Chapter 1

When I opened the bottom drawer of my desk, there it was inside a black bag, neatly stacked: ten bundles of crisp, sequentially numbered hundred-dollar bills.

I said nothing.

That day I made an excuse to work late into the night, and once everyone had left, I knocked on the boss's office door.

"Mr. James, someone stuffed a hundred grand in cash into my drawer."

In my last life, I never found that hundred grand in my drawer.

Three days later, Georgia Chavez, who'd started at the company the same day I did, reported me for embezzlement.

"I saw the supplier hand you that hundred grand with my own eyes, and then you put it in your drawer."

"Nova Sutton, I know your brother needs money for surgery, but you can't do it at the company's expense!"

The boss wouldn't hear a word of my explanation. He fired me on the spot and called the police, saying I'd taken bribes.

I lost not only the permanent-position slot that had almost been mine, along with the thirty grand in project bonuses.

I was finished in the industry, so thoroughly disgraced that no one else would hire me.

In the end, while cleaning windows to pay off my debts, I lost my footing and fell to my death.

Only after I died did I learn the truth: she'd taken money to plant that hundred grand and destroy me.

That way she could take over my project without anyone questioning it.

And the supplier I'd kept rejecting over quality problems could pass off substandard goods.

Get me kicked out of the company at the same time, and she'd have the only permanent-position slot all to herself.

This life, you can be the one who goes and sits behind bars.

...

"Nova, how are you still here?"

I turned around and saw Georgia Chavez standing behind me.

Her eyes flicked, as if by accident, toward the bottom drawer of my desk.

I sneered inwardly.

Last life, it was exactly at this hour that she'd been watching me.

She'd confirmed I hadn't found the money, then brought people the next day to catch me red-handed.

"I'm not done with the proposal yet. You go ahead and head home."

I looked at her, expressionless, my voice level.

Georgia stepped closer and lowered her voice, playing at concern.

"Nova, don't push yourself too hard."

"I know your brother needs money for his surgery, but your health comes first!"

Every line came back to money. Every line was a test.

"Thanks! I'll be done soon and heading out."

I turned back to my proposal and answered her without much interest.

"Oh right, Nova, did you get enough together for your brother's surgery?"

"Do you want me to lend you some? Just say the word if you need it."

"No need, I can handle it myself!"

I didn't even turn my head, just kept tapping at the keyboard.

The air between us went very awkward.

Then I turned and looked her straight in the eyes.

"Georgia, you seem awfully concerned about me today."

Her gaze wavered, and she gave a dry little laugh to cover it.

"We're close, aren't we? Of course we look out for each other."

"Well, you get back to it. I'll head out first. Don't stay too late."

I watched her back disappear out of the work area, then went straight to the boss's office and knocked.

"Mr. James, someone's trying to frame me."

I set the heavy black plastic bag right on his desk.

I pulled the zipper open, and the ten bundles of crisp, sequentially numbered hundreds spilled into view.

The boss's eyes swept over the money.

Then they settled on my face, sharp.

"What's this supposed to mean?"

"I found it in the bottom drawer of my desk."

He leaned back in his chair, watching me with real interest.

"Then why bring it to me?"

I took a deep breath and spoke plainly.

"Mr. James, honestly, this is the first time in my life I've ever been near this much cash."

"When I saw it, I'll admit I was tempted. It's not something I'm proud of."

He said nothing, just listened.

"But I went back and forth for a long time, and I decided I couldn't make that kind of mistake."

I gave a self-mocking little smile.

The hard set of his face eased a fraction, and he nodded.

"That's normal. Nothing to be ashamed of."

He paused, then shifted.

"But what makes you say someone's framing you?"

"Whoever heard of a person leaving money like that with no note, no explanation, not even a name?"

I answered him steadily, neither cowed nor overbearing.

The boss looked at me, and something like approval flickered in his eyes.

He stood, came over to me, and gave a small smile.

Then he leaned in slightly and murmured a few words in my ear.

I nodded and stepped out of the office.

I'd just reached the elevators when Georgia came out of one.

"Nova, all done with the proposal?"

I looked her in the eyes, my voice calm.

"Just finished. About to head home."

"How come you're back again?"

Georgia stepped out of the elevator and hooked her arm through mine.

"I was worried about you being all alone in the building!"

"So I figured I'd come back and walk out with you!"

As she talked, she looked me over.

Seeing that I had nothing in my hand but my phone, the corner of her mouth curved up before she could stop it.

"Come on, let's go! Look how late it is!"

Downstairs, she actually took an Uber and dropped me off in front of my building.