Katy P.O.V
I had barely heard the door shut behind Richardo when silence settled over my apartment,warm and heavy like a blanket I didn't ask for. The bed still carried the shape of where he'd lain moments ago,the warmth of his presence fading too fast.I pulled the sheets closer to myself,wishing the scent of him would stay a little longer.
But then-
A knock came.
Before I could respond,one of the maids pushed the door slightly open.
"Ma'am...there are...two detectives here to see you"
Detectives?
I pushed myself off the bed immediately.My legs felt unsteady,not because of fear,but because the peace I'd had with Richardo was suddenly torn apart.I forced myself to straighten my robe and walked into the living room.
Two detectives stood at the center of the room,hats in their hands,faces stiff with the kind of expression that only ever comes with terrible news.
"Miss Katy" One began, "We're here to inform you about a murder that occurred inside Sally Nunabae's apartment early this morning"
For a moment,all I heard was a faint ringing in my ears.
Murder.
In Pris Penthouse.
My building.My responsibility.
My reputation.
My heart squeezed painfully.
"And why" I snapped,my voice rising before I could control it, "haven't you caught the murderer yet?!"
The detectives flinched a little.
"Miss Katy...all the CCTV cameras in that section were shut down at the time.We have no footage,no visual confirmation,and-"
"You're telling me" I cut in,trembling with anger, "that in my penthouse...my own building...someone was murdered and the cameras were off?"
There was silence.
My breath shook.I hated the feeling behind my ribs-fear,disappointment,something cold crawling down my spine.I gripped the edge of a table because I suddenly felt like falling.
"And worse..." I whispered, "you let this get to the news?"
"Miss Katy,we tried to control it,but someone leaked the information before-"
"Oh,for goodness' sake, shut up!" The words burst out of me.I didn't want to yell,but the anger...the humiliation...it came anyway. "I don't want to hear excuses"
Both detectives bowed their heads, ashamed.
I took a deep breath.My voice came out lower,but sharper.
"Listen carefully...I want every single news outlet silenced about this case.No interviews,no statements,no updates.And I swear-" My gaze hardened. "If I see even ONE article online,one whisper about it trending,I will hold your entire department responsible"
"Yes,Miss Katy...understood"
"Good"
I didn't wait for them to say anything else.I turned around and headed for the hallway,my steps echoing harder than my heartbeat.
But as I reached the door,something hit me,a tiny tremble in my chest.
A fear I didn't want to name.
This wasn't just any murder.
This wasn't just any moment.
Something darker was brewing beneath the surface,something I couldn't yet see.
I gripped the doorknob tightly.
Richardo...What are you hiding from me?
Without another word,I walked out of the apartment.
Laurel P. O.V
My chest burned,my breath cutting short as one of Richardo's men aimed at my face.But the second Scarlett attacked downstairs,everything snapped into chaos.
Their attention flickered-
and I ran.
I didn't think.
I didn't breathe.
I just ran.
I dashed into my bedroom and slammed the door behind me,my trembling hands barely able to twist the lock.Footsteps thundered up the stairs-too fast, too close.
I had seconds.
Maybe less.
I dove into my walk-in closet,the place where everything looked perfect with designer dresses,silk gowns, fur coats, all bought with other people's money.Money that suddenly felt cursed.
I squeezed myself behind a thick rail of expensive coats,burying my body inside the fabric until I almost couldn't breathe.I pressed my hand over my mouth to keep the sob from escaping.
The door CRASHED open.
"Laurel!"
Boots stomped into my room-heavy,merciless, searching.
They rummaged through everything-my drawers,under my bed,the bathroom.I heard one of them yank open the closet door.
The coats shook above my head.
I froze.
Every heartbeat felt like a scream.
"L'abbiamo persa" One of them spoke in a haste with his clenched fist hitting the wall.
(TRANSLATION: We lost her)
"Dov'è lei!?" I heard Richardo's yell so loud,his footsteps thudded on the floor like a warning and it gave me the impression that I dare not appear to them.
(TRANSLATION: Where is she!?)
"Incompetenti! Non siete riusciti nemmeno ad uccidere quel ladro" He gave one of them a punch which hit me more than my fear and I swallowed the sobs that were threatening to spill.
(TRANSLATION: Incompetent fools! You couldn't even kill that thief)
"Ci dispiace che sia scappata..."
