Date For Charity's Sake

The double doors of Night Start Hotel glide open with a smooth hiss as Andrea steps into the marbled lobby, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor. The early morning quiet hums with understated luxury, but her presence disrupts it like perfume too strong for the room. Dressed in a cinched cream coat and oversized sunglasses, Andrea moves with a confidence that borders on arrogance—an invisible red carpet rolling out in her mind with every step.

Behind the front desk, Laura stiffens the moment she spots her.

Of course it's her.

Andrea Costas.

The last time she'd walked in here, she'd caused a scene that had turned heads and tightened jaws. No greetings, no patience—just a pointed insistence that she did not need to be announced. "Christian knows who I am," she had said, eyes sweeping over Laura like she was furniture.

Laura smooths her blouse and lifts her chin as Andrea approaches.

"Good morning," Laura says evenly, not smiling.