Chapter 1. The call center girl

After two years of living in the city that never sleeps, Ava struggled to survive. Her years of savings vanished in the blink of an eye, and when she finally found a job at a call center in the customer service department, the pay wasn't enough. But for the time being, she decided to stay there until she found something better.

"Thank you for calling A&T customer service. My name is Ava Gray. How can I assist you?" Every day felt like just another day since she started working. She felt isolated among her colleagues, but she excelled at her job, and that kept her afloat for the time being. As she attended to a customer's complaint, her fingers moved nimbly across the keyboard.

It had been two years since she had escaped from her village. Her parents still received a portion of her monthly salary, a way to show them that her dreams were becoming a reality. However, she often had to stretch her income to make ends meet. The image of the young woman who had fled her village had changed. Many nights, she waited for her parents to confront her about that night, but the words she dreaded never came. However, she knew that sooner or later they would find out, so she held on to where she was.

"Ava, it's time to go," a colleague called out. Ava nodded and ended the call, disconnecting her headset and letting out a long sigh. She grabbed her coat, bracing herself against the winter cold. Her coworkers chatted animatedly in their cubicles, their laughter, and conversations filling the air.

"Ava, don't you want to join us? It's Marie's birthday, and we're going out for beers and wings," one of them invited.

"Thanks, but I already have plans," Ava managed a half-hearted smile to avoid appearing too distant. The others sighed quietly. "Good night," she bid them farewell as she made her way downstairs.

An hour later, she arrived at the building where she rented a small apartment. As she looked up to climb the steps, she abruptly stopped. A woman sat halfway up the stairs, wearing a large coat. Ava smiled when she recognized her.

"Alice!" It was her best friend from her hometown. Seeing Alice's reaction, she rushed downstairs to meet Ava, who could barely react. The two friends embraced, and tears streamed down Ava's face.

"I missed you so much," Alice said, holding Ava tightly.

"I missed you too," they hugged again. "Alice, I have so much to tell you." Ava felt a warmth in that embrace. Despite talking almost daily through social media, she had never revealed her true situation. In a few moments, she would find out how her friend would react. Would Alice tell her parents what Ava was really going through?

With difficulty, Ava opened the door to her cramped apartment. Alice's excitement dimmed as she surveyed the tiny space.

"Do you want something to drink? I have bottled water or tea," Ava offered, closing the door behind her and taking off her coat. Alice did the same.

"Water is fine," Alice replied, glancing around the limited space. "It's quite small..." she whispered to herself. Then she turned to Ava, who was already in the small kitchen. "How have you been?"

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" Ava asked as she handed Alice the water bottle. Alice smiled.

"I lied to you," she pouted. "I've been in town for two days. I arrived yesterday morning." Ava was surprised, raising her eyebrows in astonishment.

"What?" she asked in disbelief.

Alice sat on the arm of the only double armchair in the living room. She sighed as she slowly unscrewed the cap of the water bottle and looked at Ava.

"Christine Laurent, a French woman I met in town a few weeks ago while working as a tour guide. She overheard me expressing my frustration about living and working here. One thing led to another, and she ended up giving me her card. She offered me a job as a receptionist at a hotel on the outskirts of town. Today, I saw the place where I'll be living. I already signed the work contract, and the pay is very good." Ava was still taken aback.

"What?" she exclaimed.

"She asked if I knew anyone else who would be interested in another vacancy, and that's when I thought of you. How are things going for you here?" Alice said, her gaze fixed on Ava.

"Alice..." Ava whispered, feeling embarrassed. "I don't need you to do me any favors..."

"Wait, wait, wait. The salary is monthly, and you wouldn't have to worry about rent, food, or utilities. It would be tax-free. You could send more money to your family. Besides, isn't Frank going to college?" Alice pointed out, mentioning Ava's younger brother. At the memory of him, Ava sighed. He would graduate in a couple of months and wanted to attend college, but how could she tell him that she couldn't afford the tuition? Suddenly, everything Alice said seemed like a good opportunity, perhaps even a sign.

"You wouldn't have to pay anything to live there," Alice continued, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "And you'd only have to work eight to twelve hours a day. The hotel is beautiful, luxurious in every aspect. You wouldn't even want to use the bathroom to avoid spoiling its luxury." Alice burst into laughter, and Ava couldn't help but join in. For the first time in a long time, she laughed, and it brought a momentary sense of relief. "Come on, cheer up."

Ava pondered whether such a proposition could truly be as good as it sounded. "Tomorrow is my day off. I could go and see the place, confirm if it's really like you say," she suggested. Alice smiled triumphantly.

"You won't regret it."