My phone rang. It was the hotel. My heart raced as I answered, hopeful.

“Hey, Manu. You home?” It was Dominic’s voice.

“Yeah.”

“I’m calling to see if… you want to go out with me tonight.”

I froze, glancing at the screen to make sure this wasn’t a prank.

I took too long to respond, and Dominic pressed on. “You know I can make this happen, right? One night with me, and you’ll get to meet Fred in person.”

I smiled, tears burning my cheeks. “If the price of meeting Fred is sleeping with you, I’d rather never live my dream. You got what you wanted, Dominic. Do your job. I’m… fine.”

“Why do you fight me so hard, Manu?”

“Because you disgust me! And every move you make just makes me hate you more.”

His mocking laugh came through the phone. “You just missed the chance of a lifetime, Manu.”

“I’m only twenty,” I said. “I’ll have other chances.”

“Not to clean the toilet Fred Hunt used!” He hung up.

Rarlat appeared at the top of the stairs. “Manu, I need something to auction off for my graduation fundraiser. We’re holding a charity auction. What can you give me?”

“I… don’t have anything.” I wiped my tears, trying to hide my pain.

“We’ve already torn through the house,” my mother said, appearing beside her as they descended the stairs. “There’s nothing useful or valuable. You need to figure something out, Manu.”

“I…”

“How about the towel Gabriel Dimitryev used at the Hotel Bali?” Rarlat suggested.

“I’m… not working today.”

“What do you mean you’re not working?” Mom asked, shocked.

“I took my day off early.”

“Why would you do that? Are you an idiot?”

“I’m not… feeling well. I need to rest. I worked all night.”

“Because you wanted to,” Mom snapped. “I bet you got paid extra for it.”

“Yeah, I did. But…”

“Then hand over that money,” Rarlat said. “I can buy something to auction for my graduation.”

“For God’s sake, can you all just leave me alone for one day?” I shouted.

Rarlat’s eyes widened, and she burst into tears.

“How can you be so heartless, Manu?” Mom scolded. “You know your sister’s sensitive. Don’t you ever yell at her again, or you’ll regret it.”

“I’m sorry, Rarlat,” I said quickly. “I’m exhausted… I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”

“Clean up this mess,” Mom ordered.

“I’m tired. I haven’t slept.”

“I give you a roof over your head. Cleaning is the least you can do. But if you think you can find something better than this house, go ahead and leave. I’m being far too patient with you, and my patience is wearing thin.”

I took a deep breath and started picking up the scattered clothes and items, putting everything back in place. I stopped at noon to make lunch, then kept going.

After Mom and my sisters ate, they went shopping for clothes for Carly’s new job—even though she hadn’t started, hadn’t been paid, and would be wearing a uniform like everyone else at the Hotel Bali. The irony was that I paid for the food and all the bills because no one else in the house had money. But for frivolous things? They always found a way.

At three p.m., my phone rang again. It was the hotel. I braced myself and answered. “I’m not sleeping with you, Dominic.”

“I knew something was off,” Simone’s voice came through. “Put your uniform on and get back here.”

“I… can’t.”

“I’m calling on behalf of the hotel owner.”

“What?”

“She’s here, and she doesn’t want anyone out. Dominic said you were sick, but she said if you’re not back in thirty minutes, you’re fired. I figured he wouldn’t tell you, so I’m doing it myself. This place is a madhouse. And I’ve already seen Fred Hunt two and a half times.”

“Half?”

“Yeah, one doesn’t fully count because I only saw him stepping into the elevator for, like, two seconds. But I’m not spilling the details—come see the chaos and 4 Nipes for yourself. And brace yourself: Gabriel Dimitryev might just steal your heart.”

“I’ll grab a taxi. I can make it in thirty. And for the record, I’m still in my uniform. I haven’t stopped working since I got home.”

“Hurry up. And bring your glass slipper, because if you don’t lose it after a steamy moment with Fred Hunt, I’ll lose it for you.”

I laughed and bolted outside, flagging down a taxi.

When I got back to the hotel, the chaos at the entrance was still in full swing. Half the town must’ve been there, hoping for a glimpse of 4 Nipes at a window.

I pushed through the crowd, my uniform and badge earning me a nod from a security guard—one of 4 Nipes’ own, now controlling who got into the hotel. The madness made sense. If one of those girls got inside, they’d smother the world’s most coveted band with hugs, kisses, and overwhelming love. Little did they know, I was one of them—maybe the worst of all.

I’d only taken a few steps into the reception lobby when I was stopped by none other than Oleg Chausson, the band’s manager. I’d never seen him in person, but I knew every line of his face—or lack thereof—from news clips and online videos.

“Where the hell have you been?” he barked, as if we’d just spoken moments ago.

“At… my house?” I stammered, confused.

“Go clean Fred’s room now. He’s pissed because someone spilled champagne on the sheets. Discretion is non-negotiable here.” He shoved a wad of cash into my pocket. “Clean up his mess and disappear.”

Oleg vanished as quickly as he’d appeared. My heart pounded. The moment I’d been waiting for—the one I never thought would happen—was here.

It was like I’d been invited to a ball I wasn’t supposed to attend. While I cleaned the house and served my mother and sisters, my fairy godmother—Simone, my best friend—had shown up to give me a shot at the prince. She couldn’t magic me a new dress or glass slippers, though. All I had were my flat, practical black shoes, comfortable for a long day’s work.

It was time to meet the prince, dance with him, and slip away before midnight so he’d search for me everywhere after.

I stepped into the elevator and hit the button for the first floor. My heart felt like it might burst out of my chest. I gave a soft knock on the green suite’s door and said, my voice trembling, “Housekeeping… I’m here to change the sheets.”

“Come in,” came his voice from the other side—the voice that had filled my life for years, the one that inspired the King of Hearts tattoo on my neck. The same voice I’d dreamed was singing songs written just for me.