Chapter 5 5

The locker room smelled of stale sweat and cheap aerosol deodorant. Imogene sat on the bench, staring at her open locker. It was empty, save for her street clothes. Her wallet lay open in her lap. It contained three single dollar bills and a subway card with one ride left.

"Attention everyone," Manager Chen's voice boomed from the doorway.

Imogene flinched. She kept her head down.

"Imogene Coffey," Chen announced, savoring the name. "Due to the loss of a bottle of 1940 Macallan during her shift last night, her wages for this week and next are forfeit."

A murmur went through the room. Sophie giggled. "Clumsy."

Imogene didn't argue. She couldn't. If she said she delivered it, Chen would ask why she was in the room for four hours. She nodded, her face burning.

"Get to work," Chen barked, leaving the room.

Imogene closed her eyes. Two weeks without pay. That meant eviction. That meant the street.

The door swung open again. A wave of expensive floral perfume hit the air. Tiffany walked in. She wasn't wearing her uniform. She was wearing a new leather jacket and carrying three shopping bags from Saks Fifth Avenue.

"Oh my god, Tiff!" Sophie shrieked. "Did you rob a bank?"

Tiffany tossed her hair. She looked glowing. "Better. I won the lottery. Scratch-off."

"No way!"

The girls crowded around her. Imogene stayed on the bench, feeling invisible. She started to tie her shoes, her fingers stiff.

Tiffany broke away from the group. She walked over to Imogene. Her expression shifted. There was a flicker of something in her eyes-guilt? Pity?

"Hey," Tiffany said softly.

Imogene looked up. "Congrats on the win."

Tiffany looked around to make sure no one was listening. She reached into her new purse and pulled out a thick envelope. She shoved it into the pocket of Imogene's hoodie hanging in the locker.

"Here," Tiffany whispered.

Imogene pulled it out. It was cash. A stack of hundreds.

"What is this?" Imogene asked, shocked.

"Two thousand," Tiffany said. "Loan. For your rent. I know you're struggling."

Imogene stared at her. Tiffany had never been nice to her. They weren't friends. "I can't take this."

"Take it," Tiffany insisted, pushing Imogene's hand back. "Seriously. I have plenty now."

It wasn't charity. It was a bribe. Tiffany's conscience was gnawing at her. She had taken Imogene's money-the hush money was technically for the woman in the room-and this was her way of balancing the cosmic scales.

Imogene didn't know that. She felt a lump form in her throat. "Tiffany... thank you. You saved my life."

"Yeah, well," Tiffany looked away, her eyes landing on Imogene's neck. The collar of her uniform had shifted. "What's that?"

Imogene's hand flew to her neck, covering the bruise. "Allergy. Hives."

Tiffany stared at the mark. It looked like a grip mark. Or a bite. A shiver of unease went through her. She remembered Marcus's warning. Don't ask questions.

"Right," Tiffany said, stepping back. "Allergies."

She didn't want to know. Knowing was dangerous.

"I have to go," Tiffany said. "I'm taking the night off. Drinks on me later!"

She breezed out of the room, leaving Imogene holding the cash. Imogene clutched the envelope to her chest. She could pay rent. She could eat. For a moment, she felt a profound, naive gratitude toward the girl who had just stolen her fortune.

Later that night, Imogene was in the dish pit, the steam wrapping around her like a shroud.

"He's back," a busboy whispered as he dropped a tray of dirty plates.

Imogene froze. "Who?"

"Cervantes. The tech guy. He's in the VIP lounge."

The plate in Imogene's hand slipped. She caught it against her chest, soaking her apron.

He was here.

Panic clawed at her throat. If he saw her... if he recognized her...

She turned to Chen, who was yelling at a line cook. "Mr. Chen, please. Can I work the back prep tonight? My hands... the dermatitis is flaring up."

Chen looked at her with disgust. "Fine. Get out of my sight. Go peel potatoes in the basement."

"Thank you," Imogene breathed.

As she hurried toward the service stairs, she saw Tiffany. Tiffany had come back, dressed in a tight dress, not a uniform. She was walking toward the VIP entrance, a confident smile plastered on her face.

Tiffany was walking toward the light. Imogene was descending into the dark.

Imogene watched her go, feeling a strange sense of dislocation. She was the heiress. She was the surgeon. And yet, she was the one hiding in the cellar while the imposter walked into the court of the king.