Chapter Five
1228 Words
Aurora
My shift was finally over, I trudged into the kitchen and dropped my serving tray onto the counter with a dull thud. My feet ached, my arms were sore, and exhaustion tugged at every inch of my body. But the night wasn’t over. Not for me.
I could not stop thinking about the humiliation I faced at the gala. It almost felt unreal that there were men who treated people like trash in this current day.
The way the entire ballroom had gone silent, eyes boring into me as if I were nothing more than an unfortunate accident.
Like who does he think he is? I asked myself for the thousandth time.
I was still fuming by the time I reached the staff bathroom. The second I stepped inside, I ripped off my apron my hands still trembling.
I turned on the tap and splashed cold water on my face, desperate to calm down and erase all memories of Mr. Blackwood. But no matter how hard I tried, the memory wouldn’t fade.
I squeezed my eyes shut. Get a grip, Aurora.
“That was brutal.” Marie, one of the senior waitresses, appeared beside me, her expression sympathetic.
I jolted at the voice and turned to see Marie, one of the senior waitresses, leaning against the counter beside me.
I let out a bitter laugh. “Brutal? Try soul-crushing.”
She sighed. “Honestly? I thought he was going to have you fired on the spot.”
“Fire me? He doesn’t even know me and I don’t work under him, I work under the service agency.” I scoffed gripping the edge of the sink.
Marie shook her head.
“You don’t have to work under him Aurora, that man has power. He could make it very difficult for you to get any gig.”
I shot her a look. “You’re not helping, Marie.”
“Sorry,” she mumbled lifting her lip, then She hesitated. “But I have seen him get people blacklisted for less.”
A chill crept down my spine.
Great. Just what I needed, another thing to worry about.
I yanked off my name tag and tossed it into my purse.“I just need to forget this night ever happened.”
Marie gave me a knowing look but didn’t argue. Instead, she simply patted my shoulder before slipping out of the bathroom.
I followed her out, only to freeze when I locked eyes with Mr. Caldwell, my manager. His sharp, assessing gaze told me everything I needed to know I was in trouble.
“Aurora, we need to talk now.”
Marie gave me a pitying look before slipping away.
I swallowed hard and forced myself to follow him.
Mr. Caldwell leaned against his desk, arms crossed, staring at me like I was a stain on his perfectly pressed shirt.
“Do you have any idea how much trouble you have caused tonight?”
I stiffened. “It was an accident.”
He scoffed. “Damian Blackwood does not do accidents. He expects perfection. And you?”
His gaze raked over me. “You humiliated him. In front of some of the most powerful people in this city.”
My fingers curled into fists but I lifted my chin. “I already apologized.”
Caldwell sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose like he was dealing with a particularly frustrating child.
“Look, you are lucky he didn’t demand your immediate termination. He could have. I need you to keep your head down and stay invisible for the next few weeks.” He said dropping the bombshell.
“Lay low?” I echoed.
His gaze hardened. “You’re off the schedule for a while. Just until this blows over.”
“But Sir… please I really need this job, it was an honest mistake.” I pleaded my voice a whisper of tears on the brink of dropping.
Mr. Caldwell hesitated, his expression softening just a little. “I’m not firing you Aurora, you just can’t work for a few weeks.”
“Sir please…” I begged. I needed this job to pay bills.
He held up his hand. “Enough Aurora, this is the least I can do. Just stay out of trouble.”
“Got it, Sir,” I said my shoulders dropping in defeat.
“Good. Now go home.”
I turned on my heel and walked out, my face burning with embarrassment.
Stay invisible? Right. Because rich, entitled men like Damian Blackwood didn’t care about people like me unless we inconvenienced them.
Well, I’d be damned if I let him break me.
The cold night air bit into my skin as I stepped outside. I pulled my coat tighter around me, my mind drifting to home. To my mother.
The rent was overdue. Medical bills were piling up. And Joe…
I shook the thought away as quickly as it came. I could not deal with that right now.
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
A text from Lucas.
Lucas: Can we talk? Please, Aurora. Just one conversation. I’m sorry about what I did, let me make it up to you.
I stared at the screen, my pulse quickening with frustration.
Didn’t he know how to give up?
But on second thought I was tired and frustrated I needed something to take my mind off what happened at the gala.
And maybe—just maybe—I needed a reminder that Damian Blackwood wasn’t the only man in the world capable of making my life hell.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I typed back:
Me: One drink. That’s it.
His reply came almost immediately.
Lucas: Thank you Aurora. Meet me at Joe’s Café?
I exhaled slowly watching my breath curl in the chilly night air. I started walking.
I was about to pocket my phone when it buzzed again—this time, a call.
Rachel.
I hesitated for half a second before answering.
“Tell me you didn’t just agree to see him,” she said before I could even say hello.
I groaned. “Rachel—”
“No, don’t ‘Rachel’ me. Lucas? Are we seriously doing this again?”
“It’s just a drink,” I muttered, rubbing my temple. And how do you even know I’m going to see him?” I asked amused.
“I just took a wild guess and I was right!”
“I need a distraction”.
“A distraction? Aurora, you could read a book. Watch a movie. Literally anything else.”
I sighed, tugging my coat tighter. “I know, but…”
“But nothing,” she huffed. “You’re stressed. You’re upset. And you’re about to make a dumb decision because of it.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “It’s one drink, Rach. Not a wedding proposal.”
She was silent for a moment. Then, “Fine. But if he pulls any of his usual bullshit, you call me, and I’ll drag you out of there myself.”
I smiled despite myself. “Deal.”
“Good, don’t stay out too late.”
I rolled my eyes as she hung up.
With a deep breath, I slid my phone back into my pocket and started walking.
One drink.
Nothing more.
What could possibly go wrong?
- Writer
