On Saturday afternoon, the heavy, lingering corporate silence of the weekend was completely shattered the moment Candace burst through Aurora's front door.
She arrived like a glorious, chaotic whirlwind of creative energy, carrying two massive bags of steaming takeout in one hand and a stack of sketchpads in the other.
"If I have to look at another silk fabric swatch or argue over a hemline today, I am going to lose my mind!" Candace announced by way of greeting, kicking her boots off into the corner of the foyer.
Aurora laughed out loud, setting her laptop aside on the coffee table as her best friend practically collapsed onto the living room sofa, letting out a dramatic, exhausted groan.
For the next several hours, the spacious house was filled with comfortable chatter, the rich scent of spicy noodles, and endless laughter.
To the rest of Eldlyria's high society, Candace was known simply as a rising, vibrant fashion designer trying to launch her own exclusive brand from scratch.
...
But Aurora knew there was a far deeper, lethal side to her best friend. Candace's father was a decorated, high-ranking military black-ops officer.
Growing up in a strict military household, Candace hadn't just learned how to sew and drape fabric, her father had rigorously trained her from childhood in advanced martial arts, hand-to-hand combat, and highly precise tactical tracking skills. She possessed a sharp, lethal edge wrapped in a stylish velvet bow.
...
"So," Candace mumbled around a mouthful of noodles, her sharp eyes scanning Aurora's relaxed face.
"You guys spoken again?"
Aurora blushed.
"Darling, I haven't even mentioned hs name and your already blushing?" Candace laughed.
Aurora cleared her throat defensively as she picked up her chopsticks. "You need to check your eyes, I'm not blushing. It's probably just the spice from the food.
"Mmmm, and you think I believe that?" Candace questioningly laughed.
"Fine, but it was just a quick phone call to check in on his training. The qualifiers are coming up rapidly, and his coach is pushing him hard."
"Uh-huh. A quick phone call that left you looking like a romance novel protagonist," Candace teased.
"But wait, Aurora. I think I know a certain Felix from when I was much younger."
"He was the son of my father's longest friend. Could that be your Felix?" Candace asked.
"Still thinking of the boy you had a crush on for ages?" Aurora teased.
"Oh pleases not that again"
"Forget I even brought him up," Candace said embarrassed, closing her ear with her hands to not her Aurora's teasing.
"Anyways, maybe, I mean you never know" Aurora shrugged.
"Yeah" Candace supported
Putting that behind them, they spent the rest of the evening talking about Candace's new collection, sharing childhood memories, and completely tuning out the corporate demands of the city outside.
For Aurora, it was the first time all week she felt like she could truly let her guard down.
As the evening sky bled into a deep navy blue, Candace finally stood up from the couch, stretching her arms above her head.
"Alright, Miss CEO. I need to get back to my workshop before my sewing machines miss me. Tomorrow is going to be another brutal day of sketches."
Thanks for coming over, Candace. I really needed the break," Aurora smiled, walking her best friend toward the front foyer.
"Anytime, love. Don't work too hard tonight," Candace waved, stepping out onto the front porch.
The cool night air hit Candace's face as the front door clicked shut behind her.
Pulling her leather jacket a little tighter around her shoulders, she walked down the porch steps toward the driveway.
She was smiling, still thinking about how completely transparent Aurora's blush was whenever Felix came up.
She unlocked her sports car, but as she opened the door, something slight caught her eye.
Exactly three houses down, a sleek black SUV was parked by the curb, idling with its lights completely off. In a busy city like Eldlyria, a parked car was nothing unusual.
But the vehicle's side mirrors were angled just a bit too precisely toward Aurora's driveway, and the shadow of the driver inside hadn't moved an inch since she arrived hours ago.
She paused for a split second, her hand resting on her car door. Her instincts hummed with a faint, fleeting sense of unease.
Weird, she thought, surveying the quiet street. Why sit in the dark with the engine idling for that long? She shook her head, pushing the thought away.
It was probably just a neighbor's guest or an executive driver waiting for a late pickup. Eldlyria was full of private security details anyway.
Slipping into the driver's seat, she turned the key, the sports car's engine roaring to life.
She pulled out of the driveway smoothly and drove down the street, casting one brief glance at the dark SUV in her rearview mirror before putting it entirely out of her mind.
She had no reason to think anything of it. Not yet, anyway.