Chapter 9

MAGNUS’S POV

The soft rocking noise outside my door tugged me out of the thin, fragile drift I had slipped into. Not sleep—insomnia never allowed me that luxury. Nights were long, empty stretches of darkness, broken only by the occasional intrusive thought or ache that refused to fade.

It was just the brief moment my body had surrendered after another night spent staring into nothing, restless and exhausted. My muscles ached, my mind was foggy, and yet even in this haze, I could sense the day pressing in.

“Good morning, Mr Magnus,” Robert called from outside.

I inhaled slowly, feeling the heaviness behind my eyes as I pushed myself to sit up. My throat was dry, my voice low and rough from the nights without sleep.

“What is it, Robert?”

He hesitated, and I knew that tone. That pause meant he was nervous, careful about how he delivered the news.

“Sir… I’m sorry, but your meeting—the one scheduled for this morning…”

It took a second for my mind to catch up. Then I remembered—Important meeting with one of the branch company’s managers.

“What time is it?”

“A few minutes past seven, sir.”

I rubbed a hand over my face, pressing against the dull ache behind my eyes. “Alright. I’ll be ready soon.”

“What car should I warm up?”

“The Sonneti. The one that’s barely been used.” My words were short, deliberate. Efficiency was my shield against mornings like this.

When he left, I reached for the Naproxen on my bedside table—my closest companion on nights I never slept and mornings I had to function regardless. One pill. Bitter. Necessary. I swallowed it dry, grimacing slightly.

The cold shower helped. Not entirely, but enough to awaken me partially, enough to remind me that the day awaited. Dressing was quick—a fresh suit from the closet, tie straightened, shoes polished. By the time I descended the stairs, the house already felt alive with subtle motions: the hum of the coffee machine, the quiet shuffle of early preparation.

“Good morning, Mr Magnus,” Madam Eunice greeted, apron tied neatly, her smile warm but a little tentative.

“Morning, Eunice. How was your night?”

“Very good, sir. I wasn’t sure what you would want for breakfast, so I didn’t prepare anything yet. But I can make something quickly.”

“Did you prepare something for Robert though?” I asked.

“Yes, sir. I did.”

“Then do not bother about me. My black coffee will do.”

She nodded and handed me the flask, lingering for a moment, shifting nervously.

I raised an eyebrow. “I’m listening, Eunice.”

“Sir… I have a request.” Her voice trembled slightly.

“Today is my younger sister’s 40th birthday, and I want to visit her. Maybe stay two days. I’ll stock the refrigerator with cooked food before I go.”

“You don’t need to do that,” I said simply. “I will order something. Go. Spend time with your sister.”

Relief softened her eyes. “Thank you, sir. Have a wonderful day.”

I nodded and walked out, entering the already cleaned car where Robert waited. “Let’s go.”

The door shut. The engine started. Another morning held together by sheer willpower.

ARIA’S POV

My body ached as I stretched, the cold floor biting against my back. Every bone felt stiff from another night spent hiding behind the promotional stand. My bag lay in its usual spot, a small fortress of my few belongings, reminding me of the fragile balance I maintained just to survive.

I blinked at the ceiling. “Another morning, Aria,” I whispered to myself.

Dragging myself up, I began the routine I had perfected out of necessity: toothbrush, towel, uniform. I scanned the empty supermarket aisles once more, making sure no CCTV camera was angled toward me. Only when I was sure did I take a deep breath and start undressing, wrapping the towel tightly around myself. Crawling was safer than standing; standing risked bumping into security.

I lowered myself to the floor and crawled up the corridor toward the staff bathroom, every movement silent and careful. My knees and palms ached from the cold tiles, but I had long since learned to ignore the discomfort.

Inside the bathroom, I rushed through the motions—teeth brushed, face washed, body cleaned, towel drying me just enough. I reached for my uniform and froze.

“My bra,” I whispered.

I had left it behind.

“Oh, Aria… seriously?” I sighed, tightening my towel again. “More time wasted.”

I gathered my things and dropped to the floor once more, crawling back toward my hiding spot. My hands dragged along the tiles, scraping slightly against the imperfections in the floor, but I didn’t care. Every second counted.

Halfway there, a male voice cut through the quiet.

“What’s that?”

I froze.

My heart sank straight to my stomach.

“I swear something big just crawled across the floor,” the man said. “And that’s too big to be a rat.”

No. No. Not now. Not like this. Not after all the careful planning, all the nights spent keeping invisible.

Footsteps began moving toward me. Slow. Curious. Closer.

“Please, Lord,” I prayed silently, pressing my knees and palms on the floor. “I begged for a good day. Please don’t let it begin with shame and dismissal. Please don’t let them find me.”

The footsteps grew louder. My pulse hammered in my ears, my towel threatening to slip despite my desperate grip. My body tensed, every nerve on edge.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

And then the footsteps stopped…

Right beside me.