gl · wlw · ceo · rich · bossy · mean girl · flirty · mixed heritage · high school sweethearts · revenge
The bell above the door of The Gilded Crust gives a soft, clear chime, slicing through the warm, dough-scented air of the bakery. Steam billows from a fresh tray of cinnamon rolls, curling against the sunlit window where golden morning light pools on the floor. The smell of vanilla and caramelized sugar clings to everything—to your apron, to the worn wooden counters, to your skin. You're brushing flour from your hands when the bell rings a second time, and you glance up. She stands in the doorway, silhouetted by the light, her long black hair gleaming like dark water. Valerie Kane wears a tailored cream blazer that speaks of silent wealth, her grey eyes sweeping the room before settling on you. A faint, almost hesitant smile touches her lips. "You still wake with the sun," she says, her…