The encounter with Luca lingered in Natalia's thoughts long after the alley fell silent. She couldn't shake the intensity of his gaze or the enigmatic aura that surrounded him. Her mind, usually occupied with survival in the city, now wandered back to the mysterious man.
Days turned into nights, and the memory of that fateful encounter became a haunting presence. After work, Natalia often found herself retracing her steps back to that alley, half-hoping for another glimpse of the man who had unknowingly disrupted the rhythm of her life.
Meanwhile, in the opulent heights of the city, Luca wrestled with an unfamiliar restlessness. The memory of a girl whose path had intersected with his in the shadows, her wide doe eyes full of curiosity, innocence, and vulnerability lingered in his thoughts—a distraction he certainly couldn't afford.
His intricate web of alliances and power struggled against the intrusion of someone who doesn't fit in his world. Yet, there was an inexplicable pull, a curiosity that nagged at him, urging him to seek her out once more.
Fate, it seemed, had its own plans.
One evening, as the city surrendered to the darkness, Natalia found herself once again at the crossroads of chance and destiny. A black envelope with gold details lay abandoned on the pavement of the alley where they met, a single black rose peeking out, its petals kissed by the fading light.
Curiosity piqued, she picked up the black envelope, discovering an invitation to an exclusive gala—hosted by none other than Luca himself. Confusion and intrigue mingled within her as she pondered the gesture until she surrendered to the darkness and fell to dreamless slumber.
The next morning, Natalia went to work. It wasn't a busy day so after she prepared the tables and smoothed her uniform, she went inside the employee's room where she saw Nicole and Ashley talking.
"Hey girl" Ashley looked her way when she noticed Natalia coming in, waiving her to come over.
When she reached where they at, Nicole said enthusiastically "Ash and I are picking up extra work this weekend. The call time is at 8 pm. You in?"
Natalia's face brightened, she really needed an extra job to make this "adulting" and make-ends-meet" work.
"Yeah, sure! Sign me up. Where is it by the way and what's the job?" She asked Ashley and Nicole.
"Oh it's an easy one, they just need waitresses for the night. There's a charity gala happening in Stefano Mansion downtown, 'The Lost Dreamers' I think is the name." Ashley answered.
"Great! I'll see you all there at 8. Thanks for telling me, I really need the extra job" Natalia said with a genuine smile not knowing that the gala Luca was hosting was the same gala.
"No worries, girly. You know we got you and aren't we all?" Nicole answered and smiled back.
After that day, the hours moved fast until it was the day of the gala. Natalia met up with Ashley and Nicole in the lobby and waited for the head organizer to give them their uniforms and badges. They were pulled to a quick meeting before heading out and serving the guests.
"Listen up everyone! Remember that the people you're serving today are the elite of Drago City and you are all paid handsomely to serve them. I don't want to hear any complaints from any of them. Do you hear me?! Three rules I have is to keep your mouth shut, eyes down and don't speak unless spoken to! Now off you go and make sure you do your best out there!" says the head organizer and she strutted out to the main hall.
"Geez, I bet she's not married. I can't imagine what her husband and her kids will go through" Ashley laughingly said.
"Well, I'm betting on that too and I'm all in. Anyway, let's go ladies before she comes back and drags us to hell" Nicole added and walked out of the room with us in tow.