CHAPTER TWO: The Weight Of Survival
1171 Words
The alarm rang loudly at five-thirty in the morning. Phyna groaned softly before reaching for her phone beside the bed. Her body felt heavy from exhaustion. Life had never given her the luxury of resting too long.
She sat up slowly. Rubbed her eyes. Outside the apartment window the streets of Las Vegas were still quiet covered in the blue light of early dawn. The city was calm. Phynas mind was already racing.
Elizabeth was already awake in the kitchen preparing coffee.
"You should eat before leaving " Elizabeth said the moment Phyna entered the kitchen.
Phyna tied her hair into a ponytail. "I'm not hungry yet."
"You are always saying that " Elizabeth said.
Phyna smiled faintly before taking the coffee mug from the counter. "I'll grab something later."
Elizabeth folded her arms. "You said that yesterday too."
Phyna avoided the lecture by taking a sip of coffee. The warmth spread gently through her chest while silence settled briefly between them.
"You nervous?" Elizabeth asked softly.
"A little " Phyna replied.
"That is normal " Elizabeth said.
Phyna stared into the mug quietly. "I just don't want another place where people look at me like I'm less than them."
Elizabeths expression softened immediately. "Not everyone will treat you badly Phyna."
Phyna looked away. "Most people already do."
The room became silent again.
There were pains Phyna rarely talked about because speaking them aloud made them feel too real. People saw beauty when they looked at her. They never saw the exhaustion hidden underneath it.
Life had taught her that poverty made people vulnerable to humiliation.
Especially women.
Beautiful women.
Elizabeth walked toward her. Adjusted the collar of her uniform gently. "You deserve better than what life has given you far Phyna."
Phyna smiled sadly. "Maybe this is all life has for me."
"Don't say that " Elizabeth said.
"I'm serious " Phyna said. "Some people are born lucky. Others just survive."
Elizabeth wanted to argue. She knew Phynas pain came from experience, not pessimism.
After finishing her coffee Phyna grabbed her purse. Headed for the door.
"Be careful " Elizabeth said.
"I always am " Phyna replied.
The morning air felt cold against her skin as she stepped outside. The city was slowly waking up around her. Cars moved through intersections while distant music echoed from stores opening for business.
Phyna boarded a bus heading toward the Laurent Estate. She sat quietly near the window watching people move through their lives.
Some looked happy. Some looked tired. Some looked completely broken.
Las Vegas hid sadness well beneath its lights.
Forty minutes later the giant gates of the Laurent mansion appeared again before her eyes. In daylight the place still looked unreal.
She stepped down from the bus. Adjusted her uniform nervously before walking toward the entrance.
Inside the mansion workers moved around quickly organizing decorations and preparing breakfast arrangements.
Everything operated with precision.
Clara approached her immediately. "You are early. Good."
"I didn't want to be late " Phyna replied.
Clara handed her a tablet. "Your duties are listed there. Follow instructions carefully. The Prime Minister dislikes mistakes."
Phyna nodded. "Understood."
The next several hours passed in movement.
Cleaning. Organizing. Serving. Arranging.
By noon her feet already hurt badly. She ignored the pain.
Pain had never stopped life before.
As she arranged flowers inside one of the hallways two female workers nearby whispered among themselves.
"That's her?"
"Yes."
"She's prettier up close."
Phyna pretended not to hear them.
"She won't last here " another whispered quietly. "Girls like her always attract attention."
Phyna continued arranging flowers even though the words irritated her slightly.
People always assumed beauty automatically made life easier.
If only they knew.
Suddenly loud laughter echoed from upstairs.
Several men dressed in suits descended the staircase discussing business and politics.
Phyna lowered her eyes respectfully. Stepped aside.
One of the men paused briefly.
His gaze lingered on her for half a second before he continued walking.
Phyna felt uncomfortable immediately.
Another stare. Another man. Nothing new.
But unknown to her someone else had also noticed her from the floor balcony above.
Smith Laurent.
He stood silently beside the railing holding a glass of wine while observing the workers downstairs absentmindedly.
Then he saw her.
For a moment the noise around him faded completely.
She stood near the hallway window adjusting roses inside a crystal vase while sunlight touched her face softly.
Simple uniform. No expensive jewelry. No heavy makeup.
Yet somehow she looked more beautiful than every woman he had attended events with.
Holan walked beside him casually. "You've been staring for thirty seconds."
Smith finally blinked. "What?"
Holan smirked knowingly before following his gaze
"Oh my God " Holan said.
Smith frowned slightly. "Relax."
"Relax?" Holan chuckled quietly. "Have you seen her?"
Smith took another sip from his glass without responding.
Holan leaned against the railing. "That woman is dangerous."
Smith remained calm. His eyes unconsciously returned toward Phyna again.
There was something about her.
Something quiet.
Most women around men acted desperate to impress them.. This girl looked completely disconnected from the luxurious environment surrounding her.
Almost like she didn't care.
That alone caught his attention more than beauty itself.
Downstairs Phyna finally looked upward accidentally.
Their eyes met.
The moment lasted three seconds.
Something about it felt strangely intense.
Smiths calm expression remained unreadable while Phyna quickly looked away and continued working.
Still…
Her heartbeat suddenly felt uneven.
"Interesting " Holan murmured beside him.
Smith finally turned away from the balcony. "We're getting late."
Holan laughed softly while following him downstairs. "Sure. Pretend you didn't just forget how to breathe."
Smith ignored him completely.
For the rest of the afternoon he found himself thinking about the mysterious girl with sad eyes and quiet beauty.
Meanwhile Phyna spent the day trying to ignore the strange feeling that lingered after that eye contact.
By evening exhaustion completely consumed her.
She finally clocked out around seven-thirty. Stepped outside the mansion gates feeling physically drained.
The city lights glowed beautifully across the streets as night slowly covered Las Vegas.
Her phone suddenly rang.
Sima.
Phyna answered weakly. "Please tell me you're bringing food."
Sima laughed loudly through the phone. " First day?"
"You have no idea " Phyna replied.
"So? Any handsome billionaires yet?" Sima asked.
Phyna rolled her eyes while walking slowly down the sidewalk. "You watch many romance movies."
"That means yes " Sima said.
"No " Phyna said.
"Phyna " Sima said.
"There's nothing to talk about " Phyna replied.
Sima gasped dramatically. "That pause means there's definitely something to talk about."
Phyna smiled despite herself. "I'm hanging up."
"You better not—"
The call ended before Sima could finish.
Phyna shook her head laughing softly.
Then suddenly a black luxury vehicle stopped beside her.
Her smile faded immediately.
The tinted window rolled down slowly.
There he was.
The same man, from the balcony.
Smith Laurent.
His dark eyes rested calmly on her face before he finally spoke.
"You're walking home alone this late?"
- Writer
