Chapter 46. A Job I'm Good At

Vanessa’s POV

I covered my ears with my pillow the moment I heard a knock on the door. My head throbbed, a dull reminder of last night’s disaster. I rolled onto my side, groaning. Every muscle in my body felt stiff, like I had spent the night wrestling with my own thoughts—which, in a way, I had.

I didn’t want to get up. Not yet. Not when the memory of that man's touch still lingered on my skin like something I couldn’t scrub off. I wrapped my arms around myself, shuddering in disgust. The way he had looked at me with a smug smile as he shoved the crumpled bill into my chest like I was nothing more than a toy for his amusement—it made my stomach turn. I had promised myself I would never be put in that position again. Never.

Another knock came, more insistent this time.

“Vanessa, open up!”

Claire's voice, slightly annoyed.

I sighed and pushed myself off the mattress, my bare feet hitting the cold floor as I walked to the door. Rubb