Chapter 1: The Morning After (Leo POV)

Chapter 1: The Last Straw (Leo POV)

I'm mopping the third-floor hallway of this crusty office building, the bucket sloshing dirty water onto my sneakers, when Rick, my boss, storms up. His boots thud loud on the tile, and he's got that pinched look—like he's about to ruin someone's day. "Leo, you're done," he says, voice flat, tossing my paycheck at me. It flutters down, landing in a puddle by my feet, ink smearing.

"What the hell?" I drop the mop—it crashes against the bucket, splashing water up my jeans—and step toward him, chest tight. "Mid-shift? I've been here three years, Rick!"

"Budget cuts," he mutters, scratching his stubbly chin, not even meeting my eyes. He turns to walk away, like I'm already gone.

"That's bullshit!" I shout, grabbing his arm, fingers digging into his cheap jacket. "You can't just cut me loose—no warning, nothing!" My voice echoes off the bare walls, and a lady in a suit peeks out an office door, then ducks back quick.

He yanks his arm free, spinning on me, eyes narrow and mean. "Take your damn check and get out, Leo, or I'll have security haul you down the stairs." His breath stinks of coffee and cigarettes, close enough I can feel the heat off him.

I want to swing—my fist's already curling, knuckles popping—but I've got no play here. I snatch the soggy paycheck off the floor, water dripping from it, and shove it in my pocket. "Screw you," I spit, voice shaking, and storm down the hall.

The mop's still lying there, handle crooked, like a middle finger to him. I hit the stairwell, boots banging on metal steps, and shove the exit door open. It slams shut behind me, loud, heavy, like it's locking away the last scrap of luck I had.

Rent's three days late, and now I've got nothing—no job, no cash, just a damp envelope and a headache starting to throb.

Outside, the sun's too bright, bouncing off wet pavement and stabbing my eyes. I squint, kicking a soda can hard—it skids across the sidewalk, clattering into a puddle, silver glinting for a second before it sinks.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, loud against my leg. I yank it out, screen scratched to hell, and see "Jake" flashing. My brother, the only family left since Mom and Dad died years back.

I almost let it ring out—he's just gonna nag, same old crap—but he'll keep calling until I crack. I sigh, hit accept, and press it to my ear. "Hey, Jake."

"Leo! You still alive in that shithole?" His voice booms, too chipper, like he's trying to sell me a used car. "When you ditching that art nonsense and moving to New York? I've got a job lined up—good money, desk gig, no more mops and stink."

"Not now, Jake," I say, voice low, dodging a cracked slab of sidewalk, weeds poking through like they own the place. "I just got fired—mid-shift, no warning."

"Fired?" He laughs, short and sharp, cutting deep. "Perfect timing, then! Pack your crap and come here—I've got a spare room, steady paycheck waiting. You're broke, man, stop chasing pipe dreams."

"It's not a dream, it's my work," I snap, teeth grinding. "I've got an exhibition coming—it'll turn this around."

"An exhibition?" His tone shifts, mocking now. "What, you think some suit's gonna see your doodles and throw you a million? You're wasting your life, Leo—I'm serious."

"They're not doodles!" I yell, stopping dead by a streetlight, metal cold against my back as I lean into it. "I'm not moving to New York to rot behind some desk—I'd rather die!"

"You'll die out there anyway," he fires back, voice hard now. "You're all I've got left—don't make me watch you starve over some paint."

"I'm not starving," I lie, my stomach growling loud enough I'm sure he hears it. I haven't eaten since yesterday—coffee and a stale donut, that's it. My voice wavers, betraying me.

"Yeah, sure," he says, quieter, softer, but still edged with frustration. "Just think about it, alright? I've got a spot for you—pull your head out before it's too late."

"Fine," I mutter, hanging up fast and shoving the phone back, chest squeezing like a vice.

He's right about the broke part—three days late, landlord's a shark, no mercy—but I'm not crawling to him. That exhibition's my lifeline. Sell one piece, anything, and I can cover rent, buy time, maybe get my name out there. I've got to hold on.

I trudge home, legs heavy, the city buzzing around me—cars honking, people shouting, a bus rumbling past with a cloud of exhaust.

My building's a beat-up pile of brick, graffiti scrawled sloppy across the front, tags bleeding into each other. The stairwell reeks—stale beer, smoke, something sour I don't want to name.

I climb to the third floor, boots dragging on sticky steps, and stop dead at my door. A notice is taped there, red letters screaming: "FINAL NOTICE—7 DAYS TO PAY OR EVICT."

My gut twists, sharp and sick, like a knife's turning in it. I rip the paper off, the tape tearing with a loud rip, and crumple it in my fist. I shove the door open—it creaks like a rusty hinge—and step inside.

The apartment's a wreck. Canvases lean against the walls, half-painted or blank, staring at me like ghosts. Paint tubes litter the table, caps off, some oozing onto scratched wood. The sink's a graveyard of crusty dishes, days old, buzzing with a fly I'm too tired to swat.

I toss the eviction wad onto the counter—it lands with a soft thud—and grab my phone again, hands shaky as I dial Max, my art-world hookup. It rings four times, each one stretching my nerves thinner, before he picks up. "Leo, what's up?" His voice is lazy, like he's mid-bite of something.

"That new gallery exhibition," I say, words tumbling out fast. "I need my stuff in there—now."

He pauses, I hear him swallow, then, "Tough, Leo. They're picky—big names only. I can ask around, but…" He trails off, and my heart sinks. "Might take cash to grease it."

"A bribe?" My mouth goes dry, cottony, like I've chewed sand. "How much?"

"Don't know yet," he says, too casual, like it's no big deal. "I'll dig into it. Even if you get in, it's a gamble—you're up against heavy hitters, real pros."

"I've got no choice," I say, fingers clamping the phone, nails digging into my palm. "I'm out of a job, seven days from the street—do it."

Quiet for a beat, then, "Okay, I'll try. Sit tight."

"Thanks, Max," I say, hanging up. The phone clatters onto the table, loud in the silence, and I slump into a chair, springs creaking under me.

The eviction notice glares from the counter, red ink burning my eyes. Seven days—clock's ticking fast. The exhibition's my shot, maybe my last.

One sale, one piece, and I'm back in it. I add more paint, dark lines carving deep, my head pounding, stomach hollow, but my hands won't stop. I've got seven days—I'm getting in that exhibition, no matter what.