Chapter 2

After parting with Lena, Aria started her walk home.

It wasn’t a far distance from the cafe to her house, but at that time, a stroll seemed like the best idea..

Strolling had always been a hobby, especially in the evening or after dark. Simply walking, feeling the wind on the skin, having the chance to simply relax and let your thoughts envelop you.

The problem was that with the hustle and bustle of work, trying to make money, she’d found less and less time to indulge.

The streets glistened faintly under the scattered streetlights, the rain from earlier leaving puddles behind.. The scent of petrichor hung heavy in the air.

Every step toward home felt heavy, weighted with exhaustion. She clutched her bag closer, half-hoping the world would stay distant enough tonight that she could just disappear into her small apartment.

Eventually reaching home, she walked in.

The building was quiet, as if it too were holding its breath. The paint on the walls had begun to chip away, and the narrow stairwell smelled faintly of damp concrete and old carpet.

Up on the third floor, her apartment door creaked as she unlocked it, the sound far too loud in the stillness. She stepped inside cautiously, calling softly, “Mom? I’m home.”

The living room was dimly lit, the single lamp in the corner casting long shadows across the walls. Her mother, Elise Brooks, sat slumped on the sofa, wrapped in a thin blanket. Her pale face looked smaller than usual under the harsh lamplight, eyes fluttering shut for just a moment before she opened them to see Aria.

“Aria… you’re home,” Elise croaked, voice hoarse and weak.

Aria dropped her bag to the floor and rushed to her mother’s side, kneeling. “I finished my shift. How are you feeling?”

Elise attempted a smile, but it faltered almost immediately. “Better… than yesterday,” she said softly, her hand reaching up to brush a loose strand of hair from Aria’s face. “You… you don’t have to keep working so hard, you know. I hate seeing you like this.”

Aria shook her head, gripping her mother’s hand. “I have to, Mom. I need to get your medicine. You need it, and I can’t wait. You know that.”

Elise let out a faint, sad laugh, a sound tinged with both pride and guilt. “I know, my love. You’ve always been brave. Sometimes too brave.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t give you a better life”, she said quietly, almost a whisper.

Aria’s stomach twisted at the sight of her mother so frail. She had grown used to illness, yes, but it never became easier. Each day was a reminder of the precarious balance they lived on, a balance that could tip at any moment. She brushed her fingers against Elise’s hand, trying to convey a strength she didn’t feel in herself.

“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll find a way,” she said in a whisper,, as if saying it aloud would make it more real.

For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then Elise sighed, closing her eyes briefly. “I just wish I could do more for you,” she murmured. “You shouldn’t have to bear this all alone.”

Aria’s throat tightened. “You’ve done everything for me. You always have. And now it’s my turn.”

The room seemed to grow smaller, the weight of their shared struggles pressing down. Aria helped her mother to her bedroom, tucking her gently beneath the thin sheets, careful not to disturb the delicate rhythm of her breathing. She lingered by the bedside, staring at the face she had loved her entire life.

Her mother’s eyes flickered open, capturing Aria’s gaze. “Promise me,” Elise whispered, “promise me you’ll be careful… whatever you do out there.”

Aria nodded, biting her lip. “I promise.”

She lingered for a moment longer, then quietly retreated, closing the door softly behind her.

“Aria?” The frail voice called out once again.

“Don’t do anything you will regret, you always come first”

Aria was taken aback by the depth and emotion in her mother’s eyes. She seemed to see and know something she didn’t quite understand.

Standing in the dim hallway, she exhaled, letting the tension seep from her shoulders. She had no choice. She had to survive the night, had to earn the money that would keep them both alive and well. Every second mattered.

Back in the small kitchen, Aria quickly prepared a cup of tea for herself. The steam rose in thin tendrils, carrying a faint aroma of chamomile. She took a sip, letting the warmth spread through her. But the comfort was fleeting;

From where she sat, she could hear the sound of her mother coughing, the hack tearing through her, in what she could only imagine to be painful, she was glad she had placed water in the room before leaving.

The stack of unpaid bills on the counter mocked her, a silent countdown ticking toward disaster.

Her phone buzzed with another unopened reminder about the pharmacy, flashing the overdue notice once more. Her stomach tightened. She had no time to hesitate, she would do what she had to.

The night deepened, and with it, her resolve hardened. By ten o’clock, she was dressed in a simple black blouse and skirt, which was the most formal thing she owned, Aria hoped it would help her blend in. Her hair was held up in a tight bun, with a side part to cover her hair as much as she could.

She glances at the pills on the table. Two days left.

Maybe less.

Aria pressed her lips together and slipped the key into her coat pocket.

“Just one night,” she whispered to herself.

Then she headed down the narrow stairwell and out into the cold evening.

The bus ride felt longer than usual.

The further it carried her from the crowded, worn parts of the city, the quieter everything became. Buildings grew taller, streets wider, storefronts brighter.

By the time she stepped off at the last stop Lena had sent her to, the world around her barely resembled the one she had left behind.

Large iron gates stretched across the entrance of a long private road.

Beyond them, she could see only the faint outline of trees and a distant glow of lights.

Aria checked the message on her phone again.

