Paying her Way

After selling her company for millions, Erin McCallister has more money than she’d ever imagined. But wealth feels like a suit that doesn’t quite fit, especially after an ex began to covet the money more than Erin herself. When she leaves an unusually generous tip for a hardworking server, Erin has no idea that she’s about to change both their lives forever.

Iris Patterson isn’t looking for a handout. A history grad student juggling bills, deadlines, and a lifetime of scraping by, she’s wary of Erin’s charm—and even more wary of Erin’s fortune. But when a critical grant falls through, Erin refuses to watch Iris’s hard-won future evaporate.

As their lives tangle and boundaries blur, they’re forced to confront what money makes possible—and what it can quietly destroy. With privilege on one side and hardship on the other, will love be enough? Or will the imbalance destroy what has only just begun…