[1 Hour After Thomas arrival]

  [At 10 pm]

  At exactly 10:00 pm, the taxi stopped in front of Luxor Lodgings hotel. Kaylee paid the driver and got out, holding her bag and laptop. She looked up at the impressive hotel, its glass windows reflecting the city lights and creating a beautiful glow in the dark. As she stepped onto the sidewalk, walking in her heels, a cool breeze brushed her face, carrying the lively smell of the city. She had arrived for an important business conference with Ethan, and the event was being held at Opulent Heights, a hotel known for its luxury and elegance. It was her first time visiting, and she felt a wave of excitement as she walked toward the entrance.

  The doorman greeted her with a warm smile and opened the grand double doors, revealing a stunning lobby with marble floors and shiny, modern chandeliers. Soft piano music filled the air, adding to the elegant atmosphere. She walked to the elevator and pressed the button for the 100th floor. She felt nervous about the conference—it was important for their company, especially with their new CEO, Mr. Ethan Lopez, who needed to bring new energy to their business.

  When the elevator doors opened, she stepped into a spotless hallway with luxurious carpets and beautiful artwork.

  Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she walked up to the door of his penthouse. But before she could knock, she heard laughter from inside. She couldn’t believe it was the same person who had spoken at Lopez Food Company earlier that morning. She moved closer to hear their conversation better, but she lost her balance and accidentally bumped into the door.

  Kaylee slowly opened her eyes. She was lying on a sofa she didn’t recognize. It felt warm, soft, and very comfortable. The cream-colored walls had abstract paintings on them, but a bright lamp was shining right in her eyes. She shut her eyes tightly, trying not to flinch from the light. After a moment, she looked up again, and as her eyes adjusted, she realized she was in the Opulent Heights penthouse. Her stomach sank.

  She sat up quickly, gasping, and stared at Ethan in shock. He was sitting right next to her, holding a gun in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. The smirk on his face made him look crazy.

  "Hiya, sweetheart. Didn’t you check your phone before coming here?" he said.

  Kaylee swallowed hard and shook her head. She took a moment to think, then remembered her phone. Her hands were shaking as she reached into her bag. Her fingers were clumsy, and she nearly dropped it more than once. Finally, she grabbed the phone from the table and turned it on, careful not to knock anything over. But the screen showed nothing. What was she supposed to see?

  She looked at Ethan, who still had the gun pointed at her.

  “What... what am I supposed to check?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper. Her mouth was so dry she could hardly speak. Wasn’t he going to tell her? Was there something she was supposed to do? Was he really going to kill her?

  She didn’t know what to do, but one thing was clear—she had to escape.

  “You have to let me go,” she said, her voice trembling as she tried her best to sound desperate and pleading.

  Ethan smiled back at her, "You think?" His dark gaze traveled down to her body, making her heart stop for a couple of seconds. "I can just shoot you right there, in your heart." That was when the true horror hit her. Kaylee yelled frantically and jumped from the sofa and tried to run.

  She was too late. Ethan didn't hesitate a moment longer. In one fluid motion his hands pulled the trigger of his handgun and the bullet hit the wall. Hastily, she covered her ears with her fingers to muffle the sound of the gunfire, but it seemed he had used acoustic panels. Slowly she lifted her head up and saw a large hole appeared in the wall where the bullet had struck.

  Kaylee ran faster, but before she could get too far, she tripped on the rug and fell onto the floor. Ethan chuckled, but then raised the gun again. This time, however, he wasn't smiling anymore. "Where were you heading anyway?" He asked her.

  Then he stood up and calmly walked toward her until he was right in front of her. "You can't leave this place without my permission."

  The gun he gripped was aimed directly at her head. "You have no choice but to surrender, or else I will shoot you in your head right here and now," he uttered in a hushed, snake-like tone. His words were delivered with a casual yet chilling coldness, leaving no room for negotiation.She never expected Mr. Ethan to be like this. His expression lacked any emotion or fear, resembling more of an assassin than the owner of any company, someone who wouldn't hesitate to take a life. A shiver ran down her spine as she cautiously stepped away and tried to run again. Ethan pulled the trigger of his handgun again, causing a shot to ring out and strike the side of the wall leaving another hole.

  "Oh, come on, Ethan. Don’t be such a killjoy. Let me take care of this one," a voice said from behind him. Kaylee looked up, and that’s when she realized they weren’t alone.

  Besides Ethan and herself, there were four other men in the room. One of them had a burn mark on his face and was staring straight at her. Something in his eyes made her feel uneasy. He looked familiar somehow, but she couldn’t figure out why.