Lena: Don’t go to the front. The staff gate is on the right side of the estate road.

Estate.

Aria swallowed. The word intimidating in itself.

She walked along the stone wall until she found the smaller gate Lena mentioned. It was built into the side of the property, half-hidden by tall hedges.

A security booth stood beside it.

The guard inside looked up the moment she approached.

His gaze moved over her quickly assessing.

Because apparently even the role of a server couldn’t be occupied by just anyone she thought with an eye roll.

“Staff?” he asked.

“Yes,” Aria replied, trying to keep her voice steady. “Aria Brooks. Lena said I could replace someone for tonight.”

The guard typed something into the computer. He stared at the screen for several seconds, although it felt much longer.

Finally, he nodded.

“Temporary server. Lena Kovac signed you in.”

Relief loosened the tight knot in Aria’s chest.

The guard pressed a button and the iron gate unlocked with a heavy click.

“Follow the service road,” he said. “Staff entrance is around the back of the main house.”

“Thank you.”

Aria stepped through, letting out a sigh, the process had been less gruesome than she’d expected.

The gate shut behind her with a deep metallic sound that echoed through the quiet night.

The estate was enormous.

A narrow paved road wound through rows of tall trees whose branches arched overhead like a tunnel. Small lights embedded in the ground illuminated the path in soft golden pools.

As Aria walked, the mansion slowly revealed itself through the trees.

It wasn’t just large. It was massive.

A sprawling structure of pale stone and tall windows, glowing warmly against the dark sky. Balconies lined the upper floors. Lanterns lit the wide front steps where sleek black cars pulled up one after another.

Men in expensive coats stepped out, greeted by uniformed doormen before disappearing inside.

Aria stopped for half a second.

She had never seen a house like this in her life, but she forced herself to keep walking along the side road.

Eventually, the lights and music from the front faded behind her. The back of the estate was quieter, more practical.

Delivery vans were parked near a large service entrance. Stacks of crates sat beside the door, and staff members moved quickly in and out carrying trays and boxes.

The difference between the two sides of the house was striking.

One was luxury, wealth and unarguable status.

The other was work, this one far more familiar.

Aria pushed open the service door and stepped inside.

The corridor beyond buzzed with quiet activity. A woman with graying hair, being the physical embodiment of order, barking instructions for everyone, who seemed to know exactly where to go.

They all seemed to be in uniform, one Aria realized she was lacking.

The air smelled faintly of roasted meat and polished wood. Somewhere nearby, dishes clinked and a chef barked an order.

Aria hesitated near the wall until she spotted Lena near a row of lockers.

“Aria!” Lena hurried over. “You made it.”

“I almost turned around at the gate,” Aria admitted.

Lena laughed softly.

“Yeah, the place is insane the first time.”

She pulled open a locker and handed Aria a neatly folded uniform.

“Change quickly. Service starts soon.”

Aria stepped into the small locker room and changed as quickly as she could.

Black trousers. Crisp white shirt. Fitted black vest. At least there was one thing she was grateful for, the trousers.

When she came out, Lena was waiting there. Then she leaned closer, lowering her voice.

“Listen carefully. This place runs on rules.”Aria nodded.

“Don’t talk unless you’re spoken to. Don’t stare at the guests. If someone asks for something, you get it immediately. And never, ever interrupt a conversation.”

“Okay.”

Lena grabbed a polished silver tray from a nearby counter and placed it in Aria’s hands.

“Tonight you’re serving drinks with me.”

Aria looked down at the tray, her fingers tightened around the edges.

“Relax,” Lena said gently. “Just follow me, and do exactly what I do, nothing less and nothing more.”

“You’ll be fine”, she placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

They walked down a narrow hallway that ended at a tall wooden door.

Lena pushed it open. Aria stepped through and stopped.

The room beyond looked nothing like the busy corridors behind them.

It was quiet. Not silent, but quiet.

She’d heard the word before, but at this moment it seemed to be the only word that could explain the unique ambience of the room. Elegance.

Soft amber lights glowed from chandeliers above polished wooden floors. Dark leather chairs surrounded low tables. Shelves filled with old books lined the walls beside large paintings.

At the far end of the room, a long bar gleamed under warm lighting.

Men in tailored suits sat in small groups speaking in low voices. A server moved silently between them carrying a tray of crystal glasses filled with amber liquid.

Lena leaned toward her and whispered so only she could hear;

“Welcome to the Sapphire Club.”

Aria swallowed.

This world felt impossibly far from the cramped apartment she had left behind an hour ago. Almost at different ends of the earth, like they weren’t even on the same planet.

Lena picked up a tray of drinks from the bar and handed another to Aria.

“Private rooms down that hallway,” she said, nodding toward a dimly lit corridor lined with closed doors. “That’s where most of the big members sit, and that’s where we’ll be”

“Don’t worry, if you perform well, by the end of the night, you’ll be counting bills, just don’t forget the rules”

Aria lifted the tray carefully. The glasses clinking softly.

“Ready?” Lena asked.

Aria took a steady breath.

“Sure, let’s go,” she murmured under her breath.

Then she straightened her shoulders and stepped forward, beginning her first round of serving drinks.