love was never part of the deal

Love Was Never Part of the Deal

Chapter One: The Agreement

I have always believed hunger is louder than fear. Hunger growls without shame. It demands attention. Fear only whispers, waiting for the right moment to remind you of what you stand to lose. On the morning I walked into Elias Morel’s office, hunger led the way.The building smelled of polished wood and expensive silence. My shoes clicked against the marble floor, each sound announcing how far I was from the life I knew. I held my handbag tightly, my fingers brushing against the folded eviction notice inside. Three days. That was all I had before the landlord would lock our door and throw our lives onto the street.Elias Morel stood when I entered. He was taller than I...