LADY OF THE NIGHT

CHAPTER SEVEN

ALMOST CAUGHT

ANDREA

I wake with a violent jerk, my heart hammering against my ribs like it’s trying to escape and for a second, I don’t even know where I am. My breathing comes out uneven as my eyes snap toward the window and f**k.

It’s dark.

Not just evening-dark, but deep, settled night-dark, the kind where the city has already come alive in its second life with streetlights glow like scattered stars, and the distant hum of traffic seeps through the glass, louder and busier than it should be.

My stomach drops.

“No… no, no, no…”

I scramble out of bed, nearly tripping over my own feet as I rush toward my desk, my phone lies there like a ticking bomb and the moment I grab it and the screen lights up, my worst fear slams into me.

9:07 PM.

A whole extra hours.

“I freaking slept for extra hours,” I whisper, then drag both hands down my face. “I’m screwed, I’m actually screwed.”

Panic rises fast, choking, tightening around my chest and my mind starts racing ahead of me, throwing problem after problem in my face.

How do I go back to the mansion now?

How do I get my outfit?

How do I sneak out again without drawing attention?

“f**k! f**k! f*****g kill me already!”

My voice bounces off the walls, but it doesn’t help. If anything, it makes everything feel more real.

“Okay… okay, calm down, Andrea. Think. Just think.”

I pace the room, fingers digging into my hair as I force myself to breathe. In… out… in… out.

A headache begins to bloom at my temples, slow but insistent, like a warning sign I don’t have time to deal with and outside, the city pulses with car horns, distant laughter, engines revving and everything feels louder tonight, like the world is mocking me.

“Think,” I mutter again.

Going back to the mansion is out of the question, at this hour, security would be tighter and questions would be asked with eyes would be everywhere.

So… Plan B.

Aurora.

The idea settles in my mind, and I latch onto it like a lifeline.

If I go to Aurora’s place, it makes sense. I stayed late for work again, it wouldn’t be strange if I crashed at hers and my aunt wouldn’t question it too much, especially when it comes to Aurora. Even though she knows there are limits to what she can push with that girl.

“Yeah… yeah, that works,” I say under my breath, nodding slightly.

Fingers crossed it doesn’t blow up in my face and decision made, I grab my burner phone and quickly type out a message.

“I messed up. Bad. I know, uou’ll be pissed but while you’re at it, can you help me order an outfit that might work for work at the deal tonight? On my way, I’ll explain.”

I hit send before I can overthink it.

Using the burner is important, leaving no trace or mistake behind and Aurora would absolutely roast me alive if I dragged her into something messy through the wrong channel as she already hates being involved in this kind of thing.

Still… beneath that permanent frown and sharp tongue, she cares, she just doesn’t show it in the usual ways, I grab my bag and start stuffing my things into it, moving fast now, adrenaline taking over, within seconds, I’m out of my office and heading toward the parking lot.

At least one thing is in my favor, there’s always a standby security guard and I won’t be locked in.

The night air hits me as soon as I step outside, cool and grounding. I breathe it in quickly, trying to steady myself as I reach my car.

I press the keypad.

Beep.

The sound echoes louder than it should in the quiet of the lot, making me wince but it’s also proof, if anyone cares that I’m leaving late.

Good.

I slip into the driver’s seat, start the engine, and pull out without wasting another second.

As I drive, my thoughts shift again, work.

Shit.

“I haven’t even messaged Trapped,” I groan, grabbing my second phone at a red light.

Quickly, I type:

“Hi Selena, I’m sorry I missed my shift tonight, I had an impromptu family matter that needed attending to and finished late. Can I drop by for the midnight shift instead?”

I send it and toss the phone onto the passenger seat, gripping the steering wheel tighter as I accelerate.

Please say yes, I am still new at work and walready taking excuse this early is gonna f**k up my plan if she doesn't like me this early, the drive to Aurora’s feels longer than usual, even though I know it isn’t and every second stretches, my mind replaying worst-case scenarios on a loop.

By the time I pull into her parking lot, my nerves are buzzing.

“Of course,” I mutter as I glance around. “She doesn’t do poor.”

Aurora’s building gleams under the lights, sleek, modern, expensive, the kind of place that screams money without even trying, I park quickly and head inside, heels clicking against the polished floor as I make my way to the elevator.

Moments later, I’m standing in front of her door, I raise my hand to input the passcode, but before I even touch the keypad, there’s a soft buzz and then—

“Welcome, ma’am Andrea.”

I blink.

“…Of course she upgraded.”

