I called the driver the moment I was out of sight from the cafeteria. There was no way I was sitting around waiting for Frankie or Blanche to finish their day. I needed air—amd a good smoke. The car pulled up, and I slid into the back seat without a word. The driver looked at me through the rearview mirror, waiting for instructions.
"Take the Eden route," I said, not bothering to look up from my phone.
He gave a small nod and pulled onto the main road.
I unlocked my phone, only to see notifications flooding in from the school blog. Clicking on the link, I was greeted by a post headlined: "Nancy vs. New Girl Showdown."
Jesus Christ!
Okay, not surprised that someone had posted the entire exchange.
I scrolled down, reading bits of the conversation. Most of it was what I expected—the usual dramatics and overreactions. But the comments were already piling up, and they were a mix of amusing and infuriating.
Some were badmouthing me for "daring to stand up" to Nancy, the prime minister's daughter. Others were siding with me, calling out Nancy for starting trouble out of nowhere.
One comment caught my eye;
@liviachurchills851: She's bold, I'll give her that. But let's see how long she lasts against Nancy's games. We all know who ever went against the queen herself, never tell the story.
Games? That girl didn't have the brainpower for games.
I scrolled further, curiosity getting the better of me, when the car slowed down.
I glanced out the window and realized we were approaching Eden. The fence came into view—tall, imposing, and annoyingly mysterious.
"Stop." I said abruptly.
The driver hit the brakes, pulling over to the side of the road.
I stepped out, shutting the door behind me with a muted click.
Standing in front of the fence, I tilted my head back to take it all in. It was ridiculously tall, too high to see over, and stretched endlessly in both directions.
What the hell was this place hiding?
I jumped, hoping to catch a glimpse of what lay beyond. Nothing. Just a fleeting view of treetops and sky.
I tried again, this time catching a glimpse of something—a rooftop? It was hard to tell. Whatever it was, it wasn't enough to satisfy my curiosity.
I sighed, brushing off my skirt before heading back to the car. The driver didn't ask questions as I climbed in, shutting the door harder than necessary.
"Let's go," I said shortly.
He nodded, pulling back onto the road.
As we drove away, I glanced back at the fence through the rearview mirror, frustration bubbling in my chest. Whatever was back there!
Why was this place under my skin?
I turned my attention back to my phone, scrolling through the comments again, trying to focus on something else.
LOCATION:: AURUM ESTATE
THE MINISTER'S RESIDENCE
The sleek black car came to a halt in the circular driveway, the golden crest on the estate gates gleaming faintly in the fading sunlight. Nancy stepped out, her polished heels clicking on the smooth stone surface. Almost instantly, the servants rushed out from the side entrance like a well-rehearsed dance.
One of them reached for her bag, another took her uniform blazer, and yet another stood by the door, waiting for her arrival. By the time she reached the grand double doors, her slippers were placed neatly in front of her. A younger servant bent down, helping her remove her heels quickly with ease.
As soon as she stepped inside the house, a glass of water was placed in her hand without her needing to ask. The coldness of the glass was refreshing against her skin, though she barely acknowledged it. The other servants scurried off with the items they'd collected, disappearing as quickly as they'd come.
Nancy's eyes scanned the grand foyer, the soft glow of the chandelier casting beautiful patterns on the marble floor. She spotted her mother near the stairs, speaking quietly with the head chef.
"Mommy," Nancy called out, her voice carrying a familiar pout.
Her mother turned, her perfectly styled hair catching the light as she smiled faintly. "Baby," she greeted warmly, reaching out to pat her daughter's cheek. Then, with a slight nod to the head chef, she dismissed him. He bowed politely before leaving.
Taking Nancy's hand in hers, her mother began leading her up the staircase. "How was school? Did the director say anything?" she asked, her tone carried that hint of expectation Nancy knew all too well.
"It was fine," Nancy replied, though the word felt strained. Her mind was still replaying the scene from earlier at school, her confrontation with Blakely Torres. She almost said more but stopped when she noticed a familiar figure emerging from the door beneath the staircase.
Her father's right-hand man.
Nancy flinched slightly, her grip tightening on her mother's hand. She quickly composed herself, smoothing the moment over with a question. "Where's Dad?"
Her mother glanced back at her. "He had a meeting with some assemblymen," she said casually. "He left just a few minutes ago."
Shw nodded, her neutral expression returning. They resumed their walk up the stairs, the slight tension in her shoulders easing as the man exited the house.
When they reached the landing, her mother patted her cheek again, a familiar gesture that Nancy found both comforting and a bit patronizing. "Your friend Mina is waiting for you in your room," her mother said with a small smile before turning toward her own suite.
Nancy continued down the hall, her heels now replaced with soft slippers that made no sound against the plush carpet. As she reached her door, she pulled out her phone, already logging into Aura's official website. She pushed the door open, barely glancing inside as she stepped in.
The room was bathed in soft pink light from the floor-to-ceiling windows, her neatly made bed piled with decorative pillows. Mina was sprawled across the chaise lounge by the window, scrolling through her own phone.
Nancy's attention, however, was fixed on her screen. Her thumb hovered over the login button, a small smile on her face.