from Lucas, perhaps, or maybe some grand gesture to bulldoze his way into her life-but the day began as uneventfully as any other. Her stu

rself that Lucas's text had been a flee

was shattered when

er stomach flipping when she

hallway, she answere

re. "I'm calling to let you know that Mr. Sterling has arranged for an initia

pped a beat. "An

mount, and Mr. Sterling has indicated it's only the beginning. He's also expressed

know how to process this. "Can I as

briefest of moments.

leaned against the wall for support, her br

r will be completed within the hour. Mr. Sterling was ve

ollars? It was an amount so far beyond anything

hink about this,"

hat the funds are already in motion. If you

Emily staring at her p

Enterprises, Lucas leaned back in his chair, a s

e chair across the desk. "Ten million? Y

. "It's not ab

"It's about the girl. You're trying

dening. "I'm not trying to buy anything

"Worthwhile, huh? Is that

out before him, glittering with opportunity. But for the first time, it wasn't th

hile her mind raced. When the final bell rang, she stayed behind, pacing the

was-a confirmation from Lucas's office detailing the donation, complete with

a whirlwind of gratitude, suspicion, an

n. This time, it was

ing: Did Av

hovering over the screen. F

did. I don't eve

e to say anything. Just use i

... overwhelming. Are

e never been more s

idn't want to believe that someone like Lucas Sterling could genuinely care about he

But I still want to kno

onse cam

e you showed me someth

nted to push him away, to keep the walls around her fir

, she felt the smallest crack in