It was a rainy morning, with thunder blights everywhere. The rain fell on Ana's coat as she stood frozen in front of the glass doors of Majesties HQ as her fingers clutched the folded umbrella she hadn't bothered to open. She felt too numb to care.
Her hand slipped into her coat pocket and wrapped around the now-worn business card. Her last resort. She had nowhere else to go, she had no home, no friends, no family. Just a baby growing inside her.
She pushed the door open and stepped into the marble-floored lobby, her wet shoes squeaking as she walked toward the front desk.
"Can I help you?" the receptionist asked, her voice was smooth and polite, but her eyes scanned Ana from head to toe.
Ana forced a smile. "I'm here to see Fred Nork."
The receptionist's expression shifted subtly, like she had heard that line too many times. "Do you have an appointment?"
Ana shook her head. "No, but… I.. I have…"
"I'm sorry," the woman cut her off quickly. "Mr. Nork doesn't take walk-ins. Especially not today."
Ana's heart sank. "Why not today?"
The woman smirked. "It's his engagement announcement. It's all over the building."
Ana blinked, she was confused. "his what?"
Before she could process the words, a burst of camera flashes erupted from behind the hallway leading into the lounge. A small crowd gathered, clapping and murmuring in admiration. Ana, being curious and suddenly tense, stepped closer, and that was when she saw him, Fred Nork.
Dressed in a tailored navy-blue suit, he stood in the middle of a media circle, his arm wrapped tightly around a tall, elegant woman with striking cheekbones and a diamond ring the size of Ana's thumb.
"This is Tiana Monroe" Fred announced proudly, his voice echoing through the lobby, "my fiancée."
The cameras flashed again. Ana's breath caught in her throat. Her nails dug into her palms.
The feeling of shame gave her a ghost bum, she wanted the ground to open for her to slip in.
Tiana leaned in and kissed his cheek, smiling like she owned him, curling his right arm with her slender body side.
Ana stumbled back, the walls suddenly too tight, the lobby too bright. Her heart pounded. She turned and walked out, the sound of applause still ringing in her ears.
She didn't even know how far she walked before the tears came. She wiped at her cheeks with trembling fingers.
"Get a grip," she muttered to herself. "You came here for a reason. You need a job. A life. You don't need him."
The job listings had said Majesties was hiring. Not for high-level positions, but for janitorial staff, maintenance and cleaning.
She stared back at the building, the fire in her, igniting again. She would not walk away. Not like last time.
The waiting room for interviews was nothing like the grand lobby. Fluorescent lights shown above. The chairs were hard. The floor was scratched.
She sat quietly, holding her resume, watching as a man in a navy uniform walked out and called the next name.
"Ana Thompson?"
She stood. "That's me."
He led her into a small office. A woman sat behind the desk, thick glasses perched on her nose.
"Are you applying for the cleaning staff?" she asked.
Ana nodded. "Yes."
"Experience?"
"I worked at a diner for six months. I also cleaned at a club."
The woman glanced at her over the glasses. "You're overqualified. Why here?"
Ana hesitated. "I need the work. I don't care what it is."
The woman raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.
"You understand it's minimum wage. Harsh hours. And the cleaning crew doesn't get access to the executive floors. You'll be invisible."
"I'm used to it," Ana replied quietly.
After a long pause, the woman stamped a file. "You start Monday. Report to the basement at six a.m. Wear black. No makeup. Hair tied back."
Ana nodded, standing slowly. Relief and shame washed over her in equal measure. She was in. Not as someone important. Not as someone he would notice. But she was inside the building.
She had no idea what came next. But she was ready to fight for her place.
Monday arrived in a blur of nerves and nausea. Ana stood with the other staff members in the gray locker room, her black uniform stiff and a size too big. Everyone avoided eye contact. No one spoke.
She scrubbed toilets. Mopped floors. Hauled trash bags heavier than she was. Her back ached. Her feet blistered. But she didn't stop.
Sometimes, she passed framed portraits of Fred on the walls. Photos of him with global leaders, charity events, business awards. A man who didn't just own the building but owned the world.
He walked these halls. She could feel it. Smell his cologne sometimes in the elevator he'd just exited. But she never saw him. Not yet.
One evening, she was sent to the executive floor to clean a conference room after a last-minute event. It was her first time that high up.
The carpet was silk. The windows overlooking the city looked like it belonged to them. Everything screamed luxury. As she bent to pick up a shattered wine glass, she heard voices.
"Someone called my number," a man said, laughing. "Didn't even realize Tiana answered."
Ana's breath caught. She had heard Fred's voice.
"And what did the person say?" another voice asked.
Fred let out a low chuckle. "Nothing. Just silence… then she hung up."
Ana's breath caught in her throat. Her fingers tightened around the broken glass until it bit into her skin, drawing blood. He knew. He knew it was her.
And he didn't chase after her.
"What do you think?" the other man pressed.
Fred's voice dropped to something darker. "I want it to be her. The girl from that night."
Ana's legs threatened to give way beneath her. She stepped back, her spine pressed flat against the cold wall, her heartbeat loud in her ears. He was looking for her, maybe this was her chance to tell him of her pregnancy.
Then Fred said something else, something barely audible, something that made her blood run cold, his voice came again, closer this time.
"Find her."