Walking into a different world

The towering black gates loomed ahead, sleek and imposing, a silent reminder of the wealth and power that lay beyond them. Kiara's heart raced in her chest as she stepped out of the cab, the sleek stone pathway stretching ahead like an invitation into a world she had never imagined.

This wasn't the world she was used to. This wasn't Ava's world—not the Ava she knew. The one who had struggled alongside her, one paycheck away from homelessness, always grinding to make ends meet. Now, as Kiara stood on the threshold of the cole estate, she couldn't shake the overwhelming sense that she had stepped into a completely different realm.

A world that felt almost… unreachable.

The security guards at the entrance barely spared her a glance before one of them, dressed in a crisp black suit, approached. His expression was as unreadable as the walls that surrounded them. He glanced at her briefly, then down at the tablet in his hands, swiping across the screen with practiced ease.

"Name?"

Kiara hesitated, her voice tinged with uncertainty as she straightened her shoulders. "Kiara. I'm here to see Ava."

The guard paused for a beat, his gaze lingering a little longer on her before he began tapping the screen again. His expression never shifted. "Miss Cole is expecting you. Please, this way."

She blinked in surprise. Expecting me? She hadn't told Ava she was coming. But then again, this was Ava—always the one to be one step ahead, always prepared. Maybe she had guessed.

As the gates opened, Kiara couldn't help but take a deep breath, her chest tightening as she stepped onto the stone pathway. The estate was even more breathtaking up close than it had been from a distance.

The modern architectural design was stunning, all sleek lines and sharp angles. The pristine glass windows reflected the warm hues of the evening sky, and the meticulously trimmed hedges flanked the sweeping driveway. Every detail, down to the way the flowers were arranged, screamed power, wealth, and exclusivity. Everything about this place felt calculated to remind visitors they were outsiders, and Kiara couldn't shake the sense that she didn't belong here. That she never would.

But then again, Ava belonged here now, didn't she?

Inside the Mansion

The moment the grand doors opened, Kiara's breath caught in her throat.

The foyer was massive. The ceilings stretched impossibly high above her, adorned with a glittering crystal chandelier that cast a golden glow over the polished marble floors. The walls were lined with intricate carvings, each one more exquisite than the last, and the towering glass windows let in the perfect amount of natural light, enhancing the warmth of the room.

It wasn't just a house. It was a statement.

A testament to the cole family's influence, and, Kiara realized with a sinking feeling, their wealth. And in that moment, she felt smaller than she ever had before.

She barely had time to take it all in before a familiar voice rang out, piercing through the heavy silence of the room.

"Kiara!"

Kiara turned, her heart lifting just a little as Ava appeared from the hallway. The look on her face was pure excitement, her eyes lighting up when they landed on Kiara. Before Kiara could even take a step, Ava had crossed the distance between them and wrapped her in a tight embrace.

"You didn't tell me you were coming!" Ava chided, pulling back slightly to study her, hands on her shoulders. "I would've sent a car for you!"

Kiara scoffed playfully, despite the tension building in her chest. "Yeah, because arriving in a billionaire's private car would've totally gone unnoticed."

Ava's grin softened the edges of her sharp words. She rolled her eyes before pulling Kiara further inside, leading her toward the living room. "Come on, let's sit. You must be exhausted from the journey."

Kiara followed her, trying to ignore the way the lavishness of the space made her feel increasingly out of place. Everything was so perfect. Carefully curated, nothing out of place. Even Ava, who had always been grounded in her struggles, had transformed into someone else. Someone… polished, poised, as though she had been sculpted to fit into this world.

Kiara couldn't help the dissonance that churned inside her as she watched Ava move so effortlessly through this grand, cold space.

"You really weren't kidding when you said your life had changed," Kiara muttered as she settled onto one of the velvet sofas. She watched Ava pour tea, the fine china gleaming under the soft light.

Ava sighed, the weight of the words seeming to pull her down for a moment. "Yeah, it's been an adjustment."

