Chapter 10

Elise was in a mood. She tossed and turned in bed so much she was convinced she’d lost five pounds. Normally, that would’ve been cause for celebration. But not in her current situation. These days, most of her mental energy was spent calculating what she could afford to eat without running out of money before payday.

Her stomach growled. Deprivation didn’t suit her.

Her salary at the mall just barely covered her room and a handful of groceries. There was no wiggle room for luxuries like a haircut or a mani-pedi.

With a yawn, Elise flipped onto her back and tried counting shoes in her head to relax—her old go-to technique. Stilettos, wedges, boots, flats, sandals—maybe if she got to fifty she’d finally drift off.

The next morning, she rushed into the mall. She shouldn’t have taken that long, hot shower—no matter how good it felt. Then, she’d missed breakfast and was cutting it dangerously close to being late.

She dashed up to her first customer, clutching the large cup of coffee she’d grabbed on the way in. She needed caffeine to function—non-negotiable. Unfortunately, her grip on the cup wasn’t secure. While juggling a stack of magazines, she lost control and watched in horror as the entire cup dumped into the customer’s lap.