CHAPTER 2

RAINORA.

I went down the steps of the plane, holding on tight to my little duffle bag. The humming noise of the

airport was kind of unnerving as I took in the crowd of people. Through them all, I located Eunice. Her

white blazer, tailored to perfection beneath the noon sun, complemented slim black trousers and sleek

heels to a T as she waved exuberantly.

"Ray babe!" Eunice exclaimed as her face split in a wide grin.

I smiled back shyly, walking briskly toward her. "Eunice, it's so great to see you."

"Look at you," Eunice said, pulling me into a brief but warm hug. "Still petite and cute, as always. How

was the flight?"

"Not bad. A bit bumpy, but manageable," I replied quietly.

"Good. Let me take that," Eunice offered, already reaching for the bag. "Come on, the Porsche is just

over there. You must be starving.

As we slid into the sleek red car, I took a moment to appreciate the luxurious interior. Eunice had always

had a knack for living well.

"Buckle up!" Eunice chimed, turning the key in the ignition. "I ordered a deep clean just this morning, so

if you smell leather, thank my neurosis."

I laughed softly. "It smells amazing. Thanks for picking me up."

"Oh, please. Like I'd let you Uber in this city on your first day. So, tell me—what's new? Still, bingeing

those crime shows? Did you finally learn how to bake that sourdough you were always ranting about last

year?"

I laughed. "No, the sourdough remains the mystery. And yes, I read another true crime series over the

weekend. But literally, I have just been trying to keep my head above water with what is going on at the

house.

Eunice nodded, glancing over at me. "I know. I'm sorry about how rough it's been. But you're here now.

Clean slate, new opportunities. Trust me, this city is going to work wonders for you."

The conversation ebbed and flowed while we weaved through the busy streets. Eunice filled the gaps

with stories about her coworkers, the new gym she had joined, and her dramatic neighbor who always

played violin at odd hours. I listened, comforted by Eunice's upbeat chatter.

Finally, we pulled up to a chic apartment complex with a glass-paneled entrance.

"This is me," said Eunice, parking the car and stepping out. "Don't be fooled by the posh outside since

it's a cozy interior."

I followed Eunice into the apartment, in awe of the very minimalist yet elegant interior. There was a very

large window that allowed plenty of sunlight to enter. The walls were painted light beige, a soft color

which dominated everywhere."You can unpack in here," Eunice said, opening the door to a guest room. "Bathroom's just down the

hall. Make yourself at home."

I set my bag down, stretching my stiff limbs. "Thanks, Eunice. This is amazing." "No biggie. While you

settle in, I'll order dinner. Thai okay?"

"Perfect," I replied, already pulling out my toiletries.

By the time I emerged from my quick shower, refreshed and wrapped in one of Eunice's fluffy robes,

dinner had arrived. Eunice had set up the small dining table with containers of steaming curry and

noodles.

As we dug in, Eunice leaned back in her chair. "So, about the job," she began. "It's at Conway Law. Heard

of it?"

I stopped chewing, my eyes wide. "Wait-Conway? The Conway? I thought you said it was a small job."

Eunice beamed, proud of the reaction. "It's a little above entry level, but hey, you've got this. They're

looking for someone sharp, and you've got the qualifications. I pulled some strings with a partner I

know, but the rest will be on you.

"Eunice… I don't even know what to say. Thank you," I said at a loss.

"Don't sweat it," Eunice replied, waving a hand. "Just don't make me look bad, okay? And eat. You'll

need your strength for tomorrow."

"I will do my best. And I will," I said, taking another bite.

Eunice looked at her watch, then stood, collecting her bag. "I got to go back into the office for that late

meeting. You're safe here. Call if you need it."

I nodded. "Thanks, again, Eunice, for everything."

"Anytime, sweetie," Eunice said with a wink before she went out of my room.

I finished my meal alone, in silence. Later, I had a quick video call with Mom and Arin, updating them

about the day. We ended the call a few minutes later, and I finally slipped into bed, the weight of the

day catching up with me. I fell asleep anxious but excited.

---

The new job at Conway Law was a whirlwind. As an assistant to one of the busiest managers, days were

spent juggling schedules and errands, making sure everything got done just so. At the end of each night,

my feet ached, but I didn't mind. For the first time in a long while, I felt useful and needed. Like I finally was

doing something right and something worthwhile.

A week passed in this blur of motion. I barely saw Eunice, who worked late hours herself, and to make

ends meet, I had picked up a part-time evening job at a coffee shop nearby. By the time I returned home

each night, it was nearly midnight, and she usually was fast asleep.

But tonight was different. I unlocked the door and was greeted by the sight of Eunice lounging on the couch, scrolling through her

phone.

"Well, well," Eunice said, looking up with a teasing smile. "The elusive Rainora finally makes an

appearance."

I smiled softly as I set down my bag. "You're one to talk. I haven't seen you in days."

"Well, you're in luck," Eunice said, standing up and smoothing her fitted skirt. "Because tonight, my dear

friend, we're going out."

"Out?" I echoed, already feeling a twinge of apprehension. "Eunice, I've got work tomorrow, and I'm

exhausted. Can't we do this some other time?"

"Nope." Eunice was light, yet firm. "You have been in this city for a week and seen nothing. You work

two jobs, running yourself ragged, and you haven't even had one night out. That's unacceptable."

I wavered. "I don't know. I'm not much into nightlife.

Well, it is mine," Eunice said, tugging on my arm and pulling me toward her bedroom. "And trust me,

you'll thank me later. Now, let's get you out of those dull work clothes and into something fabulous."

"Eunice," I began to protest, but she was already digging through her closet, pulling out dresses and

heels.

"This is perfect," Eunice said, holding up a sleek black dress. "Classic, elegant, but not boring. You'll look

stunning."

I sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing. "Fine. But no crazy makeup." Eunice grinned.

"Minimalist glam. Got it."

An hour later, we were stepping into Eden, one of the city's trendiest clubs. The air was electric with

pulsing music and flashing lights. I felt a little out of place in my borrowed dress, but Eunice was in her

element, leading the way to the bar with practiced ease.

"What are we drinking?" Eunice asked, her voice raised to be heard over the music. "Something light," I

said nervously.

Eunice rolled her eyes but ordered two mojitos. "Here's to cutting loose," she said, raising her glass.

I took a sip and smiled. The drink was refreshing, and the atmosphere was infectious. "Come on," Eunice

said, tugging me toward the dance floor. "You've got to let loose a little."

I hesitated, but let myself be pulled into the throng of dancers. The music was loud, bass vibrating

through the floor, and for a moment, I forgot my worries. I laughed as Eunice spun me around, a rare

feeling of freedom taking over.

After a couple more drinks, I felt my inhibitions slipping away. I swayed to the music, giggling at Eunice's

exaggerated dance moves.

"You're getting the hang of it!" Eunice shouted, grinning. As we made our way back to the bar for another round, a man approached Eunice, leaning in with a

confident smile. "Hey, beautiful. Can I buy you a drink?"

Eunice turned to me with a mischievous grin. "You okay for a minute?"

"Of course," I said, waving her off. "I'll be fine."

I decided to head toward the bathroom. It took a little time to locate, hidden away as it was down a

dimly lit corner. Having refreshed myself, I stepped out into the hall, only to realize that I wasn't quite

sure how to find my way back to the bar.

"Great," I muttered, glancing around.

The music was now sounding distant as I wandered down the quieter corridor. I turned around the

corner and paused, heard a faint noise—voices, low and tense.

Curiosity had killed me. I edged close to the door that was not entirely shut and peeked in. My breath caught.