  Suddenly, a memory flashed in Kaylee’s mind. Months ago, she had read a newspaper article about a dangerous criminal named Thomas Martinez. He was known for being ruthless and involved in many crimes. Her heart started racing as she realized the man in front of her might be that same Thomas Martinez—the one wanted by the police.

  Panic hit her hard as she realized just how bad the situation was. How had she ended up face-to-face with a wanted criminal? Was this all a trap? Why hadn’t Ethan told her the meeting was canceled? If she had known, she could’ve just stayed home. A flood of questions rushed through her mind, but she knew there was nothing she could do now. Was this how it was all going to end?

  Kaylee quickly looked down when she noticed Thomas watching her. He gave a smooth, charming smile, took a sip of wine, and looked at the scene like he was enjoying a comedy show—or some weird episode of Scooby-Doo.

  “Look up,” Ethan said. Kaylee raised her head at the sound of his voice, but her eyes stayed on Thomas’s feet. Her only focus was making sure those footsteps didn’t move toward her. Her breathing grew faster.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “Look at me,” Ethan said again, more firmly. But she still stared at the floor.

  Ethan stepped closer and grabbed her hair, forcing her to face him. When she finally looked up, she saw him leaning in, his eyes sharp and dangerous—like a wolf about to strike. It felt like he could tear her apart at any moment.

  “When I give an order, you follow it. Right away,” he said.

  She shook with fear as his grip tightened, holding her in place. Her eyes locked with his—cold, dark, and full of anger.

  Thomas, who had been silently enjoying the moment, finally spoke. “Ethan, please don’t hurt her.”

  Ethan loosened his grip just a little, but his eyes never left hers. “She needs to learn her place, Thomas. I won’t tolerate disobedience.”

  “She’s worth millions, so please don’t hurt her,” Thomas said. Kaylee looked from Ethan to Thomas, trying to understand what he meant.

  “Any damage to her face would lower her value. She’s... precious,” he added with a smirk.

  Kaylee felt sick under Thomas’s intense stare. His words made her stomach twist. Why were they talking about her like she was an object? She pulled away from Ethan’s grip, trying to stay calm, even though anger burned inside her.

  Ethan’s eyes lit up with interest and greed as he looked back at Thomas.

  “How much is she worth?” he asked, clearly curious now.

  Thomas leaned back on the sofa, glancing between Ethan and Kaylee. “She’s rare—highly valuable on the underground market. Her beauty, intelligence, and innocence make her extremely valuable.”

  Her heart pounded as she listened to their conversation, finally understanding how serious things were. She had always known she was pretty, but she never thought people would talk about her like she was something to be sold.

  Ethan walked over to Thomas with a dark smile on his face. “So, you’re saying I could sell her and make a lot of money?”

  “Yes,” Thomas replied, looking him in the eye. “She could be added to those other 50 girls.”

  A wave of fear and hopelessness hit her. The darkness of the situation sank in. She had once dreamed of a life filled with love and freedom—but now, those dreams felt far away, almost impossible.

  But I won’t let them choose my future, Kaylee promised herself.

  She jumped to her feet and ran toward the door, desperate to save herself. Her heart was racing, and fear rushed through her with every step.

  "Catch her!" Ethan ordered Thomas, and one of the guards, grabbed her and forcefully slammed her into the wall. Her head hit a picture hanging on the wall, causing it to fall and shatter, just as she hoped.Ethan delivered a strong slap to her cheek. "Don't try to run," he said, his voice deep and dark, sending shivers down her spine. He turned to face Thomas. "Take her out of here. We'll deal with the rest later."

  As Thomas reached for her again, Kaylee quickly pulled back, pushed the guard, and managed to escape through the door. In her panic, she bumped into someone and almost fell, but caught herself and kept running.

  Fear of being kidnapped by Ethan again pushed her to run even faster. It felt like she wasn’t even thinking anymore—her body was just acting on its own, doing whatever it could to survive.

  Her mind was racing with fear and stress. All she wanted was a moment to breathe, to stop crying, but the tears wouldn’t stop. Her body felt cold and sweaty, and she could barely walk without almost dropping something.

  She looked around, searching for anything that could help, but all she saw was the stairs—too far to reach. Instead of trying to go down the stairs, she turned right, hoping for a safer way out. But the path ended in a dead end, with only a large window in front of her.

  “Stop struggling,” Ethan said as he stepped closer. “You’re just making this harder for me.” Kaylee didn’t answer, continuing to fight with every bit of strength she had left.

