Ari Tayrey has never felt ashamed of not having enough money before. This comes close.

It's a long time since she decided she wouldn't make use of her family's wealth, but they'd all been in the same situation shipside back then, she and her new friends, and jokes about apprentice spacers' meager salaries were one more way to bring them together. Besides, the Tradelines took care of everything necessary, if she spent her money on tailoring and imported coffee it hadn't mattered.

Now? She's working hard, but she got here all of two days ago, with absolutely nothing. No way to reach her savings, or even the family money if she changed her mind about it. She's on her own. And she's determined to make a success of it, but it can't be done in an instant.

'I'm not... currently in position to agree that sort of contract,' she says stiffly. 'What's your timescale?'