Chapter 007

Grinding from ear to ear as I walked towards where everybody was gathered, Clara stood in the center, addressing us for a job well done and handing out out our paychecks, the event had finally come to an end without any of my lies blowing up in my face, which I will count as a huge win.

“Mara, you did great, I’d love to keep you permanently as my staff if you are ready accept the offer” Clara, called beaming at me.

“What?” I asked, coming out of my thoughts. “ Don’t I have to apply or something of that sort?”

“You do, but since you proved yourself efficient today, I’ve deceived to offer you the job, that’s if you want it.” Clara explained.

“Oh my god! Yes! Yes of course, I’d love to work with you.” I shouted excitedly.

What was that saying about things handed to you on a platter of gold. This will not only give me the opportunity to get close to her but also I will have a well paying job and it can be believable that she’s actually my aunt.

“Great. I’ll have Stella draw up a contract for you, it should be in your email by morning,” Clara said, squeezing my arm before turning to hand the next girl her envelope.

I stood there frozen for a second.

A real job.

A real paycheck.

A real in.

But why? Did something happen? Why did she take interest in me?

Not like I’m not grateful, I’m just not really buying the sudden offer, but who am I to freaking refuse!

I brushed the questions aside and looked on the bright side.

At least now I don’t get to over pack too many shifts at the club, just my regular assigned time, so I can have the extra money till I will be called for another job.

My brain was doing cartwheels.

When I finally moved again, I stepped out of the circle of girls and staff, clutching my envelope like it was a newborn child. This wasn’t supposed to happen, not this fast, not this perfectly. I’d planned to sneak in, mingle, plant a few seeds, then slip away into the night and pray someone with money remembered my face.

But now?

Now I had a pass.

A golden, shiny, open-the-gates pass.

I worked for Clara Monroe—officially.

Or at least, by tomorrow morning I would.

I bit my lip to keep from smiling too hard as I walked toward the exit. Rich couples were still slipping into waiting cars; camera flashes still sparked in the distance; someone was laughing loudly, champagne-drunk and carefree.

This world didn’t feel so far away anymore.

It didn’t feel impossible.

I had an identity.

I had a friend.

I had a job that could actually explain why I was around these people.

Step five: stability secured.

I didn’t even have the hope of getting to step three tonight, but here I am.

My chest swelled with satisfaction.

If the universe was handing out blessings tonight, then maybe just maybe I was among the top five on the list and this was the start of something real. Something big. Something I had been dreaming about for years but never thought I’d touch.

For once, everything was going exactly how I needed it to.

I turned toward the gates, I spotting Elise and her friends gathered near the valet line. They were laughing—soft, effortless, money-filled laughter, as the night breeze played with their hair and their designer dresses shimmered under the lights.

Grace got into a silver coupe.

Amber slid into a sleek black sedan that probably cost more than my entire building.

Taylor was nowhere in sight.

And Elise… Elise kissed all of them on the cheek before her driver opened the door of a polished white Mercedes for her.

For a second, I expected her to glance back, to call out to me, to wave.

She didn’t.

Of course she didn’t. She probably didn’t even see me because of how far away I was.

It’s nothing serious, I really need to stop being paranoid. I made a good impression, she even invited me for another party so it’s most likely that she will remember me.

But still, We hadn’t even exchanged numbers.

I’d been so focused on not slipping up that I’d forgotten the most basic part of making a connection.

Regardless… a strange calm settled in my chest.

We would meet again.

Soon.

Those kinds of girls always attended every important event in the city, and now that I worked for Clara? I’d be at those events too. There was no rush. The door was already open.

I hugged my envelope a little tighter and headed toward the back gate exit—where staff left, far away from the glitter and cameras.

The night air changed the moment I walked out.

No flashy cars, or luxury engines humming, no laughter, no flashing lights of the paparazzi.

Just the distant sound of traffic and the flicker of old streetlights.

The public bus screeched to a stop in front of me, its sides dented, the inside smelling faintly of sweat and oil. I got on and dropped into a seat by the window.

It was half empty, with people nearly as tired as I was, probably even more, but not even that thought could stop the happiness spreading across my body.

The city blurred by—beautiful at the center, rotting at the edges.

By the time the bus reached my stop, the buildings were smaller, stained, and sagging under years of neglect. My street was quiet, too quiet, the kind of quiet that made you listen for trouble, I hurried along the sidewalk, willing my feet to move faster in the gown that now seemed very tight.

I climbed the narrow staircase to our apartment, the one with chipped blue paint and a door that never fully closed unless you kicked it.

Inside, it was dark.

I switched on the small lamp, and the dim yellow glow filled the room. On the thin mattress against the far wall, my mother lay curled beneath a blanket, her breathing uneven and shallow.

I crossed the room in seconds.

Her forehead was burning—again.

Her fever was back.

The envelope in my hand suddenly felt heavier, like a reminder and a promise all at once.

I took a slow breath.

Tomorrow would be a new beginning.

But tonight, I was still here.

Still me.

Still taking care of her.

I knelt beside the bed and placed a damp cloth on her forehead, brushing a stray hair away from her face.

“Just hold on, Mama,” I whispered quietly.

“I’m getting us out of here.”