Chapter 1: In Which She Was Out of Luck
Money is where luck is, her father used to say.
Aurora has a negative amount of both.
“Oh, come on! You can’t just fire me like that. I did nothing wrong!” She gritted her teeth. It wasn’t her fault. She didn’t tell that bald-headed customer to wink at her.
“I can do whatever I want. I’m the boss,” the voice in the phone cackled coldly.
“Fine.” There was no point in arguing with a blockhead. Aurora kneaded the tension between her tight brows. “Give me the rest of my pay. I'll leave.”
The voice cracked up like a heartless hyena. “That was one of my VIPs. She spends thousands of dollars each time she visits and she has vowed never to set foot in here again because of the sluts I hired. Once she talks, I'll lose all my clients and my reputation. How dare you ask for your pay! Why don’t you compensate for my loss?”
No, she breathed silently as terror closed in on her.
It's happening again.
If the train hadn't been late, she would be on time for her shift. That lazy b*tch Veronica wouldn't have had the excuse to leave early and would still be around when the customer came in with his wife. Then, he'd have winked at the bustier one and she'd be fired - not Aurora.
Argh! Why didn't she see it coming? The past months had been too smooth sailing; life has never been this nice to her, and it never will.
Memories of bottles crashing on the wall, blood-soaked limbs and face, a venomous, hoarse voice sprouting threats of harm and nasty texts seized her mind. A chill streaked up her spine.
She must find a new job before her day job starts in a few hours, or there won't be enough money ready at the end of the month. They promised to go for her family’s limbs next.
"For God's sake, Rory! Get out of there. Just take my d*mn money, girl."
The scream in her ear brought her back to the empty street.
Aurora rolled her eyes at the pavement covered in the thickest grime and the ugliest cracks, as forsaken as her.
"Stop that or I'll move out." Her tenor voice warned.
The cute voice in her ear rattled on like an orchestra flute hooting an EDM beat.
"It’s a shady business! Do you know what that is? Trafficking. All kinds of it. Drugs, women…"
"It's just fortune-telling, Trish."
Immediately, Trish went up an octave.
"You’re in the meanest side of the city, babe! You're gonna be kidnapped and turned into a sex slave, and I'll never hear from you again. You want that?"
Aurora cast a flat expression at her own reflection in a dusty old window.
"Don't give me that dead fish face."
The lovely face instantly lit up as a knowing grin appeared on her full, cherry lips. "You know I love you."
A defeated sigh of helpless worry came through and Aurora softened her smile.
"Fine! That's the last time I’m ever gonna watch your a*s."
"Sure," Aurora chuckled softly. They'll definitely go through this again next week. Her best friend has the memory of Dory.
Trish gave another one of her I-don't-give-a-sh*t-anymore sighs then finally addressed the sole purpose of Aurora's call.
"You're at the right place, as far as this d*mn dot’s concerned."
A single doorway covered with a heavy, black curtain, stared back in an eerie silence.
The ginger hair beauty knitted her slim brows in puzzlement. This can’t be it, can it?
Trish was yodeling in her ear now.
“I’m still here. Oh look! Madame Zoya is waving at me. Gotta go! Catch you later, Trish.” She hastily removed the phone from her ear and silenced Trish's next word.
A mix of relief and apprehension escaped Aurora's lips.
The only thing waving at her was the loose corner of a forlorn CLOSING DOWN SALE banner.
Ignoring the discarded flyers swirling like ghosts around the empty street, she tightened her fist and stepped towards the black curtain, now frowning at her like a black cat.
Her luck was already below zero; nothing could be worse.
After a struggle, her petite frame went through the dead weight of curtain and a purplish-pink lit space welcomed her. A wave of artificially cool air overcame her, and she was surrounded with an aroma of fresh vanilla beans and the sound of romantic strumming of a guitar
Somehow, the sight of a crystal ball calmed her.
"Miss Aurora?" A scratchy voice asked and a shadow entered with a choir of shells tinkling against each other.
The long, beautiful lashes battered anxiously as the shadow stepped into the warm light, revealing a woman in a heavy, flower-print dress draped excessively with all sorts of accessories.
“Yes, that’s me. Are you Madame Zoya?”
“Sit down, pleaze.” Bells chorused incessantly as the woman shuffled towards the crystal ball.
Aurora inhaled quietly to calm her nerves and strode forward. Sitting in front of the mysterious lady, she quickly scanned for distinctive features and memorized them, in case this was a scam, as Trish predicted.
“It'z notta scam, Miss.” The voice spoke with a Russian accent from behind the red translucent veil.
Aurora couldn’t hide her surprise. “How did you--?”
“I do not tell how I know - I just know.”
The sharp nose lifted slightly. “So you're Madame Zoya?”
“You’re hired.”
Wait, what? Her emerald eyes blinked furiously. “What?” She got the job? Just like that? This sounded too good to be true. Her luck can't be changing. Don't be fooled by this, Aurora. It's a trick. Take in a deep breath and think!
The woman seemed to have heard her thoughts. “You heard me yes.” She lowered her voice. “I know what I’m doing. The question izz: do you?”
Aurora felt slighted. “What do you mean?” She blurted. Of course, she knew what she was doing - pay the family debts and keep them safe.
The woman swept her dull red sleeve over the crystal ball. "You ztart tonightz. Yes?"
"Yes." Aurora answered quickly before ‘Madame Zoya’ changed her mind.
Another sleeve waved at her in dismissal.
As Aurora faced the black curtain again, she halted and turned back. "You didn't ask me if I could psychic read."
The woman was still in her seat like a wax figure. Her blank gaze never left Aurora. "You wouldn't be here if you didn't know. Yes?"
Aurora could almost feel a smile behind the red veil and a pang of guilt nudged at her. She opened her mouth to tell the truth when the woman spoke again.
"You're going to be late, Miss."
Aurora's round eyes bulged in a shock realization. She hastily checked her phone. The woman's right! Her day job starts in an hour.
She bolted through the curtains.
“The new Madame Zoya is as exceptional as the previous!” A woman exclaimed to her head-bobbing friend.
“If it weren’t for her, you’d still think that your husband has a mistress.”
“I’ll call Patrick now. To thank him for the necklace!”
Aurora waited until the voices behind the black curtain faded into silence, then let out a long exhale. She glanced at the clock. There’s two hours before the next appointment - she’ll take a short break then read up on cold reading.
Psychic readings may be a myth to her but not relationship advice. She had tons of experience, including Trish’s. It would be enough to last her for a few more weeks until she learned the techniques properly.
Aurora checked her phone. Still nothing from ‘Madame Zoya’. She hasn’t seen or heard from her boss, ever since that night of induction. With a sigh, Aurora put the phone away. Silence means all is good then.
But Aurora was still bothered. Madame Zoya had agreed too quickly. What if she found out that her new employee is a liar who never believed in fortune-telling until she took this job? What if she found a better candidate? What if a customer complained behind her back?
She squeezed her eyes tightly and prayed in desperation. This better not be a scam.
Stop it, Aurora! She stared at her reflection. Just make this work, at least until the end of the month.
With a deep inhale and exhale, she flipped her luscious, fiery curls in Trish's sassy attitude, and smiled an encouragement back at herself.
Let's go tell some fortunes! She spun around and stepped out of the changing room.
Throwing the curtain of shells aside, she strode into the purplish-pink space as if she owned it, and the most electrifying gaze met her eyes.
She froze as a striking face entered her view. Her eyes drank in his thick, masculine brows, perfectly shaped lips and strong, chiseled jaw.
He's exactly her type.
Aurora swallowed hard.