  “We both know you’re not going to get away,” he added. She tried to scream at him, but he covered her mouth, silencing her. He grabbed her arms and dragged her toward him, forcing her to stand in front of him. She pushed him back, but lost her balance. Desperately, she reached for something to stop her fall, but instead, she tumbled through the window, falling from the 100th floor.

  As she fell, she looked up at Ethan. His eyes were locked on her, watching her fall. She wondered who was behind him, as she clearly felt someone’s hand on her shoulder while she was falling. But she couldn’t catch her breath to ask. All she could see was a flash of blond hair—someone behind Ethan—but the darkness kept their face hidden.

  As her body collided onto the unforgiving ground, the wind was knocked out of her and her eyes widened with shock as the ground rushed up to meet her, knocking the air out of her lungs. Just before landing, her head landed on the concrete, leaving a small cut on the back of her head just above the neck. It stung painfully and sent shooting pains throughout her entire body, but after sometime she felt nothing. The world began to grow dark, and then it stopped completely____________.

  [Few hours after murder]

  Ethan stepped out of his penthouse for a walk, lost in thought and smoking a cigarette when his phone rang. He checked the screen and saw a call from his mom. "Why is she calling me now?" he muttered, frowning as he answered.

  “Has the meeting been postponed?” Ms. Charlotte asked.

  “Yeah, they’ll be here next week,” Ethan replied, brushing his hair back. He lied, knowing telling the truth would only make things worse.

  “Why next week?” Ms. Charlotte asked, sounding frustrated. “Don’t you remember what we talked about yesterday?” She sounded worried.

  “There’s a reason. I’ll explain tomorrow... What the hell!” Ethan yelled as someone shoved him.

  “I’ll talk to you later. I’m busy right now,” he quickly hung up, still glaring at the person who’d pushed him.

  ["Hey, someone has fallen from above."]

  ["Yes, I heard something breaking, like someone fell from a high floor."]

  ["Has anyone died?"]

  ["It looks like a girl."]

  ["This seems to be a police case."]

  ["Is this a crime scene?"]

  People slowly started gathering around Kaylee’s lifeless body, whispering and expressing their sympathy. Even in death, her eyes stayed wide open, as if she had seen something strange before she died and forgotten to close them. Her face looked frozen in fear, the skin around her mouth and chin stiff, as if it didn’t want to separate from her bones. Her long black hair hung over her forehead, making people wonder how she had fallen and hurt her head so badly. Some guessed she might have been thrown from a high place by someone seeking revenge, while others wondered what terrible circumstances had prevented her from escaping or asking for help.

  Blood trickled from the side of her head, making its way to the back of her skull like water down a drain. Carefully, someone stepped over the bloodstain, feeling the thick, warm syrup-like sensation under their shoes. One hand rested on the floor while the other tightly gripped a shattered glass. Her right leg bent at an unnatural angle, with her foot slightly hovering above the ground. As news of Kaylee's death rapidly spread, the hotel staff promptly contacted the authorities. Frustrated, Ethan distanced himself from the crowd and made his way back to his penthouse. Standing there any longer made him nauseous; he couldn't handle the sight of blood. He felt disgusted by Kaylee's lifeless body.

  When Ethan walked into his room, his eyes immediately landed on Ava sitting on his bed. He was surprised to see her there.

  "When did you get back from Australia?" Ethan asked, forcing a smile.

  "Well," she started, trying to sound sincere, "I had a layover in Washington, so as soon as I landed, I came straight here to meet you."

  Ethan didn’t say anything at first, but he couldn’t help noticing how beautiful she looked. Her black curls framed her pale face, and her amber eyes locked onto his. She had the most perfect smile. She narrowed her eyes, watching him closely. "Are you okay?" she asked.

  "Yeah, I’m fine," Ethan replied. "It’s just a business thing… you were saying you came here for the first time. Want to explore the city?" He took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts.

  "No, I don’t want to explore," she said, her gaze still intense. "Actually, I wanted to surprise you. I thought it would be romantic to bring something special back for you. But I couldn’t wait any longer, so I decided to come here first." Ethan nodded, trying to pull away, but she wrapped her arms around him from behind.

  "Why are you so quiet today?" she whispered, pressing her body against his back. She knew exactly how to make him stay close.

  "I’ve got a lot on my mind," he sighed.

  "Let me help you with that," she smiled, stepping in front of him. "May I have your permission?" She always knew how to keep him on edge, knowing exactly what would make him give in.