Between two worlds

Chapter 4: The Night it all changed

Sarah’s POV

I barely slept that night because every time I closed my eyes, I imagined myself dropping a tray,

spilling drinks on someone important, or getting sent home before the event even started.

By the time my alarm rang, I was already awake. I lay in bed for a few seconds, staring at the

ceiling as I tried to calm the nervous feeling in my chest.

“Sarah?” Mum called softly as she knocked on my door.

“Are you awake?”

“Yes,” I replied as I sat up.

“I’m already getting ready.”

She opened the door and smiled at me.

“Breakfast is ready. Come and eat before you leave.”

“I’ll be there in a minute.”

When I walked into the kitchen, Dad was already sitting at the table with a cup of tea in front of

him. He looked tired, and the dark circles under his eyes were impossible to miss. Even so, he

smiled when he saw me.

“You slept well?” he asked.

I smiled back even though I knew I was lying.

“I did.”

Mum placed a plate of toast in front of me before taking the seat beside Dad.

“You need to eat properly,” she said.

“You are going to be on your feet for hours.”

“I’m not really hungry.”

She gave me a look that told me arguing was pointless.

“You are eating.”

I laughed quietly and picked up a slice of toast.

“Okay.”

Dad reached into his pocket and placed the silver wristwatch on the table.

“You almost forgot this.”

I smiled as I picked it up.

“I didn’t forget. I just didn’t want to wear it until I was dressed.”

“It belonged to your grandfather,” he reminded me.

“Take good care of it.”

“I will.”

After breakfast, I went back to my room and carefully ironed my blue dress. It was the nicest

dress I owned, even though it looked simple compared to what I imagined everyone else would

be wearing. I brushed my hair until it was smooth, tied it neatly behind my head, and looked at

myself in the mirror.

I still looked like the same ordinary girl.

Maybe that was enough.

When I arrived at the hotel, I stopped walking without even realizing it. The building was so

beautiful that it hardly looked real. Tall glass doors stood at the entrance, and fresh flowers

decorated both sides of the walkway. One expensive car after another pulled up outside, and

men in black suits hurried to open the doors for the guests. Women stepped out wearing

beautiful dresses that sparkled under the evening lights, while photographers stood nearby,

taking pictures as though every person who arrived was famous.

I slowly looked down at my own blue dress.

For a moment, I wanted to turn around and go home because I suddenly felt like I did not

belong there.

“Excuse me.”

I quickly looked up and saw a woman wearing a black uniform smiling at me.

“Are you one of the temporary staff?”

“Yes,” I answered.

She pointed toward another entrance on the side of the building.

“Staff members check in through that door.”

“Thank you.”

I hurried in the direction she pointed before anyone else noticed me.

Inside, several young people were already waiting. Some smiled as they talked to each other,

while others looked just as nervous as I felt. A woman holding a clipboard walked into the room

and clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention.

“My name is Mrs. Brooks, and I will be supervising all of you tonight,” she said with a friendly

smile.

“This is a very important event, so I expect everyone to remain professional from

beginning to end. If a guest asks you for something, be polite. If you make a mistake, stay calm

and ask for help. Most importantly, remember that you represent this hotel tonight.”

Everyone nodded.

Mrs. Brooks began calling out names and handing each of us a name tag.

“Sarah Michael.”

“Here.”

She handed me my name tag before looking down at her clipboard again.

“You’ll be serving drinks in the grand ballroom.”

My heart skipped.

“I’ll be serving drinks?”

She looked at me kindly.

“Are you comfortable doing that?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“Yes. I was just surprised.”

“You’ll do fine,” she said as she handed me a polished silver tray.

“I will.”

“Stay calm and don’t rush.”

As we followed her through a long hallway, I could not stop looking around. Crystal chandeliers

hung from the high ceiling, soft music floated through the air, and every table was decorated

with fresh flowers and glowing candles. The entire place looked like something I had only ever

seen in movies.

The girl walking beside me smiled nervously.

“This place is unbelievable.”

I smiled back.

“I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“I’m Lily.”

“I’m Sarah.”

Before we could continue talking, Mrs. Brooks turned around.

“You’ll have plenty of time to make friends later,” she said with a smile.

“Our guests are about to arrive.”

We both nodded and stood quietly as the ballroom doors opened.

Guests slowly began filling the room. Some smiled warmly as they accepted drinks from us,

while others barely looked in our direction. I reminded myself that I was there to do a job, so I

kept my shoulders straight, held my tray carefully, and focused on each guest one at a time.

Everything was going well.

Nobody bumped into me.

I had not spilled a single drink.

My hands had finally stopped shaking.

Maybe tonight would not be as difficult as I had imagined.

As I walked across the ballroom, I overheard two women standing near one of the tables.

“They’re here,” one of them whispered excitedly.

“The Harrisons?” the other asked.

“Yes. They always know how to make an entrance.”

I tried not to pay attention, but their conversation continued.

“I heard their son is coming too.”

“So did I. Everyone says he’s even more handsome in person.”

The music suddenly became quieter, and almost every conversation in the room stopped.

Curious, I looked toward the entrance along with everyone else.

The ballroom doors slowly opened, and a well dressed couple walked inside with confident

smiles on their faces. Camera flashes filled the room as they greeted the guests. A young man

followed closely behind them, wearing a perfectly tailored black suit that made him stand out

without even trying.

I recognized him immediately.

Kelvin Harrison.

He looked exactly the way everyone at school described him.

Confident.

Calm.

Perfect.

Yet as I watched him smile politely at the people around him, I noticed something I could not

explain.

His smile never reached his eyes.

For just a second, he looked like someone who did not want to be there at all.

I quickly looked away and reminded myself that his life had nothing to do with mine.

I was there to work, earn my pay, and go home.

I had no idea that before the night was over, one small mistake would make every person in that

ballroom know exactly who Sarah Michael was.