Page 8 of Mane Attraction
Xelene’s eyes snapped open at 5:47 AM, three minutes before her alarm was set to sound. The anticipation thrumming through her veins felt foreign—electric and wild in ways that her carefully controlled life rarely allowed. She couldn’t remember the last time excitement had pulled her from sleep like this, but the sensation reminded her of Christmas mornings when she was a child, racing downstairs to discover what Santa had left beneath the tree.
This is ridiculous,she told herself, but her body was already moving with purpose. The shower beckoned, and she found herself practically sprinting through her morning routine with an efficiency that would have impressed her demanding boss Trevor.
Steam filled her marble bathroom as she stood beneath the rainfall showerhead, letting the hot water cascade over her shoulders. But even the familiar ritual couldn’t calm the restless energy coursing through her. Today she would step foot on an alien planet. Today she would meet an actual lion shifter. Today she would tackle what could very well be the most challenging case of her career—not because the prince would necessarily be difficult to manage, but because she’d be navigating foreignpolitics, alien customs, and a royal court that operated by rules she didn’t yet understand.
Control the story, control the outcome,she reminded herself as she stepped out of the massive shower and wrapped herself in a plush towel.Same principles, different planet.
By 6:45 AM, she was dressed in her favorite navy skirt and cream silk blouse—professional but approachable. Her dark brown hair fell in sleek waves past her shoulders, and she’d applied just enough makeup to look polished without appearing overdone. First impressions mattered, especially when meeting alien royalty.
She called the firm’s driver while sipping her coffee, her fingers drumming against the granite countertop with uncharacteristic impatience.
“Morning, Miss Warren,” came the familiar voice through her phone. “Ready for your big adventure?”
“Ready as anyone can be for interplanetary travel,” she replied, surprised by the breathless quality in her voice. “Pick me up first, then we’ll collect Janice.”
Fifteen minutes later, the company’s sleek black SUV arrived precisely on time, and Xelene settled into the leather seats with her suitcase secured in the trunk. As they pulled away from her pristine condo, she found herself staring out the tinted windows at the familiar Florida landscape, knowing that in a few hours she’d be looking at something completely different.
The drive to Janice’s normally took twenty minutes, but traffic was mercifully light this early. Still, as they pulled into Janice’s driveway at exactly 7:15 AM, Xelene felt her jaw clench. Punctuality was sacred to her—a cornerstone of the professional discipline that had built her reputation. Janice’s more relaxed approach to time had been both endearing and infuriating throughout their friendship, but today it felt particularly grating.
Five minutes late. On the day we’re traveling to another planet.
Xelene’s phone buzzed with a text from Janice:Almost ready! Two more minutes!
Those two minutes stretched into seven before Janice’s front door finally swung open. She emerged with her auburn hair still slightly damp and her suitcase trailing behind her like an afterthought. Her hazel eyes sparkled with excitement, but Xelene could see the telltale signs of rushed preparation in her friend’s slightly wrinkled blouse and the mascara wand she was still clutching in one hand.
“Sorry, sorry!” Janice called as the driver stepped out to help with her luggage. “I couldn’t decide what to pack for an alien planet. Do you think they have laundry facilities?”
Xelene forced her irritation aside as Janice slid into the seat beside her, bringing with her the familiar scent of vanilla perfume and coffee.
“I still can’t believe you agreed to take this client from that mysterious woman,” Janice said, settling her purse at her feet. “But I talked to Trevor this morning, and Gerri Wilder did reach out to him directly. The whole thing checks out.”
Relief flooded through Xelene despite her anticipation about the assignment. “I didn’t really think it was sketchy. There was something about Gerri—an honesty that felt genuine. But I’m glad the story holds up under scrutiny.”
Janice studied Xelene’s face with the perceptive gaze that made her such an effective colleague. “Did you sleep at all last night? You look like you’ve been running on pure adrenaline.”
“Not much,” Xelene admitted, surprised by her own candor. She rarely revealed vulnerability, even to Janice. “I was too excited about going to Nova Aurora and already starting to strategize this complex case. We’ll need to understand their customs, their power structures, and their media landscape.”
The familiar weight of professional challenge settled over her shoulders like a well-worn coat. This was what she lived for—the impossible cases that other consultants wouldn’t touch, the high-stakes reputation management that separated the experts from the amateurs.
“Plus,” she continued, watching the Florida landscape blur past the windows, “we’re talking about a prince who needs to become a king. The stakes aren’t just about personal reputation—they’re about political stability for an entire kingdom.”
Before she knew it, they were pulling into the parking lot of the Naples power plant. The industrial building looked utterly ordinary—gray concrete and functional architecture that gave no hint of the extraordinary interplanetary travel methods hidden within its depths.
Both women stepped out into the morning humidity, their heels clicking against the asphalt as the driver handed over their suitcases.
“This is definitely the strangest location I’ve ever traveled out of,” Janice murmured, eyeing the power plant with barely concealed skepticism.
“Gerri mentioned something about asking for the special elevator,” Xelene replied, her own voice carrying a note of uncertainty.
They approached and entered the main entrance, where a security guard sat behind a desk that looked like it hadn’t been updated since the 1980s. The man’s eyes lit up with recognition when they approached, as if he’d been expecting them.
“Here to see Gerri Wilder?” he asked with a knowing smile. “Special elevator’s just around that corner.”
Xelene felt slightly ridiculous wheeling her professional suitcase through an industrial building, but she maintained her composure as they followed the guard’s directions. The “special”elevator looked disappointingly ordinary—standard brushed steel doors and a basic button panel.
“That was anticlimactic,” Janice muttered as they stepped inside.
The basement button was the only one illuminated, so Janice pressed it without hesitation. Xelene expected a short descent to a standard basement level.
