"Dern!" Fred slammed the door, walking to fast, he sat in his office, staring blankly at the glass wall. The city lights blurred through the tinted windows, but his thoughts weren't on the skyline. They were back in the hallway.
Back on her face. Back on the moment her scent had hit him.
It was her. He was sure of it now. The girl from that night, the one who had left before he could even see her properly. Her voice, her scent, the way she had tried to pull away from him, he knew it like he knew his own name.
He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. Maybe he was mistaken again, but he knew himself so well not to recognise little details. None of it made sense. Why would she be here, scrubbing floors in his company? And why was he… obsessed?
A knock came on the door. Noah popped his head in, smiling. "You look like you saw a ghost. Or maybe the ghost saw you."
Fred gave him a sharp look. "Shut up and get in here."
Noah laughed and walked in, flopping down on the couch across from Fred's desk. "Alright, talk. What happened?"
Fred stopped himself for a moment, he didn't like admitting he was affected by anything, let alone someone who was supposed to be invisible.
"It was her," he said quietly. "The girl from that night."
Noah frowned. "The one who vanished? The blood girl?"
Fred nodded.
"And who exactly is she now?" Noah leaned forward.
"Im not so sure… but she's working as a cleaner here" Fred muttered.
Noah paused, scanning the environment and blinking back at Fred. Then burst out laughing. "Wait. You mean to tell me the great Fred Nork is being haunted by a mysterious virgin in Majesties?"
Fred glared. "No, seriously," Noah wiped a tear from his eye. "This is gold. She must be magic. What did she do, cast a spell on you?"
Fred didn't laugh. "I almost grabbed her. I mean, I did. But not in a bad way. I just… I needed to know. I thought I was losing my mind."
Noah whistled. "Bro, this is bad. You need a drink, or a therapist, or both."
Fred ignored him. "I need her, by all means and i trust my jnstincts so much not to fail in little details."
Noah leaned back. "Well, you're in luck. Because you're going to see her again tonight."
Fred blinked. "What are you talking about?"
"Tiana requested extra hands for the engagement party," Noah said with a smirk.
Ana stood behind the bar counter in the massive hall, dressed in a plain black uniform that felt more like armor than clothing. Her fingers trembled slightly as she arranged empty glasses on silver trays.
This was the last place she wanted to be.
There was loud music through the speakers, elegant laughter floated in the air, and golden chandeliers sparkled above. Everything screamed wealth, everything smelt class.
Fred Nork and Tiana Monrow's engagement party.
Ana hadn't even known she would be assigned here until that morning. She'd tried to get out of it, but her supervisor had snapped, "You're on the list. Do your job."
She had no choice, maybe thag was how they'd been working, lower staffs also have to extend there duties to the bosses other ceremony.
So she kept her head down, she kept moving.
"Well, well," Tiana's sharp voice cut through the crowd. Ana froze, her hand gripping a glass. "You'rethe maid assigned directly from the company."
Ana turned slowly. Tiana stood a few feet away in a glittering gold gown that clung to her curves.
"Right?" She asked again.
Anna knodded slowly.
"Why are you hiding over here? Come, there's a spill near the champagne tower," Tiana said sweetly, loud enough for a few nearby guests to hear. "Wouldn't want anyone slipping because you can't do your job."
Ana didn't speak. She simply nodded and followed.
Tiana led her right into the middle of the room, where dozens of guests were gathered. The polished floor glistened with spilled wine.
"Right there," Tiana said, pointing.
Ana dropped to her knees, grabbing a cloth from her pocket.
The room fell strangely quiet. She could feel eyes on her. The laughter had died, replaced by murmurs.
"Oh dear," one woman whispered. "She's cleaning in the middle of the floor?"
"Tiana is ruthless," someone else said with a chuckle.
Ana kept her head down, wiping silently.
"Don't forget that corner," Tiana added, smiling. "You missed a spot."
Ana's cheeks burned.
"That's enough."
The crowd turned. Fred Nork was standing at the edge of the dance floor with his eyes locked on Ana. His expression was unreadable, but his tone left no room for question.
Tiana blinked. "Fred, darling, I was just…."
He walked forward, slow and controlled. "I said that's enough."
Ana slowly stood, clutching the cloth in her hand.
Fred looked at her, then at the guests.
"Does anyone here think humiliation is entertainment now?" he asked calmly, his eyes cold.
There was silence everywhere.
Tiana's smile faltered. "It was just dirt and she was doing her job"
Fred turned to her. "A job or a joke? You didn't have to be much of a nuisance then. On our engagement night?"
Ana couldn't believe what she was hearing. She took a shaky step back, wishing the floor would open up.
Fred took another step toward her. "Are you alright?"
She looked at him, confused and frightened, unsure if this was real.
Everyone was watching. Fred glanced around the room, his jaw tight. "Get someone else to handle the cleanup."
He gently reached out, placing a hand on Ana's arm.
"Come with me," he said.
Ana looked up at him with wide-eyed.
Somewhere in the background, someone whispered, "Is Fred Nork defending a cleaner?"
Tiana's fists clenched at her sides, she heard it, she could here there whispers.
Ana hesitated.
Fred looked at her. "Please."
And that was the moment everything began to spiral, because Ana took one step forward, just one, everyone saw it.
Tiana couldn't believe what had just happened, her fiancée had just humiliated her in there party all because of a common cleaner. She wasn't going to let it slip.