The gala.

I dreaded the thought of today arriving, because I know I'll be way out of my element. It's not like I'm unfamiliar with the mannerisms of the rich, I just never thought I'd have to act like them myself. I'll be so out of my comfort, so awkward amidst a sea of hoity-toity professionals.

Fortunately, I'm not alone for the night. Thomas will be by my side for most of it. Well, until it comes time for me to do my job and seduce Cato.

In an hour, Thomas will be parked at the gates waiting for me to spring into his car to get ready for the night. I cross my fingers, praying to the stars that Evelyn won't add more tasks and chores to my already daunting list. I try to sneak to my bedroom so Evelyn can't assign me more, but my luck seems to be on the wrong side today.

Evelyn catches me in the corridor. She dresses extravagantly in peacock features and blue rhinestones. The powder on her face brings out the vivid green of her eyes, and her lips are painted a deep royal purple. The attire needed for an extravagant event like this is more over-the-top than weddings. Although Cato's message about his discoveries is the main highlight, the esteemed gala also gives designers a chance to unleash their creativity.

Unfortunately, I don't understand fashion trends, because seeing Evelyn dressed like this is utterly terrifying.

I wonder if I'll look terrifying like that.

"Maureen! Don't be thinking you're finished so soon. There's one more favour I need you to do before you go hide in your room."

Bloody hell. My faux smile strains against my lips. "What is it you ask for?"

"You know that Audwin and I will be gone for the evening for Cato's speech at the annual Beaulieu Space Gala. Go inform the other girls to take the night off. Enjoy yourselves, but not too much!"

Relief rushes through me at the task. It's easy. "Of course, but may I ask when you plan to depart?"

"In a few minutes, but it could take hours if Audwin doesn't speed his ass up."

I smile and whisk myself down the hallways. I have the night off. It's rare that Evelyn's ever this generous, but hearing Cato speak about his expeditions in space sends her to the moon and back with joy. Fortunately for their absence, neither Audwin or Evelyn will know I'm gone.

Unless, you know, they recognize me at the gala all dolled up to the nines. Thomas guarantees that Cato will notice me, but he is aware that Cato's parents—two of the few people who have known me for my entire life—will be in attendance?

I'm not certain how I'll avoid them yet, but I guess Thomas and I have time to discuss it prior to the gala.

Annie mops the floors in the empty kitchen when I find her. Augustine has long gone, and the dishes have been placed back on the shelves. All that remains is the crumbs and spills on the floor, to which Annie cleans.

She beams when she sees me, then proceeds to dip the saturated mop back in the bucket "Well, if it isn't Maureen Harradan," she jives. "You finished awfully quick."

"I need to ask you for a favour."

Annie quirks her brow. "What is it?"

"Two things, actually. Can you tell everyone that they can take the night off? Evelyn's orders."

Annie drops the mop and twirls around on the wet floors, nearly slipping off her feet from the excitement. "Gosh, Maureen! You could've told me that sooner!"

"Also, I need to leave the property tonight and I won't come back until later, so if Audwin and Evelyn return and notice my disappearance, can you cover for me?"

Annie's eyes widened with curiosity. "What do you suppose you're doing?"

I pull at the collar of my maid's dress. "It's just a few hours. I promise it's nothing of importance."

"I heard Evelyn talking about how you've been getting rides from some strange man. You're not..." she drops her voice. "You're not selling yourself on the streets like your mom, are you?"

"No! Why on earth is that your first thought?" I'm a seductress and I'm gone to seduce Cato. But I'll never tell her that. "Can I count on you?"

Annie switches her attention down to the mop in the bucket of murky water. I know she's unconvinced about what I'm doing, where I'm going, but she grudgingly nods her head.

"Fine, but only for tonight," she sticks her tongue out playfully. "Be back by morning, will you?"

I breathe a sigh of relief. "Thanks. You have no idea how much this means."

"You're owing me for this!"

With chores finished and Annie agreeing to have my back, the only task left on my list is to wait for Thomas to arrive.

Of course, I'm nervous about the whole event. My nerves spike at the thought of Evelyn catching me there with Thomas. She's suspicious of the man who drives me back to the estate everyday, and she would question Thomas on the spot.

Thomas has this sort of allure to him, like a magnet pulling me in closer and closer to him. He's stubborn, secretive, and it's annoying, but there's this tenderness inside of him that I long to get to know. If Evelyn ever met him one day, I hope she'd see that sweet spot in him too.

As the butterflies fly within my stomach I catch sight of Thomas' old car pulls up to the gates of the estate.

Tonight, I am not a servant. I will transform into a seductress.

I burst out of the manor and run down towards the gates. There was no need to tell anyone of my antics, because Annie knew, and that was enough.

Thomas opens up the passenger door for me with the widest grin I've ever seen. For someone with such manly and strong features, suddenly seeing him like this makes him look boyish and giddy, but the butterflies only increase as I take a look at what he wears. He's already in a luxurious tuxedo, garnered with a deep crimson tie (it's crooked, which is enough of a sign that he tied it himself). He's certainly dressed to impress a bunch of wealthy snobs for the evening.

He's already dressed to impress me.

"My lady," he jokes as I slip into his car. I'm met with the smell of cigarettes and flowers, and I scrunch up my nose.

