Chapter 4; let me hide

Maya’s POV

As I got back to my apartment, all I wanted was to crawl under my blanket and hide for a week. Or more.

Instead, I dropped my bag by the door and stood there in the quiet room, staring at nothing.

So that was it.

No call back. No “we’ll think about it.” Just a cold, sharp “I don’t want her.”

I pressed my lips together and let out a humorless laugh. “Well, good,” I said, talking to no one. “I didn’t want to clean his stupid mansion anyway.”

It wasn’t true, of course and I knew it. But it was easier to pretend.

The pay had been good — God, it was good — and I had been holding onto that tiny thread of hope that maybe, just maybe, this job could make my life easier.

But now… I wasn’t sure if I was relieved or humiliated.

I walked further in and sank onto the edge of my bed and buried my face in my hands.

The image of him was still burned into my mind, it took a second for me to place is face — He was taller than I remembered. Broader and more masculine. His presence still intimidating as always— filled the space, pulling every thought out of my head.

Xavier Harrington.

Him of all people.

The man who had always been out of reach — quiet and reserved in college, like he belonged to another world entirely.

And today, for a split second, I had seen something in his eyes before he shut it down.

Recognition.

I mean, Who wouldn’t recognize me? The girl who —

Oh Goodness! I hated that it still mattered to me.

I wasn’t even mad. Not really. Just embarrassed. I hated that he’d seen me like that, and that my chest felt tight thinking about the way he dismissed me, as though I wasn’t even worth the effort of listening to an introduction.

And yet… I couldn’t get the picture of the older woman beside him out of my mind.

His grandmother, I guessed.

She had looked so gentle, watching everything with quiet interest. There had been something in her eyes — like she saw me and didn’t mind I was there.

I sighed and shook my head, trying to push the thought away. None of it mattered now.

Grabbing my phone, I typed a message into our group chat.

Me: My bar. Tonight. Let’s go girls!.

Camila responded first.

Camila: I’ll be there. It is needed.

Sophia’s bubble popped up next.

Sophia: Don’t start without me.

I smiled a little to myself, dropped the phone onto my bed, went to shower and got ready for my shift at the club. 

At least some thing still pays. 

                     *           *           *            *

The music was already thumping by the time I got to the club,  I waved at the bouncer and walked myself in.

Lights flashing across the crowded room. My manager barely glanced at me when I clocked in — which was fine by me, at least we don’t have any issues, for now — and I headed straight to the bar.

Camila was the first to arrive. She walked into the booth with her usual polished confidence — her height was enough confidence without trying — her hair sleek, her makeup flawless, like she had just stepped off a magazine cover. 

That’s my girl. 

She waved at me and I quickly rounded up and went to her.

“You look tense,” she said, as I was sliding in.

I gave her a quick hug and my nose caught her sweet cologne and that sharp, classy energy she carried everywhere.

“That’s because I am,” I muttered, grabbing a glass of water before my shift got busy.

Sophia showed up moments later, slipping into the seat beside me, with her innocent and soft smile as always. “Okay,” she said waving her blonde hair gently. “What happened?”

I groaned and dropped my head onto the table. “It was awful.”

“Define awful,” Camila said sipping her drink.

“I got there, and it was going fine. Nora — the assistant — was actually really nice. She asked me all these questions like it was a corporate job and I think I did well. And then…”

“And then?” Camila prompted, one brow raised.

I lifted my head and looked at them both. “Then he walked in.”

“He?…Who’s he?” Sophia asked as she leaned in.

I blew out a breath. “Xavier.”

“Xavier?” Sophia asked still looking confused.

Then there was a pause.

Camila froze. “As in… Dan’s best friend?”

“The one and only, and you know the history…” I trailed off, my lips twisting.

Sophia’s mouth fell open. “Oh my God, May.” Then she raised her hands to cover her mouth.

“Yeah,” I said Shaking my head. “He didn’t even let Nora finish introducing me, He just took one look at me and said, ‘I don’t want her.’ That’s it. No explanation, no chance to even say hello.”

“Do you think he recognized you?” Sophia asked as her eyes moved from me to Camila.

“He sure did.” I and Camila said at the same time.

Camila leaned back, knitting her brows in thought. “That’s cold.”

“Cold?” I laughed bitterly. “That was ice-cold. And the worst part? I stood there like an idiot, clutching my bag like a scared intern.”

Sophia reached across the table and touched my hand gently. “You’re not an idiot.”

“I felt like one,” I said quietly.

Camila frowned in disapproval. “So what? One man says no and suddenly your world ends?”

I blinked at her. “No. I’m just…”

“Embarrassed?” she questioned.

“Yes,” I admitted.

“Good. That means you still care about doing well,” Camila said matter-of-factly. “But May, this isn’t about him, take it for what it is — his problem, not yours. You showed up ready to work. If he doesn’t want that, it’s his loss.”

I let out a long breath. 

Sophia nodded. “Cam’s right. Maybe it’s better. Do you really want to be under the same roof as someone who looks at you like that?”

“No,” I said quickly.

“Exactly,” Camila said. “Then be glad you know where you stand. Now you can move forward instead of wondering.”

I smiled faintly. “You two always make it sound so simple.”

“That’s because it is,” Camila replied. “You keep moving. You don’t stop just because one door shuts. You knock on another one.”

“Or kick it open,” Sophia added with a small grin.

I giggled softly, letting their words sink in. The heaviness in my chest loosening a little.

                        *              *              *               *

My break ended too soon, and I went back to work, serving drink pretending not to feel every ache in my feet.

By the time the crowd reduced, I was exhausted but felt lighter somehow. Talking to my friends had helped.

I grabbed my bag and stepped into the quiet hallway near the back door to checking my phone before heading home. I saw I had missed some calls. I was about to tap on the notification when It buzzed in my hand.

Unknown number.

I hesitated, then swiped to answer. “Hello?”

“Ms. Torres?”

“Yes?”

“This is Nora, Mr. Harrington’s assistant.”

My stomach flipped.

“Yes,” I said carefully.

“Mr. Harrington has reconsidered. If you’re still interested, the position is yours. We’d like you to start Monday morning.”

I froze. The music from the club was faint in the background, but it sounded far away.

“I’m here,” I said after a moment. “And yes. I’ll take it.”

“Good,” Nora said, her professional voice. “I’ll email you the contract and instructions. Congratulations, Ms. Torres.”

The line went dead.

I stared at my phone, my heart hammering.

I’d gotten the job.

But all I could think about was what it would mean to see Xavier Harrington again.