Kiara arched an eyebrow, her gaze never leaving Ava. "Adjustment? Ava, you went from barely making rent to living in a mansion that probably has its own zip code. Be honest. Does it feel real yet?"

Ava hesitated, her fingers tightening around the teapot before she set it down. With a small, almost bittersweet smile, she shook her head. "Not always."

Kiara's eyes narrowed, her concern deepening. Something in Ava's expression had shifted, a quiet wariness flickering in her eyes, like a secret she wasn't sharing.

Before Kiara could press her further, the door at the far end of the room creaked open, and a voice cut through the air, sharp and chilling.

"I wasn't aware we had guests."

The atmosphere shifted immediately.

Kiara's heart skipped a beat, and an icy chill spread down her spine. Her breath caught in her throat, and she could feel the temperature in the room drop a few degrees. Even before she turned, she knew who had just entered the room.

Damien cole.

He stood at the top of the staircase, his tall, broad-shouldered frame dressed in a dark, perfectly tailored suit that only heightened his commanding presence. His sharp gaze swept over her as if she were a mere inconvenience, something to be observed and discarded in the same breath.

His face was impassive, cold, as though he were a king observing an unwanted visitor in his court.

Kiara's grip on the teacup tightened, her fingers becoming numb as she instinctively pulled it closer to herself. She could feel her heartbeat echo in her chest.

Ava stood up quickly, her voice a little too careful. "Damien. This is Kiara. I told you about her."

Damien didn't acknowledge Ava's words immediately. His eyes were locked onto Kiara with such intensity that it felt like he was sizing her up, assessing her, as though trying to determine whether she was worth his time—or whether she was something that needed to be disposed of.

"Right. The best friend," he finally said, his voice dripping with thinly veiled disinterest.

Kiara's stomach churned. The best friend. He made it sound like an afterthought, like an insignificant detail.

She forced herself to stand straighter, offering him a polite smile even though her palms were sweating. "Nice to finally meet you, Damien. Ava's told me… some things."

Damien raised an eyebrow, his gaze sharpening as a flicker of amusement passed across his face. "Only some?"

Kiara straightened, a rush of confidence surging through her. She cleared her throat, pushing down the nerves gnawing at her. "I prefer to form my own opinions."

Silence.

Damien's eyes narrowed just a fraction. The moment felt like it stretched forever, like the air had turned to lead, weighing down on her.

Then, without missing a beat, Damien's lips curled into a smile—a cold, almost predatory smile. "Then let me make it easy for you," he said smoothly. "I don't like unnecessary guests."

Kiara's heart dropped into her stomach, her breath catching in her throat.

Ava stiffened beside her, her voice rising in protest. "Damien—"

But Damien didn't spare her a glance. His eyes never left Kiara's face.

"And I especially don't like people who ask too many questions," he added, his voice low and almost menacing.

The warning was clear.

Kiara swallowed hard, her mouth dry as his words hung heavy in the air, suffocating her.

She wasn't sure if he was being serious, or if this was some kind of test. But she didn't have the courage to find out. Not now. Not with the weight of his gaze pinning her in place.

A tense silence stretched between them.

And then, as quickly as it had arrived, the tension broke. Damien turned away without another word, his movements cold and dismissive.

"Ava," he said, voice devoid of warmth, "make sure she doesn't overstay her welcome."

With that, he disappeared back up the stairs, his footsteps echoing through the silence.

Kiara exhaled, not realizing until that moment how tightly she had been holding her breath.

The room felt lighter the moment he was gone. Ava let out a soft sigh of relief, rubbing her forehead as though trying to erase the moment from her mind.

"I'm sorry about that. He's just… like that."

Kiara's hands were still cold, her heart still racing. "Yeah," she muttered, barely able to keep the shakiness out of her voice. "I noticed."

Ava gave her a small, apologetic smile, but Kiara didn't return it. Instead, her gaze was fixed on the space where Damien had stood, her stomach twisting with unease.

Because for the first time since arriving, Kiara wasn't just uncomfortable.

She was terrified.