At 7pm sharp, Ava arrived at the location Amelia had sent, expecting an open space, but instead found herself standing in front of an underground bar parlor. The smell of cigarettes filled the air, making her wrinkle her nose in distaste. As she stepped inside, the disco lights flashed, making her feel uneasy and disoriented. The music was loud, the DJ's song pulsating through the room, making it hard for her to even think. Ava's instincts screamed at her to turn back, to leave this place behind, but as she turned to walk away, she heard her name being called out. "Ava!" The loudness of Amelia's voice cut through the music, making Ava's heart skip a beat. She turned back, forcing a smile onto her face as Amelia approached her, a wide grin spreading across her face. Amelia rested her hand on Ava's shoulder, a gesture Ava hated, but she forced herself to endure it. "Come meet the girls," Amelia said, her voice dripping with excitement.”they are dying to meet you.” Ava's eyes
Jackson asked Ava, "Hey, aren't you going to sit down?" But Ava remained silent, her eyes fixed on him.Amelia clung onto Ava's arm, forcing her to sit down. "What's wrong, Ava? Why are you so uneasy? Haven't you been in places like this before?"Ava laughed forcefully, "It's okay, Amelia. I'm just...a little out of my element, that's all."Just then, Lisa's boyfriend, Alex, stretched out his hand to introduce himself. "Hey, I'm Alex. Nice to meet you, Ava." But Ava didn't take his hand, just smiled and said, "Nice to meet you too, Alex."Alex's face fell, his eyes disappointed as his hand hung in the air for a moment before he used it to scratch his head and sat back down.Mia, one of the influencers, asked Ava, "Hey, can we take a picture together? It would be great for my social media!"Ava smirked, but before she could respond, Amelia interrupted, "Mia, that's rude! You shouldn't take people's pictures without their permission."Mia looked taken aback, "Oh, sorry Amelia, I didn't
As Jackson handed out the beers, Ava's eyes never left his face, her mind racing with suspicions. She took a seat, her hands clenched into fists, as Jackson began to spin the bottle.The girls cheered and chanted as the bottle spun, their laughter and shouts filling the room. Ava's eyes locked onto the bottle, her heart pounding in her chest.Finally, the bottle stopped, pointing straight at her. The girls cheered, "Ava! Ava!" as Jackson handed her the beer with a sly smile.Ava's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with doubts. Something was off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She took the beer, her hand trembling slightly, as Jackson raised his own bottle in a toast."To Ava, the queen of social media!" he cheered, his eyes glinting with malice.Ava forced a smile, her heart racing with unease. She knew she had to play along, but her instincts screamed at her. She took a sip of the beer, her eyes never leaving Jackson's face, as the game continued, spiraling out of control.
Under the building's parking lot, a black bus waited, its engine purring, ready to transport Ava to her unknown destination. But as the man carrying her emerged into the night air, he was met with a surprise. Luke's men had arrived, surrounding the area, and a fierce battle ensued.The man carrying Ava was forced to drop her to the ground, fleeing for his life as the sound of police sirens grew louder in the distance. Luke rushed to Ava's side, lifting her unconscious body into his arms, as his men formed a protective circle around them.Just as the situation seemed under control, Stanley emerged from the shadows, a sly grin spreading across his face. He held up a small device, a fake police siren whistle, and gave a nod to Luke.Luke breathed a sigh of relief, his tension easing. The sirens had been a ruse, a clever trick to scare off the kidnappers. He held Ava close, his eyes scanning the area, ensuring they were safe. For now, they had outsmarted Jackson's men, but the danger was
Ava stepped out of her sleek, black car, her designer heels clicking on the pavement. The waiting news crew swooped in, cameras flashing as they snapped photos of her. The crowd surged forward, eager to get close, but her bodyguard swiftly intervened, forming a protective barrier around her.Ava's outfit was a stunning, red pantsuit, perfectly tailored to accentuate her curves. Her hips swiveled with each step, exuding confidence and poise. She glided across the parking lot, her sunglasses glinting in the sunlight.As she entered Jackson's office, he looked up, his expression frozen in shock. "Why are you here?" he asked, his voice laced with a mix of surprise and wariness.Ava smiled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. She lowered her gaze, slowly removing her sunglasses, and Jackson's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with questions."I'm here to make a deal with you, Jackson," she said, her voice husky and confident.Jackson's face contorted into a mocking laugh. "A deal? You think y
Jackson sneered, "I can handle my own business, Ava. You need to stay out of it. You know nothing about the rumors surrounding Emily Greenfield's death. Why are you so concerned? It has no relation to you."Ava's eyes hung in the air, her gaze piercing, but she said nothing. The silence was oppressive, heavy with unspoken words.Then, a brief smile played on her lips. "Do you want to go down this path, Jackson?" she asked, her voice sweet as honey.Jackson nodded, his confidence unwavering. "Yes, I do."Ava's smile grew wider. "Alright then." She picked up her bag and stood up, her movements graceful and deliberate. "I'll leave you to your business, Jackson. For now."With that, she turned and walked out of his office, leaving Jackson feeling uneasy and unsure of what he had just gotten himself into.He bite his nail and looked out of the transparent window before him. At a store, Amelia sauntered through the supermarket, her flashy outfit turning heads. She wore a bright pink jumps
Amelia quickly typed a response to Ava's message in the group chat: "Thanks, sis! This is really great news! Can't wait to be there!" She then turned to Lisa and asked, "And you, Lisa? Are you coming too? To the penthouse I mean." Lisa shook her head, "No, I'll just stay at my boyfriend's place." Amelia raised an eyebrow, "What's the point of staying in a relationship with a guy who doesn't work?" Lisa defended, "He just got a new job!" Amelia asked, "What is it?" Lisa replied, "He's a delivery guy." “Delivery guy?” Amelia chuckled, "Pathetic. Lisa, you need to grow up and find a better man. One who can actually provide for you." Lisa replied, "I like him for who he is, regardless I don’t care about what he does, and if he's not enough to provide." Amelia shook her head, "Too bad. You're a waste on a guy like him." "I need to leave, I have to be somewhere," Lisa said, “Not so fast.” Amelia insisted, "I'm not done here." Lisa explained, "I have a part-time job t
Luke's face flushed a deep red as he recounted the encounter, his eyes avoiding Mrs. Greenfield's amused gaze. "I didn't know her, and she was just so...clumsy. At first, I thought she was being dramatic, but..." He trailed off, his blush intensifying.Mrs. Greenfield's chuckle filled the line, her laughter warm and throaty. "Oh, Luke, you're so sweet."Just then, Luke's office door swung open, and Stanley stood in the doorway, a questioning look on his face. Luke's eyes met his, and he nodded discreetly. "I have to go, Mrs. Greenfield.""Okay, dear. Take care," she said, her voice still tinged with amusement.With a hasty goodbye, Luke cut the line, his face still flushed from the memory of Emily's unexpected faint and their unexpected lip lock.Luke asked, "What's up, Stanley?"Stanley approached him, his expression serious. "Are you aware of the new occupants in the penthouse?"Luke nodded, "Ava notified me already. I don't know what she's up to, but as they say...keep your friends