A small smile tugs at my lips despite everything, that’s Aurora, always ten steps ahead, even when no one’s watching, squaring my shoulders, I plaster on a bright smile and push the door open.

“Howdy, my greatest friend!” I announce as I step inside.

The sight that greets me, though, throws me off, Aurora is curled up on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, eyes glued to the TV and completely unfazed by my dramatic entrance.

“Got your text,” she says flatly. “Outfit’s in the room, get ready, then come back and explain.”

No glance or even a reaction, just Aurora being Aurora.

“Okay, ma’am,” I reply, giving a mock bow.

She doesn’t even blink, I shake my head and head toward the guest room, my room whenever I’m here and the moment I step inside, relief washes over me, two outfits are laid neatly on the bed.

One for now and one for work and a bag sits beside them, already prepared, I exhale slowly.

“How much more can I milk this friendship?” I murmur, half amused, half grateful.

For a moment, the panic fades, I grab the towel and head straight for the shower and as hot water cascades over me, washing away the stress, the panic, the mistakes of the evening, I close my eyes and let it run over my face, down my neck, my shoulders.

For a few minutes, it feels like everything resets, like I didn’t mess up, I’m still in control and when I step out, I feel lighter.

Not fixed but better.

I dry off quickly and slip into the outfit she picked, it fits perfectly, of course. Aurora doesn’t miss, the second outfit goes into the bag along with my things. I pull on the hoodie she left out and glance at myself in the mirror.

Presentable and that's good enough.

This time, when I walk back into the living room, the smile on my face is real, I drop beside her on the couch and curl into her side, and for a moment, neither of us says anything, just quiet and comfortable silence.

“Entered my room?” she asks suddenly.

I turn to her, surprised. “How did you know?”

“I can smell my perfume on you,” she replies dryly, eyes still on the screen.

I snort softly. “Of course you can.”

Nothing gets past her.

“What’s the update from work?” she continues, getting straight to the point like always.

And there it is, mood ruined.

“Nothing new,” I admit, leaning back. “I haven’t been able to access anything and, I still feel watched every time I’m there.”

That part sits heavy in my chest.

“It’s not just a feeling anymore.”

She finally glances at me, sharp and assessing.

“They escort all female employees out with two guards,” I add. “Which is good, I guess but it ruins everything.”

“Hmm.”

Silence stretches for a second.

“Next plan?” she asks.

Straightforward or reason to fluff.

“I need to find out who’s at the top,” I say. “If you can help me dig into that it’ll make things easier, I need to build some kind of trust, get close.”

Aurora studies me for a moment before nodding slightly.

“Fine,” she says. “Keep your phone on at all times and location on too.”

I nod.

“And don’t sleep with any man there,” she adds, her tone turning sharp. “I know you, you can’t resist a good-looking face.”

I roll my eyes. “Oh, please”

“You have a boyfriend,” she cuts in. “Not one that I approve, but manage yourself.”

I snort. “Trust you to ruin the moment.”

She doesn’t respond.

We fall back into silence, the TV playing some crime documentary neither of us is really watching and time passes but eventually, I check the time and sigh.

“I have to go.”

She nods once.

“See you later,” I say, leaning in to drop a quick peck on her cheek.

As expected, she immediately wipes it off, I grin.

“Take the stairs,” she says. “Use the back door and taxi’s waiting and keep me updated.”

“Always.”

I grab my bag and do exactly as she says, the stairwell is quiet, each step echoing softly as I descend and by the time I push through the back door, the night greets me fully.

Cool air, distant noise and no movement, I pull my hoodie up and step out.

And then—

I freeze.

A car parked about six feet away.

And someone inside is taking pictures and my stomach twists.

No.

No way.

The flashes aren’t obvious, but I can tell, the angle and the stillness, they’re watching me.

My only thought, my aunt.

“She didn’t buy it,” I whisper.

For a split second, panic threatens to take over again but I force it down not right now so I straighten my posture and start walking toward the taxi like nothing is wrong, like I don’t see them, I don’t feel their eyes burning into me and each step feels heavier than the last, but I don’t break pace.

Don’t react.

Don’t slip.

I reach the taxi, open the door, and slide in.

“Drive,” I say quietly.

The car pulls away and only then do I allow myself to breathe, I pull out my phone and type quickly.

“I think she has s**t on me.”

I hit send to Aurora and lock the screen, leaning back, I roll the window down slightly and let the night air rush in, cool against my skin, my thoughts are a mess again, everything feels too close, too exposed but maybe…

Maybe it was nothing.

Maybe just a coincidence.

Right??