her nails clacked against the keys at a furious pace.

“I have something of his he will be highly interested in getting back. It’s a personal item that’s linked with one of his accounts.”

Ms. Triton sighed and tapped her earpiece.

“His accounts?” she asked. “This better be good, or I’ll trespass you,” she said.

“Scouts honor,” I said, holding up three fingers. She rolled her eyes at my flippant gesture.

Tapping her phone and then the earpiece, she said, “Mr. Kingsley, I have someone out here.” She glared at me with impatience. “Something financial in nature.”

There was a brief hold as Sarah’s russet eyes darted, her knee bouncing.

“Yes, sir.” She rose and pointed to a closed door. “You can wait there. He’ll be here shortly.”

My pulse quickened as I nodded and walked into the room. It wasn’t every day that I met a CEO, not that I hadn’t been around people like this before. My family was no strangers to people with money, but having a convict representing them was another thing altogether.

Once in the meeting room, I took a seat across from the door and waited. There was a stitch in my stomach as I tapped my toes. How long was this going to take? I just wanted to get this over with.

Now that I was alone, my thoughts wandered to my mother, and my heart sank. She’d been so happy in her earlier life, having been born to a billionaire. Of course, I reaped the financial benefits of this, but it was my mother’s love and strength of spirit that mattered most. Money wasn’t so important to me.

My dad, Barry Johnson, was by no means wealthy, but my mother wanted to marry him. Their relationship was loving, but later, Mom found out that Dad had a secret affair with Amanda. It wasn’t until her father passed away that Mom learned the truth.

Since my mom had no interest in managing a Lanchester Company, naturally, my father took over. Once his status in the company was secured, that was when he decided to tell my mother about Amanda, which devastated Mom. Dad didn’t understand the value of a devoted partner he had in my mother.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, he then framed Mom for abusing Amanda, saying she’d pushed Amanda down the stairs. That’s where I drew the line. I wouldn’t allow my father to erode my mom’s spirit any more than he already had. Though it pained me greatly to lose my freedom, I took the blame so my mother didn’t need to be locked up.

My chest felt tight, and I balled my hands into fists, recalling the toxic experiences. Shakily, I held my face in my palm, thinking that I was the one to blame for my mother’s suicide attempt. If I hadn’t gone to prison for her, she’d still be able to enjoy life, and today, she’d be free. My arms went numb, and I felt sick to my stomach.

I’m so sorry, Mom.

Just as I was at the peak of my anxiety, I heard a click and then a slight creak as the door opened. Embarrassed, I dropped my hands, hoping to hide my emotional state. Lifting my chin, I glanced at the new person in the room.

When our eyes met, I lost my breath. Whoever he was, was young and incredibly handsome. It couldn’t be Mr. Kingsley, could it? He didn’t seem old enough to be a CEO.

His hazel green eyes glittered, the catchlights of the sun flashing in them. As he stepped in, his curly sepia-brown hair bounced slightly. My eyes slid down his moon-shaped sharp jaw to his full lips as he said, “I’m Mr. Kingsley. I heard you have something of mine.”

I paused before speaking. I was in shock, but then I remembered my manners.

“Good to meet you. Mr. Kingsley. My name is Olivia Lanchester. I found your credit card while at the hospital.”

I tried to swallow with my suddenly dry mouth. He was breathtakingly attractive, and I hadn’t been with a man in years. Fumbling with my pocket, I reached in and retrieved the plastic. As he studied the object, my hands were wicked with sweat. Something about him scared me.

His emerald hazel eyes roved between it and me, and then he approached the seat I was in. Mere inches from me now, I could smell a plethora of fragrances; there was a sharp, brisk aftershave that had a hint of mint mixed with freshly pressed clothes.

My breathing picked up as I rolled back a few inches. Inside, I knew to stay away.

“The thing is, I had to use it.” My voice sounded quiet in my tight throat. He glanced down at his sleeves and adjusted the cuff links, holding his wrist close to his gorgeous face, eyeing me with his striking irises.

He angled his thickly shaped brows and stared me down. I gulped, twisting my Sorrento blonde ponytail in my fingers. A flash of shame stung my chest when I imagined what he thought of my chipped nails and calloused palms. What if he found out about my past?

Blood was creeping into my cheeks, tingeing them red. Pressured to provide an explanation, I blurted out, “My mother was dying in front of my eyes, and the doctor gave me an ultimatum. If I didn’t pay right then and there, she wouldn’t receive the appropriate treatment. I-I found the card, and I took advantage of it.”

My heart raced as I heard the words leave my mouth. This was more confessional and unpolished than I’d planned. Having just been released from prison, it would have been prudent to sugarcoat, but I didn’t think fast enough. I licked my lips nervously as I awaited his response.

“So, Olivia, how do you plan to compensate for my loss?”