Chapter 1 Introduction

AYRA'S POV “Ayra, Ayra,” a voice pierced through the haze of my sleep. “Today, aren’t you heading to work?” the voice persisted. “Melissa?” I mumbled, my mind struggling to surface from the depths of slumber. “You’re back?” I asked groggily, attempting to stretch. “Yes, and do you know what time it is?” she pressed, yanking the duvet off me. “Unless you want Mr. Larsson to dock a day off your roster,” she teased, playfully swatting me with a pillow. After several futile attempts, I finally managed to drag myself out of bed. “Welcome back. How was the night shift?” I asked as she sat on the bed, preparing to sleep. “Busy as usual,” she replied, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. “Have you already taken your bath?” I inquired, noticing she was about to lie down. “Yes. What's the point of working there if you can’t at least grab a shower?” she murmured, already drifting towards sleep. “Please, make sure to wake me up at 4 PM. I’m not sure I’ll wake up on my own,” she requested, her yawn wide and weary. “Sure, I will,” I promised. “Skipping breakfast?” I asked, but she was already asleep. I rushed to the bathroom to shower and get ready for work. My name is Ayra Malik, and I’m twenty-three. The lady fast asleep in the bedroom is Melissa Shawn, my best friend, roommate, and one of my favorite people. She knows almost everything about me, though not quite everything. We both work at the city’s top-rated casino. Melissa prefers the night shift for the extra tips at the underground casino, despite coming home every morning utterly spent. I, on the other hand, work in the hotel section. I’d rather avoid the older men’s inappropriate advances—especially the ones old enough to be my father. After dressing quickly, I left the house, closing the door softly to avoid waking Melissa. “Morning, Ayra. Ready for work?” greeted Mr. Garrett, our kind landlord, as he tended to his flowers. “Morning, Mr. Garrett. Had a good night?” I asked, smiling. “Yes, and you?” he responded as I rummaged through my bag. “Same,” I replied. Mr. Garrett is a generous man, though his wife is less so. He has three children: two daughters in high school and a young son who still lives at home. “Mr. Garrett, here’s our contribution for this week’s water supply,” I said, handing him the money. “Thanks. Have a nice day at work,” he wished me as I hurried away. I rushed to the bus station, where my usual ride awaited. “Good morning, Mr. Alfred,” I greeted the bus driver, a sheepish smile on my face. “You’re always running late, Ayra,” he noted with a smile. I didn’t argue; I knew he was right. Gripping the sturdy bus handle for support, I stood among the crowd. The bus was always packed as we headed to work in the affluent part of town. Most of us held menial jobs—drivers, cleaners, nannies—roles that kept us in the lower echelons of society. As soon as we arrived at the bus station, I bid Mr. Alfred a quick goodbye and hurried off. The walk from the bus station to my workplace was a kilometer long, a factor that often made me late. Adjusting my bag on my shoulder, I felt the weight of the day ahead as I approached the towering edifice of Eclipse Edge Casino. The vibrant energy of the bustling establishment infused me with a sense of anticipation. “Good morning, Ayra,” Collins, one of the receptionists, greeted with a playful grin. “Welcome to Eclipse Edge Casino, Ma’am. How may we assist you today?” His cheerful demeanor added warmth to the bustling casino lobby. “Collins, let me be. I’m already late,” I said with a hurried smile, heading towards the changing room. “Ayra, always in a rush,” Mr. Larsson, head of the cleaning department, remarked. “Sorry, Sir,” I replied, knowing I couldn’t keep making excuses. “The occupant of room fifty-two just checked out. Go clean up,” he instructed before turning to leave, whistling as he scanned the building. “Good morning, Sir,” Collins greeted him respectfully. “Morning, Collins,” he replied in a somewhat bossy tone. “Did you prepare the bill correctly for the guest who just checked out?” he asked, his tone expectant. “Not at all, Sir,” Collins assured him confidently. “Good,” Mr. Larsson replied, ascending the stairs. I couldn’t help but smile. Despite being only the head of the cleaning department, Mr. Larsson often acted as if he wielded more authority. It wasn’t his place to question the billing, yet he felt the need to assert himself. Quite amusing, isn’t it? I swiftly changed into my uniform, secured my apron, donned my black shoes, and gathered my cleaning supplies before heading out. ............ "Phew, I'm utterly exhausted," I murmured, my hand finding solace on the reception counter after long hours of Washing and cleaning. "Sorry about that. So, how many condoms did you pack today?" Collins asked, moving nearer. "That, I shan't say. That's against the clients confidentiality according to section one of page two of Eclipse edge Casino regulations" I joked. "I figured you wouldn't spill," he remarked, stating the obvious. "Time seems to drag on forever. I'm already fatigued and wished to go now," he groaned, slumping into his chair. "Speaking of time, could you tell me what time it is?" I asked him. "Quarter past four," he promptly answered, glancing at his wristwatch. "Oh my goodness, Melissa will be furious," I exclaimed, quickly dialing her number. "Melissa, it's already four," I informed her. "It's actually a quarter past four, Ayra," she corrected me. "I'm terribly sorry, it completely slipped my mind," I admitted. "Work was incredibly hectic," I added. "No worries, I'm already up," she reassured me. "Wait, don't tell me Martin came and woke you up?" I asked, feeling a pang of annoyance. "Yes, he did, and now I'm cooking for him," she confirmed. "Alright, catch you later," I said as I ended the call. Martin can be quite bothersome sometimes. Despite knowing that Melissa was on a night shift, he still had the audacity to wake her up and ask her to cook for him. He's selfish at times, I thought to myself as I leaned against the counter. "Ayra, shouldn't you be attending to tasks instead of loitering at the reception?" Mr. Larson queried. "I've just finished room two hundred and one, Sir," I replied, standing upright. "You're not here to idle and chat. Go, find something productive to do," he instructed. "Go to the ironing room and tally the number of bedsheets," he ordered. I wanted to protest that it wasn't part of my job description, but out of fear of losing my job, I meekly complied. Upon reaching the laundry room, I immediately began playing music on my phone while counting the bedsheets. Midway through, my phone rang, disrupting my playlist. "Hello?" I answered. "I'll get your money, please don't sell it, I beg you," I pleaded, placing a hand on my forehead. "Please, once I get paid again, I'll send your money," I promised. "You'd better," the voice warned before ending the call. "Ayra, what are you doing here? You're supposed to have closed by now," Melissa's voice sounded from the doorway. "I'm tallying the number of bedsheets available," I informed her. "I don't understand, since when did logistics become part of the cleaning department's duties?" she questioned. "I have no clue," I responded, turning towards her at the door. "Are you alright? You seem a bit off," she observed. "Just a slight headache. I believe I'll feel better after a shower at home," I lied. "Alright," she replied, though her expression betrayed her skepticism. "You must have arrived much earlier, considering the change of attire," I remarked, eyeing her white shirt and printed black skirt. "Yes, what else can one do with a demanding boyfriend like mine?" she replied cheerfully. "What can I say, my friend is truly in love," I smiled as we exited the laundry room. "Oh, darn," I muttered under my breath upon seeing Collins waiting at the reception. He had also finished for the day. "Hey, are you done?" he inquired, scanning me from head to toe. "Um, yes, but I haven't changed yet. So, perhaps, you should go ahead," I suggested, attempting to excuse myself. "Well, I have nothing else to do, so I'll wait," he insisted stubbornly. "Okay, thanks," I said, though inwardly, I wasn't pleased. You see, the thing is, Collins has been asking me out, and I've been declining. There's no spark between us, no fluttering butterflies, but Collins doesn't seem to get the hint. "Melissa, I'll see you tomorrow. Have a peaceful shift," I hugged her. "Eclipse Edge Casino is never peaceful, you know that," she remarked. "Come on, girls, you're wasting time," Collins complained. "Hey, Collins, she told you to go, yet you're complaining. I think you should stop," Melissa stated bluntly, prompting me to discreetly pinch her as a silent warning. Melissa is incredibly forthright, believe me. "Goodnight, my dear," she waved as we exited the building. "Good evening, Mr. Alfred," I greeted as we boarded the bus. I searched for a seat, and Collins followed suit, trapping me in. "The bus is unusually empty," I commented, struggling to initiate conversation. "Yes, most of us have headed home, so we're lucky," he smiled. "I could walk you home, if you'd like?" Collins offered, the moment we dropped. "No, it's fine. It's still bright out. I can manage on my own," I declined. "Alright, if you say so," he replied, disappointment evident on his face. I didn't want to invite him over; it might give him the wrong impression that I'm interested, which I'm not. ........................... I opened the door, and Aurora leaped onto me. "Hey, Aurora, did you miss Mama?" I asked, lifting her in the air. "Meow," she purred, rubbing her head against my face in greeting. "Evening to you too, Rora," I smiled. Aurora is my pet, and I feel responsible for her. I found her one evening at the backyard of Eclipse Edge Casino, hiding away. I noticed that no one claimed ownership of the adorable little cat, so I decided to take her home. I named her Aurora because of her beautiful coat of various colors, and she adores me as much as I adore her. I shut the door to our two-room apartment, consisting of a living room, a bedroom, and a bathroom. It's decent, considering the affordable rent. I took a long, warm bath, feeling refreshed afterward. "Thank you, Almighty, for this beautiful day," I offered a prayer as I headed to the kitchen for a meal, feeling grateful.