Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Rock Bottom
Andrea Sachs groaned as her alarm blared, the sound cutting through the haze of her restless sleep. She slapped it off, staring at the peeling paint on her dorm ceiling. Today would be another day of trudging through a life she barely recognized.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. Nate’s name popped up, followed by the message: Hey babe, can you cover my car payment this month? Promise I'll pay you back soon.
Andrea stared at the message, her stomach sinking. She knew she shouldn’t even consider it. She had barely $20 in her account, thanks to the endless "loans" she’d given him. The rent for her dorm was overdue, and the university had revoked her scholarship after she failed economics. Her future, which once felt so bright, now felt like it was crumbling into pieces.
And yet, as always, Nate’s words stirred something in her—a mix of guilt and longing. He had been her first serious boyfriend, the first person to make her feel seen.
She typed back, I can’t, Nate. I don’t even have rent money.
The response came almost instantly. Come on, Andy. Don’t you trust me? I just need a little help.
The familiar pang of guilt struck. She hated disappointing him.
With a sigh, she tossed the phone aside and forced herself out of bed. She had a morning shift at Page & Brew, the campus café-bookstore where she worked part-time. It wasn’t much, but at least it gave her a break from the suffocating mess of her life.
---
Page & Brew was already buzzing when Andrea arrived. The smell of coffee and worn books filled the air, a comforting combination she had grown to love.
“Morning, Andy,” called Lily, her coworker and the closest thing Andrea had to a friend. Lily was a theater major with a sharp tongue and an even sharper wit. “You look like hell.”
“Thanks,” Andrea muttered, tying on her apron.
“No, seriously,” Lily said, leaning against the counter. “What’s going on? You’ve been all doom and gloom lately.”
Andrea hesitated, unsure how much to share. Lily already knew bits and pieces about Nate, but Andrea had always downplayed how bad things were.
“Just… money stuff,” she said vaguely, hoping Lily would drop it.
Lily raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. “Well, try not to scare the customers away with that storm cloud over your head. I’ll handle the front for now. You can stock the shelves.”
Andrea nodded gratefully and headed to the back, where she began sorting through a box of donated books. She let her mind wander as she worked, trying to ignore the growing weight in her chest.
---
Later that morning, Andrea was restocking the poetry section when her phone buzzed again. Another message from Nate: If you don’t help me, I don’t know what I’ll do. I thought you cared about me.
Her hands trembled as she read the words. She hated how easily he could manipulate her, how he always knew exactly what to say to make her feel like the bad guy.
“Everything okay?”
Andrea jumped, nearly dropping the book in her hands. She turned to see Max, another coworker, watching her with concern.
“Yeah, fine,” she said quickly, shoving the phone into her pocket.
Max didn’t look convinced. “You sure? You’ve been zoning out a lot lately.”
“I’m fine,” Andrea insisted, though her voice lacked conviction.
Max hesitated, then nodded. “Alright. Just let me know if you need to talk.”
Andrea managed a weak smile. “Thanks.”
---
The lunch rush hit soon after, leaving Andrea little time to dwell on her problems. She focused on taking orders, steaming milk, and ringing up customers, grateful for the distraction.
It was during this rush that the door chimed, and Andrea’s usual monotone greeting died on her lips.
Standing before her was a woman unlike anyone Andrea had ever seen. She was older, with perfectly styled silver hair, piercing blue eyes, and an aura of authority that seemed to fill the entire room. Her tailored coat and designer heels were a stark contrast to the casual chaos of the café.
“Extra hot latte. No foam,” the woman said crisply.
Andrea blinked, her mind scrambling to process the sudden shift in energy. “Uh… right. Coming up.”
As she fumbled with the espresso machine, she could feel the woman’s gaze on her, sharp and unrelenting. It made her palms sweat and her movements clumsy.
When she finally placed the latte on the counter, the woman didn’t take it right away. Instead, she asked, “Do you work here full-time?”
Andrea stammered, “Part-time. I’m a student too.”
The woman raised an eyebrow. “What are you studying?”
“Journalism,” Andrea replied, feeling oddly defensive.
“Hmm,” the woman said, her tone unreadable. “A competitive field.”
Andrea nodded, unsure what else to say.
The woman’s gaze lingered for a moment longer before she finally picked up her drink. “We’ll see,” she said before turning and walking out.
Andrea let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
“Who was that?” Lily asked, appearing at her side.
“No idea,” Andrea said, still rattled.
“She looked like she was going to eat you alive,” Lily said with a smirk.
Andrea forced a laugh, but her hands were still shaking.