Chapter 180

• A few days earlier, Elena stepped out of the building, her shoulders aching from a long day of scrubbing counters and folding linens in Howard's pristine penthouse. The evening air hit her like a cool wave, carrying the faint hum of city traffic as she adjusted her worn purse and started toward home.
• She'd barely crossed the threshold onto the sidewalk when a sleek black sedan pulled up sharp, blocking her path. The driver's door swung open, and a woman stepped out—tall, blonde, dressed in a tailored coat that screamed money. Elena froze, blinking in confusion.
• "Hi," the woman said, her voice warm as honey, lips curving into a disarming smile. "I'm Anastasia Carter. You work for Howard, don't you? He told me all about you—how honest and hardworking you are."