Thomas takes a seat in front of the wheel, catching my disgust of the scent. "You can still smell it?"

"What do you mean still? The cigarette smell never left."

"I added an air freshener," he mutters to himself, a boyish pout now crossing his lips.

I pat his hand that rests on the gear shift. "It's the thought that counts."

His smile beams from his lips at the remark, and gods, it's the most beautiful sight I've ever seen. His shoulders remain relaxed and his blue eyes bright, as if joy has always come naturally for him.

Except even I know it hasn't. Whenever one of his employees or men enters the room, his persona changes and transforms him into this tough stoic boulder of man.

As he begins to drive away from the road and down towards his apartment, I keep my eyes on him. I study him, his imperfections that make him desirable. I wonder what left him so scarred, so guarded up that he refuses to let loose in the company of others.

This version of Thomas that I see is mine, as I'm the only one who is ever around to see it: the smiles, the touches. He's my chauffeur who drives me to work and back, and buys an air freshener for his car when I despise the smell.

My heart beats a little faster at the thought.

Thomas sets his hand on my thigh as he drives. His warm touch seeps through the fabric of my maid's dress, igniting a spark in my bloodstream. My attention flickers up to those ocean irises as they dance between me and the road.

"Is something wrong?" he asks, his lips still tainting a joyful smirk.

My cheeks blush as I set my hand on top of his on my thigh. "Nothing."

"You seem nervous."

"Do you blame me?" I mumble as I let my fingertips trace up the veins on his hand, until I brush his tattoos. "I feel like you're feeding me to the wolves to seduce Cato."

"I made you a promise, remember?" he begins to rub his thumb against a wrinkle in my dress. "Nothing's gonna happen to you, because I'll be at that fucking gala too."

"What happens if everything goes wrong and I can't go back to the Leveque's?" I breathe.

Thomas remains silent as he contemplates this, but his answer leaves him sooner than I thought. "Then you stay with me."

"That'd be too much to ask of you."

"I mean it," Thomas squeezes my thigh. "My door is always open for you."

I wish I could run there now, with him in my hand, and walk through that open door.

Thomas pulls into the gravel parking lot and exits the car. I follow behind him, but frown when I notice that he's not heading into the bar to go to his apartment. Instead, he heads towards the main road, not even looking back to see if I'm following.

"Are we not going inside...?" I question.

Blue eyes meet my own, and he gestures for me to follow him down the street. No words leave his precious lips.

I've only seen this street from Thomas' balcony, and for the first time, I get to be apart of the chaos. Most of the people here exist on the lower tiers of society, much like myself and Thomas. People dance and musicians sing. Nobody gives a damn. Who know such a place could exist in a city in which I thought I didn't belong.

But seeing this reminds me that maybe there is a place in this damned world for an outcast like me. Maybe it isn't in the stars like Cato.

Maybe it's here.

Maybe it's alongside Thomas.

Everyone waves at Thomas as he passes by, but his tensely clenched jaw and darkened blue eyes tell the world that he's not open for conversation. It's like there's two different people inside of him: the soft-hearted man and the deadly boss of a crime syndicate.

We stop in front of a hair salon and enter inside. A woman stands at the front counter with tattoos littering her arms. She's middle aged, maybe around the age of forty. Her hair's dyed a deep velvet purple and is shaved to one side. She's quite short, shorter than the average woman, and looks tiny compared to Thomas' tall physique.

She smiles and leaps over the counter when she notices Thomas and I enter in.

"'Bout time," she mutters. She takes one look at Thomas and his cigarette and rips the thing out of his mouth, not caring if she burns her fingers in the process. "No smoking in my damn salon."

Thomas smirks. "I'm the reason you have a damn salon."

"Just because you own the whole fucking street doesn't mean you get privileges. I'm the boss here, pretty boy."

I giggle at the way she bosses around Thomas, but what did she say about him owning the entire street? Thomas? Did I hear that correctly?

"How long are you gonna be with her? I have shit to get done," he tells her.

The woman crosses her arms. "You can't rush a masterpiece."

"The gala starts at eight, so if we leave here around—"

"She'll be done before eight."

Thomas grits his teeth a little. "You know I have plans to—"

"Fine, she'll be done by 7:30."

"Seven."

"Damn you," the woman scolds. "I'll have her dolled up no later than seven."

Thomas grins victoriously as the woman laces her arm into mine.

She starts escorting me away from Thomas. "Thomas told me all about you, sweetheart."

I gulp. "Good things, I hope?"

"Very. Between you and I, I'd say he's already seduced by his appointed seductress."

My cheeks redden at the response, which receives a laugh from the woman.

"You can call me Larona, by the way. I'm gonna be stylin' you to the nines for this evening."

"I've never been... styled before."

"Don't worry. By the time I'm done with you, you'll be making pretty boy back there look like crap," she leans into my ear. "He won't even let me give him a haircut, for fuck's sakes."

Before Larona closes the door to the room, I catch Thomas grinning from ear to ear before placing a new cigarette between his lips and lighting it inside the salon. He's so stubborn, such an ass sometimes.

But my heart flutters at that wink and smirk he gives me before he disappears from my sight.

━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━

Men who put air fresheners in their smelly cars >>>>>

Also, make sure to vote, comment, & share!

Updated August 14, 2022.