CHAPTER 1 - The First Night in the Wrong Place

Her small steps hurried through the darkness of the night. Nadine's breath was labored, sweat dampening her temples despite her body having been freshly showered just moments ago. The watch on her wrist read 7:55 PM. Five more minutes… and she could lose her job before even starting it.

“Oh, why is this club area so huge?” she muttered, almost in despair, as she ran through the narrow corridors toward the restroom located at the back of the nightclub building.

The loose black uniform she wore looked too big. The long-sleeved shirt almost covered her knees, while her arms were submerged past her elbows. A black hat covered her long hair, which was tightly rolled and hidden.

The uniform was actually a men’s XL size. The job of restroom cleaner was typically done by large men. No woman had ever held that position until tonight, when Nadine dared to take it on for one reason: her father’s medical bills.

Upon reaching the small desk that served as the guard post, right in front of the restroom entrance, Nadine placed her worn-out bag on the desk. She slowly pulled out the only chair. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heartbeat.

Without wasting any time, she grabbed the cleaning supplies and began working. The men’s restroom was her first target. Before even stepping inside, the overpowering stench assaulted her nose, making her stomach churn.

“Oh God…” she whispered softly, covering her nose with her sleeve.

But Nadine didn't back down. She rinsed the toilet and walls with clean water, sprayed cleaning solution, and began scrubbing with all her strength. The dull walls slowly became clean, the unpleasant odor replaced by the scent of soap and toilet freshener.

One by one, she carried out her tasks diligently, including cleaning the sink and the large mirror covered in stains. The women’s restroom was cleaner, but it still took a lot of effort.

An hour passed. Nadine finally sat down in her chair. Fatigue began to set in. Her eyelids felt heavy, but she kept fighting off sleep.

Until…

Footsteps echoed from the distance.

A woman staggered toward the restroom. Her slender body was wrapped in a very revealing evening gown. Nadine straightened her body, her reflexes kicking in. The woman was clearly intoxicated. And soon, a man followed from the opposite direction.

Nadine froze.

Before her eyes, the couple drew closer. Without shame, they kissed openly in the narrow corridor. The passionate kisses, the hands roaming, and the drunken laughter echoing through the narrow corridor made Nadine’s blood race.

Nadine lowered her gaze in silence. But the sounds of kisses and moans were clear, piercing her ears. Their position was only a few meters from where she was sitting.

Accidentally, Nadine’s gaze fell on the man’s hand lowering the woman’s clothing in front of him. She immediately turned her face away, but the image of the suddenly exposed naked body from the mini dress was already etched in her mind.

Nadine’s heart raced. She tried to cover her ears, but the sounds kept seeping in.

Moans. Thuds. Laughter.

Until finally, everything fell silent.

Nadine slowly raised her face. She nearly jumped when she saw the man still unzipping his pants, showing no remorse.

Her breath caught. Her gaze fell to the floor. Her face turned pale.

Footsteps approached. They passed Nadine without a word, entering one of the bathroom stalls. The door wasn’t closed properly. Loud noises could be heard from inside again.

Nadine said nothing. She just sat there, waiting in silence, until the commotion inside the bathroom stopped.

When the couple emerged from the stall, Nadine gave them a quick glance. She entered the stall and began cleaning everything again. The toilet hadn’t been flushed, the floor was dirty, and an unpleasant odor filled the room.

She flushed, scrubbed, and sprayed Wipol, as before. Trying to erase the traces left by the drunk couple.

The night was still long.

Nadine sat back down in her chair. Her eyes were heavy, but she refused to sleep. In a place like this, even a moment’s lapse could bring disaster.

And she… couldn’t afford to be careless.

***