CHAPTER THIRTY–EIGHT–ON UNCHARTED WATERS
But as the party continued, Nia found herself drifting to a quiet corner. Her mind kept replaying Leon’s Intervention, the way he looked at her with respect and something more. She realized her feelings for him had grown beyond simple gratitude or attraction.
“Hey, you okay?” Helia appeared at her side, offering a cup of punch. “You look like you’re a million miles
away.”
Nia accepted the drink with a small smile. “Just… processing, I guess. It doesn’t feel real yet.”
Helia nodded, lowering her voice. “Leon really came through, huh? I wonder how he knew all that stuff about us.
“Yeah,” Nia murmured, her guilt intensifying. “I wonder.
Before she could dwell on it further, Rosa’s voice rang out over the chatter. “Hey, everyone! Let’s hear it for our hero! Nia, get over here!”
Nia plastered on a smile and made her way to the center of the room. Rosa thrust a cup of purich into her hand and raised her own
To Nia,” Rosa declared. “Who proved that even us little guys can make a big difference!”
“To Nia!” the room echoed, and Nia felt her cheeks flush with a mix of pride and embarrassment.
As the celebration continued around her, Nia’s mind wandered. She thought about the mysterious USB drive, about Leon’s timely intervention, about the weight of her secret identity. How long could she keep up this charade, especially now that she was in the spotlight?
“Speech!” someone called out, and soon the whole room was chanting. “Speech! Speech! Speech!”
Nia took a deep breath and raised her hands to quiet the crowd. “I… I’m not really good at speeches,” she began, her voice shaky. “But I want you all to know that this wasn’t just me. We did this together. Every single one of you, with your hard work and dedication, made this possible.”
She paused, looking around at the faces of her colleagues – people she’d come to care for deeply over the past weeks. “We’re more than just cleaners,” she continued, her voice growing stronger. “We’re guardians of this building, protectors of everyone who works here. And today, we proved that our work matters.”
The room erupted in cheers, and Nia felt tears prick at her eyes. This moment, this victory – it was everything she’d fought for. But as Old Man Barnaby raised his cup in a toast, Nia couldn’t help but wonder: at what cost?
The party continued late into the night, but Nia found herself slipping out early. She needed some air, some space to think. As she walked through the quiet, empty office, she paused by Leon’s door. Light spilled out from underneath – he was still here.
Nia raised her hand to knock, then hesitated. What would she say to him? Thank you for saving our jobs? How did you know all those things about us? Why did you help me?
In the end, she lowered her hand and walked away. Those were questions for another day. Tonight, she just wanted to savor their victory, complicated as it was.
-WATERE.
As Nia and Helin left the office, the celebratory atmosphere still lingered in the air. The night was cool, a gentle breeze carrying the scent of the city – a mix of exhaust, street food, and the promise of adventure.
“I still can’t believe we pulled it off,” Hella said, grinning as they walked towards the subway station. “You were amazing in there, Nia.”
Nia smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Thanks. I’m just glad it’s over.”
Helia nudged her friend’s shoulder. “Hey, what’s up? You should be on cloud nine right now.
Nia sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I don’t know. It’s just… a lot to process, I guess. And there’s still so much we don’t know.”
They descended the stairs into the subway station, the fluorescent lights harsh after the soft glow of the streetlamps. The platform was relatively quiet, with only a handful of late–night commuters waiting for the
train.
“Well, we’ve got a long ride ahead of us,” Hella said as they swiped their MetroCards. “Plenty of time to *dissect every detail of what happened today.“.
As if on cue, the rumble of an approaching train filled the station. The doors slid open, and Nia and Helia stepped into the nearly empty car. They settled into seats near the middle, the familiar rocking of the subway comforting after the high–stress day.
So
Helia said, leaning in conspiratorially. “Spill. What’s really bothering you?”
Nia hesitated, her eyes darting around the car. An elderly man dozed in the corner, his cane propped against his leg. A young woman with bright blue hair was engrossed in her phone, headphones blocking – out the world. At the far end, a group of teenagers laughed and jostled each other.
“It’s Leon,” Nia finally admitted, her voice low. “I can’t figure out why he helped us. And how did he know all those details about our work?”
Helia’s eyebrows shot up. “You think he might have been the one who left you that USB drive?”
Before Nia could respond, a commotion at the end of the car caught their attention. One of the teenagers -had bumped into a man who had just boarded the train, causing him to drop his briefcase.
“Watch where you’re going, punk!” the man snapped, his face red with anger.
The teenager, a lanky boy with a shock of dyed green hair, held up his hands. “Whoa, chill, dude. It was an accident.”
The man’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t tell me to chill, you little-”
“Hey, hey!” Helia called out, standing up. “Let’s all take a deep breath, okay? No harm done, right?”
The man turned his glare on Helia. “Stay out of this. It’s none of your business.”
Nia stood up too, her heart racing. “Sir, please. There’s no need for this to escalate. It was just an accident.”
The tension in the car was palpable. The other passengers were all watching now, a mix of concern and curiosity on their faces.
Suddenly, the train lurched, throwing everyone off balance. The angry man stumbled, knocking into Nia. As she tried to steady herself, her hand caught on his jacket pocket, tearing it slightly.
“Now look what you’ve done!” the man roared, his face purple with rage.
“I’m so sorry,” Nia stammered, backing away. “It was the train, I didn’t mean-
CHAPISH THORTY LIGHT OR UNCHARTED WATERS
3/3
But the man wasn’t listening. He advanced on Nia, his fists clenched. “You’re going to pay for that, you clumsy-”
Before he could finish his threat, the blue–haired woman appeared between them, her stance protective.” Back off,” she said, her voice calm but steel. “You lay a hand on her, and you’ll regret it.”
Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out!
