stood frozen for a moment, her heart still pounding from the intensity of their encounter. She quickly wiped her sweat

the sense that her life had just shifted, irreversibly altered by the stranger's presence. The memory of his eyes

moment to breathe, to process. But little did she know, her life was ab

could feel the weight of the eyes that still seemed to follow her, every movement now fraught with new meaning.

g to fix her makeup, the door

mething unexpected. There, standing behind her, was Stacia. The wo

"Look at you, flaunting yourself for every man in

g, choosing instead to continue smoothing the powder on her

y the hell away from my man. You understand? Stay the

h fury. The space between them crackled with tension as Eve took one deliberate step fo

s voice trembled, a flicker of panic

. "What am I doing?" Eve's voice was laced with veno

e shoulders and slamming her into the wall. Stacia gasped, the impa

Eve's voice was low, almost mocking, but there was no mistaking the fury th

ng. Eve's fingers tightened in her hair, pulling Stacia's face closer. "I could end you right here, and not a soul

hed as though Eve might strike her. "P-please,

're not worth my time," Eve purred, her voice a chilling blend of disdain and fi

hesitate-she bolted, rushing for the door, her heels clicking frantically agai

spray canister hidden inside her bag. She raised it to her face, her voi

thout a hint of emotion. "Yes, boss. We've taken over the secu

arp and unmistakable-cut through the line

concern, crackled through th

less, her voice filled with i

-

ld feel him watching her like a hawk. Then, she spotted Loren, his laughter a sharp contrast to the tension hanging in the air. But what puzzled her was

e her way to the bar. She caught the bartender's attention, her voice la

the zipper had been ripped. "I don't think you'll find a cab tonight, m

velvety voice slid into the conver

right behind her, his smile both reassuring and unsettling. "My sis

situation unnerved her. But the sincerity in her voice couldn't be ignored as

ed with amusement. "It's no

hand lightly on the small of her back as they ascended the stairs, his presence warm yet commanding

-

llway, the faint glow of candles casting eerie shadows on the walls. He opened a door, revealing a sp

eyes darted around, taking in the details-every inch of th

dress that could be worn to a gala or a secret meeting-it didn't matter. The black lace slid from hi

the process. "Thank you," she said, her tone

-

She stood before the mirror, her reflection almost unrecognizable in the black

hear him

ove, Eve knew that her plan was alread

om. He sat on the edge of the bed, his back straight and his hands clasped together. But as the minut

otsteps quiet on the plush carpet. He knocked gently on the

and soothing. "Yes, I'm...fine. Almost done, but I have

idn't feel right. He hesitated for a moment before slowly turning the handle a

ed around, his eyes scanning the room for her. But as soon as he laid e

face as he stumbled backward. "Are you cra...?" he started to s

face was on fire, his skin burning from the effects of the pepper spray. "I will kill yo

of his temporary blindness and knocked the gun out of his hand. It clattered

said, her voice cold and detached as she stood

shouted, his voice laced with desperation and helplessness. He

he stood over him, the gun pointed directly at his face. "I don't give out names of my

emed like she was going to pull it. But just as suddenly, the