The team would tear my place apart in a few hours. Music, bottles, noise. The kind of chaos I hate.
But I’d agreed.
I started the engine. The low hum filled the silence. I pulled out of the lot, already bracing myself for the mess waiting in my penthouse. And the fact that even a packed room wasn’t going to make me stop thinking about her.
Chapter Nineteen
Aurora
Another night of pretending that the girl in the mirror is me. Short black skirt, too tight. Blouse that wouldn’t stay buttoned high enough. A name tag that caught the light whenever I moved.
The uniform of theMute Angel.
I’m not even mute, let alone an angel.
I fastened the clasp on my heels and tried not to look at the envelope sitting on the dresser. Tried… but failed. The thin white rectangle glared at me, quiet but loud all the same.
His money.
It might be ridiculous that all customers give me tips, but I refuse one. Yeah, but—but Iknewhim, and it was humiliating. It was degrading, more degrading than it already was. And this money? It just made everything worse.
The mute angel, a girl who was passed around to everyone, was also being passed tohim.
I rubbed my palms on my thighs, fighting the urge to crumple it, tear it,dosomething. Instead, I picked up my phone. The screen’s glow hit my face, cold and blue.
My thumb hovered over his name. Lockhart.
I shouldn’t. He was probably celebrating, surrounded by people. He’d just finished a match, a win. And me? I was standing in a too-tight blouse with shaking hands, about to go to a job I hated.
Still, I typed.
Me: Hey.
Me: Are you busy?
Me: Can you come down to floor eleven? Just for a second?
I stared at the messages, heart hammering so hard I could hear it.
The phone stayed silent.
One minute.
Two.
Five.
No dots. No reply. Just my reflection staring back from the black screen.
Of course. He was busy. Why did I even wait? It was stupid to think he’d come. He slammed the door in my facetwicethe other night. He probably knew—knew that all I wanted was to get this money back to him.That’s why he’s ignoring me.
Well… I’m sure he would either way. He doesn’t like me, so what was I thinking? Clearly, Iwasn’t.
I slipped the phone into my bag, heart heavy, and picked up the envelope. The edges were soft now from how many times I’d touched them. I pressed it flat with my fingers, took a slow breath, and headed out, shoving it into my tote bag.
Maybe he’ll change his mind later.
The corridor was quiet except for the click of my heels on the marble floor, each step echoing too loudly. I pressed the elevator button and waited, staring at the glowing numbers as they climbed down from the higher floors.
