Chapter 3: In Which She Told His Fortune
“Why do you always look at other women? Am I not enough?”
Aurora clasped her trembling hands and fearfully eyed fearfully at the black curtain as the arguing voices outside continued. The woman was loud and clear while the man sounded like he was speaking through a goldfish bowl. Aurora felt like she was listening to a madwoman in hysteria.
“Do you love me at all... You’ve said that a million times, Theo! You can’t tell me what to do, this is not about you - this is about us!... ... You d*ckhead! To think that I sacrificed so much for you! We’re through!”
The pair of high heels stormed off. Then, it was silence.
Suddenly, Aurora jumped. Her phone was buzzing. She glanced at the screen and her heart fell sharply. The name ‘Madame Zoya’ showed up on the flickering screen. A massive wave of grief washed over her eyes.
That woman just left and immediately her boss is calling. Could she be more efficient, Aurora grumbled silently.
Taking in a deep, shuddering breath, she picked up the phone and her quivering fingers pressed the green button. Swallowing hard, she placed the phone to her ear.
“Madame Zoya?” Her voice croaked.
“Miss Aurora? What happened to your voize? Are you not vell?”
The Russian accent and unexpected concern tugged at her tears. Her view grew misty.
“I’m good, Madame.” She sniffed.
“Miss Aurora, you don’t lie to me. This vill be good newz then.”
News? Oh no. Aurora knew what the 'news' was. She squeezed her eyes to prepare for the worst. It’s definitely happening again.
You’re fired.
“The appointment later izz canceled.”
Aurora sighed. “Alright, I’ll leave.”
“You should. Have a good rezt. We have many appointments tomorrow.”
Aurora’s eyes flared open. “Tomorrow? Appointments?”
“Yes.”
She jolted upright in her seat. “I’m coming back tomorrow?”
“You cannot?”
“No! I mean, yes! I can! Of course, I can. I’m not fired?”
A sigh came through and then Madame Zoya spoke again in a steady, low whisper. “Miss Aurora, I did not fire you. I am not your other bozzes. You work here until you don’t want to.”
The giant rock in her chest instantly lifted. “Thank you, Madame Zoya!” Aurora sniffed as she hastily wiped the wetness at the corner of her eyes. Then, she chuckled. “I’ll definitely do my best.”
“As I vas saying, until you got crazzee, the appointment later izz canceled. We close early and you go home and rest. We open again tomorrow.” The voice added in a Russian tune.
“Got it!”
Aurora heaved a heavy sigh at the phone as Theo came through the black curtain.
What do you want, now? The voice in her head groaned. But she forced a polite smile and asked, "Mister Theo! You are back. I hope everything is alright? I heard screaming. Your girlfriend--."
"We broke up."
"Oh." Aurora was speechless. Then, her eyes widened in realization. She shot up from her seat. "Oh!"
Guessing her thoughts correctly, he held up both hands and explained.
"It's not your fault."
Aurora threw him a suspicious glance. "Are you sure, Mister Theo? Cause the last thing I want is your girlfriend complaining to my boss and getting me fired for looking at you."
He stepped forward and smiled warmly. "Look, Madame Zoya."
Aurora grabbed her phone. If he made an inappropriate move, she'll whack his head with it and head for the exit.
"I just want another reading."
Aurora looked at him in disbelief. "Another reading."
"Yes." Theo inched closer. "I thought you had some good insights. Gave me a lot to think about. So you could help my other problem."
Madame Zoya looked hard at him and he quickly added, "I heard you have an appointment. I can wait--."
"Sit." She waved a hand to a stool. Theo strode over with a grin.
He watched her eyes closed, her chin raised and-- Abruptly, he cleared his throat.
"Do you do other types of readings?"
Her eyes opened with a blank look that he found cute and smiled in amusement as she instantly regained her composure.
"What are you thinking of?"
She was reciting from a script, he smirked at the thought. With a sharp inhale, he opened both palms at her.
"How about palm reading?"
Aurora cursed the man inwardly but cast him an emotionless look. She glanced at his open hands, hesitant to touch them.
It's your job, Rory. Just do it. Get the embarrassment over with so you can close early and go home and rest.
Aurora reached out and pulled the giant hands closer.
Theo watched her as she hovered over his palms and traced her fingers over the lines. The kiss of her skin took his breath. D*mn, he cursed silently. He didn’t know palm reading could be so invigorating. His heart was thumping his chest so hard, she might have heard it.
But she was completely immersed in studying the crisscrosses on his palms as if they truly meant something. Her brows dipped when she was stuck, then relaxed again when she had it sorted. Then, her cherry lips spread into an innocent smile.
F*ck.
"Mister Theo?"
He blinked. She was half-frowning and half-puzzled. Realizing how idiotic he must have appeared to her, he chuckled at his lap then returned to her sweet face. "Sorry about that. I was thinking of what to ask."
"Have you decided then?"
"Why don't you tell me anything that comes to your mind?"
Aurora closed her eyes and counted to ten. This man must be out to expose her. Well, she glared at his palm, two can play that game.
"I can do so. But it will cost more. Yes?"
He smiled gallantly. "Sure. Please proceed."
“There will be a big change.” She traced a line across his palm. “You can choose whether to follow what is laid out for you or make your own choices.”
“What is the change?”
She looked up with a flat expression. “I can only reveal so much. The rest is up to you.”
He chuckled lightly. “What else is there?”
Aurora pressed around the edges of his palm and was silent for a moment. Then, she muttered, “The Sun is the core of the Universe. Nothing can escape its light. It sees everything it wants to see.”
Theo grew still.