Curiosity gets the better of her

Iris rolls her eyes, knowing her mother is going to freak out if she finds out about the party. "No, mom, it's not a club. It's a...professional gathering. For networking and such. You know, industry stuff."

Her mother hesitates for a moment, clearly still not entirely convinced. "But...will there be men there?" She asks, a hint of disapproval in her voice.

Iris fights back the urge to roll her eyes again. She knows her mother is just being protective, but it's still annoying. "Yes, mom, there will be men there," she says patiently. "But there will be women too. And it's perfectly safe, I can take care of myself."

Her mother looks at her for a long moment, clearly not fully satisfied with her response. But she finally sighs and says, "Okay, okay. Just...promise me you'll be careful, okay? Don't stay out too late, and if anything feels off, don't hesitate to call me."

Iris nods, feeling a mixture of irritation and fondness at her mother's concern. "I will, mom," she says, already mentally planning how she will sneak out later that night without being noticed.

Her mother studies her face for a moment, still looking worried. But she eventually relents, her expression softened by resignation. "Okay, good. Be careful," she says again, her tone a mixture of worry and affection. "I love you, honey."

Iris feels a pang of guilt for lying to her mother, but she pushes it aside and says, "I love you too," with as much conviction she can muster. She reaches over and gives her mom a quick hug, feeling a flicker of relief that the uncomfortable conversation is over.

Her mother hugs her back tightly, holding on for a few moments longer than necessary. She finally lets go and says, "Okay, go on. Don't be late."

Iris nods and grabs her bag, heading for the door. She pauses for a moment before leaving, looking back at her mother one last time. She hesitates for a second, wrestling with her conscience, but eventually decides staying silent is for the best. She exits the house, feeling a strange mix of guilt and excitement for the night ahead.

As she walks to work, Iris tries not to dwell too much on her conversation with her mother. It's not like she's doing anything wrong, she tells herself. She's just going to a party, that's all. But as much as she tries to push her guilt aside, it still nags at the back of her mind, a constant reminder that she's lying to her family.

By the time Iris arrives at work, she's managed to put her guilt on the back burner, at least for now. She clocks in and goes through her usual routine, trying to keep her mind focused on her tasks. But no matter how hard she tries, she can't shake the anticipation of what the night has in store for her.

As the work day drags on, Iris finds herself growing more impatient. She glances at the clock on the wall, watching the minutes crawl by excruciatingly slow. She tries to keep herself occupied with her work, but her mind keeps wandering back to the party she's going to tonight.

Iris spends the rest of her shift going through the motions, singing and serving drinks to the patrons. She forces a smile on her face, trying to look like she's enjoying the job, but her mind is elsewhere. She counts down the minutes until her shift is over, her heart beating faster with each passing moment.

Finally, what seems like an eternity later, her shift ends. Iris clocks out and grabs her bag, feeling a wave of relief and excitement wash over her. She's finally done with work, and the party is waiting for her.

As Iris leaves the bar, she is startled by the sound of a car horn honking loudly. She looks up to see a luxurious car idling by the curb, and a group of men in suits leaning out the windows, clearly waiting for her. One of them calls out to her, "Miss, we've been sent by the mayor to pick you up.

Iris feels a mix of surprise and confusion. *Why would the mayor send a car to pick me up?* She wonders. But she's also curious, and the idea of being personally invited to a party hosted by someone as influential as the mayor is hard to resist. She approaches the car, feeling a mixture of excitement and trepidation.

The door opens and a tall, well-dressed man in a black suit steps out, greeting her with a polite smile. "Good evening miss. I'm sorry for the sudden summons, but the mayor himself has asked to speak with you urgently. It's regarding a very important matter."

Iris raises an eyebrow, her intrigue increasing. *What could the mayor possibly want to talk to me about?* She wonders. But the man's tone is polite and professional, giving nothing away. "Please, step in," he says, gesturing to the open door. "The mayor is waiting."

Iris hesitates for a moment, considering her options. But curiosity gets the better of her, and she steps into the car, settling into the plush leather seat. The driver closes the door behind her, and the car quickly pulls away from the curb. Iris leans back in the seat, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness as she wonders what the mayor could possibly want from her.

As the car speeds through the city, Iris gazes out the window, taking in the passing skyscrapers and neon lights. The streets are relatively quiet, and the car seems to be on an expedited route, barely stopping at red lights or slowing down for traffic. The man sitting next to her remains silent, his expression giving nothing away.

After a few minutes, the car pulls into the parking lot of a luxurious building. The man sitting next to Iris turns to her and says, "We've arrived. The mayor is waiting for you upstairs." He opens the door and gestures for her to step out. She takes a deep breath, feeling a flutter of nerves in her stomach, and exits the car.

….