he had a wife, or even kids, but when she glanced at his left
 
 hand, she didn’t see a ring. She wondered what other jobs he’d
 
 had. Where else he worked, or if this was all he did. He
 
 seemed too talented to have only ever done these kinds of
 
 photos.
 
 “Still. It’s okay to be nervous. Stu will keep you safe.
 
 Everyone looks after everyone here. It’s like a big family. The
 
 world might try to shame you, but you keep your head up, you
 
 hear. Everything’ll be fine. Wherever you want to be, you’ll
 
 eventually get there.”
 
 “Thanks.” The word came out small, but Cassia meant it.
 
 Rodger was being very kind. Even Stu had been kind to her.
 
 No one had treated her badly.
 
 She hoped Rodger was right. That she would be safe, that
 
 she could get through this, that she and the other girls, and the
 
 guys who worked here doing security, the management, and
 
 even the male employees, though she hadn’t met any of them
 
 yet, could be a family of sorts.
 
 God knew she could use one.
 
 Aside from being nearly broke, she was also incredibly and
 
 unbearably lonely.
 
 Chapter 3
 
 Adalynn
 
 After a long day of leading workshops, doing
 
 presentations, talking about her work, giving talks,
 
 networking, mingling, and catching up, Adalynn was dead on
 
 her feet. It was a lucky thing that the
 
 half-hour interview she’d
 
 agreed to give at the end of the night could be done sitting
 
 down.