CHAPTER TEN – AND THEN THERE WERE TWO

Outside, the cool evening air hit her face, and Nia took a deep breath. She'd cleared her name, but the experience had left her shaken. How easily everything she'd worked for could have been taken away. As she walked to the bus stop, her phone buzzed with a text from Maria. Maria: "Hey girl, you okay? Heard about the drama at work. Want to go out this weekend and blow off some steam?" Nia smiled, grateful for her friend's support. She quickly typed a response. Nia: "Definitely. I could use a night out. Saturday?" Maria: "It's a date! We'll paint the town red!" The next few days passed in a blur. Nia tried to relax during her unexpected time off, but her mind kept replaying the events at the warehouse. By the time Saturday rolled around, she was more than ready for a distraction. Maria burst into their shared room, a whirlwind of excitement. "Ready to party, chica?" Nia laughed, applying the finishing touches to her makeup. "Born ready. Where are we headed?" "I found this amazin