A Friend’s Deception

chapter one

Friendship carries beautiful meanings, and between women, there are endless stories and events. Nova listened to more of her friend’s chatter about friendship and loyalty as she moved slowly among the modest furniture of the apartment: an old gray sofa, a small table with a few books on it, and a light curtain swaying with the evening breeze.

— Enough! What is all this nonsense?!

Raven shouted. Nova flinched slightly, stopping short as she realized she needed to speak honestly—without evasions.

Nova sat on the sofa, a little distance from Raven, her hands tense on her knees, wary of Raven’s sharp gaze.

— I met someone on f*******:, and I have a date with him… but my father wants to see me tonight about something important, and I won’t be able to go.

Raven kept staring at her, eyes like arrows, waiting for Nova to continue.

— And…?

Nova bit her lip, her heart pounding, then said:

— I want you to go in my place and ruin the date.

Raven’s eyebrows lifted slightly, her eyes gleaming with curiosity mixed with challenge as she sat on the opposite sofa, crossing one leg over the other, ready for whatever surprise might come.

— Speak plainly, Nova… why do you want to ruin the date?

Nova grumbled, deciding to be completely honest with her friend, nervously fiddling with her fingers.

— I met him because I wanted to go on a date, but I found out he chose a cheap restaurant… and then my father picked someone for me who’s actually wealthy. So… I wanted this guy to back off.

Raven rolled her eyes—this familiar situation again: her boredom with a friend who was always looking for a rich man to suit her wealthy family.

— And what does that have to do with me? You know I’m looking for a job. I have nothing to do with your love affairs.

She tried to get up, but Nova gently stopped her and forced her to sit again, her eyes sharp and full of determination.

— You don’t even know that my father arranged a job interview for you at Sterling Company—to be the personal assistant to the director.

Raven’s mouth fell open in shock, her eyes widening.

“Sterling?! The largest company in the country, with branches everywhere. Not everyone gets a chance to interview there… and the director has extremely strict standards. He doesn’t accept just anyone!”

— You’re joking?!

Nova shook her head; there was no trace of humor on her face. She was completely serious.

— My father couldn’t find you a job at his company, so he asked his friends and managed to secure the interview… but I won’t let you go unless you stand by me.

That schemer was exploiting the situation unfairly, bargaining with Raven’s desperate need for a job.

— You manipulator! That job would help me pay half the rent with you!

But Nova didn’t care. She was firm, shrugging her shoulders defiantly as if it meant nothing to her.

— The choice is yours.

Raven felt anger mixed with disbelief, while Nova sat confidently on the sofa, her eyes blazing with resolve—as if she were challenging the entire world.

At seven in the evening, Raven sat before the mirror, carefully putting on her dress, her eyes studying her reflection with caution. She picked up the lipstick and applied it lightly, her heartbeat quickening between anxiety and anticipation.

Every movement was calculated: arranging her hair, adjusting the dress, a final touch of perfume… She tried to look confident and attractive, yet inside she was torn between the excitement of the meeting and the confusion of what would follow.

Raven entered the restaurant with calm steps, surveying the place. It was modest—neat and clean, but far from the luxury she was used to. The warm light from the hanging lamps made the atmosphere comfortable, while the scent of freshly prepared food filled the air.

She lifted her gaze to see a waitress moving between the tables, carrying a tray of tea. Gathering her courage, Raven spoke softly:

— Excuse me… could you tell me where I can find a table for a man named Damian Kay?

The waitress smiled kindly and gestured toward a young man seated with his hand resting on the table, his back turned to Raven.

Raven took a deep breath before approaching the indicated table with measured steps. Her heart raced, her hand clutching her bag as if it could calm her nerves.

She reached the table and cleared her throat lightly to get his attention.

— Damian Kay?

Damian looked up at her at once, his eyes settling on her modest, dignified appearance. His gaze was warm and appraising, as if forming a first impression of calm confidence—yet she felt an inner flutter of unease mixed with curiosity.

— It’s nice to see you…

He stood and pulled out the chair opposite him.

— Please.

Raven sat, placing her bag beside her, trying to appear natural despite her racing heart. They exchanged their first real glance—brief, yet enough for Raven to feel that this meeting was different from any date she had known before.

She looked around the place, assessing it, intent on ending the meeting and making Damian reject her himself.

— A cheap restaurant… it doesn’t suit me.

Damian raised an eyebrow, a clear note of surprise at her rudeness—unexpected for a first date.

— My father chose this place… it holds fond memories for him.

Raven scoffed, her tone attempting to mask a slight unease. She hid her hand beneath the table so he wouldn’t notice her tension.

— My father always chooses the most expensive places in the state… he says a place reflects a man’s worth.

A brief silence followed. She saw the confusion in his eyes shift into faint disappointment. Then he spoke with measured calm:

— A man’s worth is defined by his work… and his morals.

Raven lowered her gaze to the price list, flipping through the pages with a sharper tone.

— Are you sure you can afford this?

Only then did Damian calmly close the menu and push his chair back—no anger, just a clear decision.

— I think we’re done here… Miss Nova.

Just as he was about to leave entirely, the waitress suddenly appeared beside the table, holding her notepad and wearing a professional smile.

— Good evening. Have you decided what you’ll be ordering?

She paused, noticing the distance Damian had put between himself and the table, and Raven’s rigid stare fixed on the menu.

Damian looked at the waitress with composed calm.

— No… I’ve decided to leave.

The waitress raised an eyebrow in mild embarrassment and cast a quick glance at Raven, waiting for some explanation.

Raven slowly closed the menu, trying to hide her unease behind a dry tone.

— We won’t be ordering anything.

The waitress nodded professionally, though she couldn’t quite hide a fleeting glimmer of curiosity in her eyes.

— All right… if you need any assistance, I’ll be nearby.

She stepped away, leaving behind a silence heavier than the sound of chairs and tables around them.

The next day was the job interview. The company was filled with fashion models wearing extravagant clothes that suited neither the workplace nor the occasion—no assistants, no chief accountant. Nova wore a formal outfit, hoping to secure the position this time. After a short wait, it was time for the interview.

— Raven Ryder?

The CEO, the company’s owner, lifted his head quickly from the résumé. He seemed to recall the woman who had ruined yesterday’s date—but then he paused at the name.

Nova… and Raven?

To be continued.....