Chapter 4 A GLIMMER

"Edna!!"

The voice, louder than a shrilling kettle, came from Lily, who had just checked Edna's email to see if the clothes they ordered would arrive today. Edna ran out from the bathroom, dripping, trying to figure out what her friend-no, correction, her bestie-was yelling about.

"Guess what?!" Lily said, her eyes wide with excitement.

"What?" Edna asked, only to freeze when she saw the laptop screen Lily pointed to. Written on it was:

"Your application and interview have been accepted. You're to begin work as the hotel manager of Shah Groups from Monday."

Applying for that hotel job had just been a backup plan. Since she decided not to go into business again-her original field-she hadn't thought much of it. But maybe it was meant to be. She smiled, lost in thought.

Squeals erupted as Lily turned on the beatbox.

"Go shawty, it's your birthday!" she sang over and over, while Edna twerked in her towel.

"Oh my, this has to be celebrated!"

"Where are we going to celebrate?" Lily asked, smirking with wide eyes, clearly setting up their favorite game. They had to shout a location at the same time-and if they said the same thing, the other owed a drink.

"Club!!!" they both screamed in unison, followed by more screaming and hugging like a pair of teenagers.

"Wait," Lily said. "What are we doing before nighttime?"

"Makeover!" they both shouted and laughed when they realized they had said the same thing.

"Ew, no makeovers. What are we, like ten?" Edna rolled her eyes.

Ten seconds of silence passed before Lily grabbed her hand. "We're definitely doing the makeover." " You had to see your face." Edna burst into laughter.

"Okay, jinx. You owe me a drink now."

"No, I don't."

"Yes, you do."

"Okay, I owe you just a Caraboutini-because I'm the celebrant!" They laughed as they picked out outfits and got ready to start their day.

"Madame Turquoise!" Edna and Lily greeted a sturdy black woman with flawless, glowing skin who claimed to be French. Her small but buzzing hair salon was alive with music, laughter, and queues of people waiting their turn.

But not Edna and Lily-they were her favorites. Especially Edna, whom Madame Turquoise called "my great muse."

"Brava!" Madame Turquoise applauded as they entered, watching their walk like a runway judge. She looked at Edna and said, "Enchantée. Assois-toi." She pulled out a chair and waved for an assistant to attend to Lily.

Sometimes Edna wondered where Madame Turquoise learned her French from, since everyone knew she wasn't French.

The sounds of laughter and chatter filled the salon, drowning out the sting of the comb pulling at Edna's scalp.

"Don't pay-your service is on me," Madame Turquoise said, smiling. "And enjoy your night at the club!"

"Bye, Madame Turquoise!" they said in unison.

"They never invite me," Madame Turquoise muttered with a sigh.

Later that night, the club lights flashed as Edna was spotted talking to a guy.

"Remember me?" she asked.

"Who?"

"Me." His glare could've interrogated secrets.

"No, I don't."

"I guess so." He left without another word, visibly disappointed.

"He looked so bubbly at first. I think I bored him away," she said.

"Him?" Lily raised an eyebrow.

"Yes."

"Come on, let's dance. He's not worth our time," Lily said, pulling Edna to the dancefloor.

The slow music blended with the buzz of alcohol and colored lights.

"Can I have this dance?"

Edna turned.

"Hugo?"

"So, this is Miss Edna Parker," he said with a grin, offering his hand. "Nice to meet you again."

She returned the gesture with a tight smile. He left quickly.

It was awkward, but she understood. No one wanted to suffer the same heartbreak twice.

"Why am I running into so many pieces of my past tonight? Even the one who cursed me..." she murmured.

"Just enjoy the night, Edna," Lily said, her voice fading into the music.

"Wake up, sleepyhead! You're late!"

Running, scrambling, and dressing chaos filled the room.

"How do I look?" Edna asked.

"Go get that money, motherf*****!" Lily shouted, laughing.

"You know, you're lucky to work from home."

"I know, right? That's why I'm a good writer," Lily replied with a wink as Edna left.

Of course, a day as Shah's hotel manager wasn't going to be easy-especially with a hangover from the other night. The hotel was one of the busiest in the city.

Edna was deep into planning, reading, and signing contracts, papers stacked high on her desk, when a male voice interrupted:

"You know, if you need help, I can assist."

She looked up to see a man staring at her like she was a snack.

"I'm a director here. And I'm married. But I can help you stay... longer," he said, undressing her with his eyes.

What does he mean by "stay longer"?

"No, I don't need your help. Thank you."

"Okay, do you," he whispered, breathing down her neck before walking away.

"Ew. Was that supposed to be romantic?" she hissed, sanitizing her neck as he left.

At lunch in the hotel's nature-themed cafeteria, she saw him again. Jason Limer.

Limer... Limer... Why does that name sound familiar?

Before she could figure it out, trying to wrap her head around it at her office, her phone rang.

She was being summoned to a meeting-no one had told her about. At the meeting, she was questioned but let off easy since she was new.

Later, she discovered that Jason was supposed to inform her. He told the board he left a note for her, claiming she must've ignored it.

Aside from that creep who ruined three hours of her day, the rest of the team was lively and respectful.

She was deep in thought when someone asked, "Miss Edna, can you share your opinion?"

What can she do? She just got here... or maybe-baby can you?

She stood, ignored Limer's smirk and words, walked to the board, and drafted a plan she had already written earlier.

Applause filled the room.

Edna loved that she still had it-her business instincts, her confidence.

Maybe business was something she loved after all, even if it started with her mum's pressure.

Striding to her office to pack up for the day, she saw Limer staring again.

She smirked.

"Lily's getting all the gist today," she said to herself, smiling.