Saved: A Billionaire Romance (The Saved Series Book 1) by Lexi Larue

Chapter 1
    The September sun felt warm on my face as I stepped off the bus onto one of Chicago's busiest city streets. The winter had seemed endless, and it felt wonderful to be able to walk outside without three layers of clothing. I was dressed immaculately, as usual, in a tan raincoat that tied at the waist over the top of a navy blue wrap dress. My black heels cost more than I cared to remember, but they made me stand out at the radio station where there were 20 other interns vying for a full-time position at Harter Communications. They say you should dress for the job you want, not the job you have, so I followed that advice and always looked my best. My dark brown hair was perfectly curled, falling in waves down to the middle of my back. I wore tiny diamond earrings, which were a gift from a past I tried every day to forget.
    I only had to walk about a block to get to the bus stop, and I still had 30 minutes before I had to be at work. I slipped into a Starbucks and grabbed a nonfat latte and half a whole-wheat bagel. Guilt swept over me as I took my first bite, thinking about how every bite would go straight to my hips. It took me a few seconds to snap out of my trance and remind myself that no one was there to weigh me anymore. I didn't have to keep a strict food journal or put in at least an hour a day at the gym unless I chose to. I wondered if I would ever get to a point where his face didn't flash before me or his voice didn't echo in my ears every time I ate something. After a year and a half in Chicago, I still scanned the crowded streets for his face. One time, I had seen a man that looked just like him from behind, and my whole body trembled with fear. When he turned his head and I saw that it wasn't him, I had to sit on a bench and collect myself. He would be pleased to know that he still had such an influence on my life. I could only hope that he had finally given up on me and moved on.
    I arrived at the office about 15 minutes before 8:00, and I hurried to the elevator with all of the other people headed to their various jobs. Harter Communications was located on the 15 th floor of a 20-story building. High above the Chicago streets, the company played music for the city and the surrounding areas. There was a country station, a rock station, and the number one hit music station in the city, KISS 100.5, playing all of the hottest songs on the radio.  
    I was an intern for the afternoon DJ and station manager, Joe Jones. I did all of the grunt work necessary to keep him happy and keep his days running smoothly. I didn’t mind making his coffee or picking up his dry cleaning because it meant I got to be right in the middle of all of the action and hear about things that most other people were not privy to. I was learning so much, and I knew it was just a stepping stone to bigger and better things. I would finally get to use my Communications degree and make something of my life without help from anyone.
    The first thing I did when I got off the elevator was pick up Joe's messages from the front desk. Brielle, receptionist extraordinaire, was waiting for me. She was the closest thing I had to a friend in Chicago, and she had my back. Of course, she knew nothing about my past because I was not going to let anyone feel bad for me. To Brielle, I was just another young woman trying to climb the corporate ladder.
    "Looks like another busy day is in the works here, Allie." She handed me a large pile of messages and motioned for me to come closer so she could whisper. "From what I hear, there are some major programming changes in the works. The big boss wants to mix it up a bit. I've only met him once, and believe me, he is not the kind of man people say no to."
    "Great. Well, I just hope it doesn't negatively affect me. I'm just getting used to being here, and I love my job, even if it is mostly grunt work. At least Joe is nice to me. Keep me posted."
    "Will do. Hey, a bunch of us are headed out tonight for happy