(TRANSLATION: We are sorry she ran away...)
"È scappata..."
(TRANSLATION: She ran away...)
Their voices mixed with anger and confusion-Italian words I couldn't understand-but their tone told me one thing:
They didn't find me.
They slammed the closet shut and rushed out.
Moments later, I heard footsteps pounding down the stairs.
Then-
Richardo's voice.
Filled with fury.
Sharp.
Laced with a rage that made the air turn cold.
"Dove diavolo è?!"
(TRANSLATION: Where the hell is she?!)
"Idioti! L'ho detto...morta!"
(TRANSLATION: Idiots! I told you...dead!)
I didn't understand the words, but his fury shook the walls. He was yelling at them-because they lost me.
And then...silence took over.
They left.
I waited for one minute.
Two.
Three.
My shaking legs finally pushed me out from between the coats.My whole body felt numb as I tiptoed through my room,peeking into the hallway.Everything looked untouched-but wrong.Too quiet.Too empty.
I crept down the stairs,each step was heavier than the last.
When I reached the living room...my heart broke.
Sophie was on the floor-still,dead in the worst possible way.Her eyes were closed and breathless.A soft smear of blood spread on the tiles around her,faint but enough to make reality crush into me.
"S-Sophie..." My voice cracked.I clutched my hand against my mouth,tears spilling uncontrollably.
Scarlett was gone.
Sally was gone.
They took them.
My world felt like it caved in.
Then-
The elevator dinged.I panicked and ducked behind the couch just as two housemaids walked in,gossiping lightly until they saw Sophie.
Their screams erupted like sirens.
"Oh my God!!"
"Call security! Call someone!"
They ran out,their footsteps echoing down the hallway.
I didn't wait.
I sprinted to my room,grabbed a travel bag and stuffed everything into it,my clothes, money and jewelry.My hands shook so much I nearly dropped everything.
I had to leave.
I had to run.
Far.
Anywhere.
I zipped the bag,breath ragged.
I have to go to Australia.
My hometown.
The place I ran away from.
The poverty I swore I'd never return to.
"No...I can't go back..." I whispered,swallowing the thick lump in my throat. "Not there...not that life again..."
But Richardo would find me anywhere else.
I had no choice.
I grabbed my bag and rushed out of the penthouse.When I reached the ground floor,the lobby erupted with noise.Reporters shouting.Flashing cameras blinding my eyes.
I looked up at the TV screen inside the lobby.
And I froze.
Sally and Scarlett were handcuffed.Dragged out by police officers.
Reporters swarming them.
Cameras shoved in their faces.
"Is it true you killed your Sofie?!"
"Did you steal from Richardo Alterdo?!"
"Are you part of an international scam ring?!"
Scarlett was crying.
Sally was silent,their eyes looked empty.
"No..." I whispered. "No, no, no..."
My knees almost gave out.
They were taking the blame.
And Richardo made sure of it.
I wiped my tears with trembling hands.I couldn't leave yet-not like this.I had to get help-for them.
There was only one person powerful enough:
Miss Katy.
I rushed into the elevator,slamming the button for her floor.When I reached her apartment,two muscular bodyguards blocked my path like statues.
"I need to see Miss Katy" I pleaded.
"No entry"
"It's urgent-please!"
"No"
We argued,my voice kept trembling,theirs stayed cold and unmoving.My frustration burst into tears.
Then the door opened.
Miss Katy stepped out,her hair so perfect with expression sharp and impatient.
"What is this noise in front of my apartment?" She snapped.
I rushed toward her. "Miss Katy, please-please help my friends.They didn't kill anyone.They're being blamed.They need a lawyer.They need you"
Her eyes narrowed coldly.
"No" She said immediately. "I won't involve myself.Your nonsense has already ruined Pris Penthouse's reputation.I don't help criminals"
"They're not criminals!" I cried. "Please,they'll die in jail-please!"
I nearly fell to my knees,my hands clasped desperately.
But she stepped back.
Unmoved.
Unbothered.
"Don't beg me" She said bluntly. "I don't involve myself with people who create their own disasters"
She turned to walk away.
"No..wait..PLEASE!" I ran after her.
Her bodyguards moved instantly, blocking me.One lifted a hand as if warning me not to take another step.
Miss Katy didn't even look back.
"Throw her out" She said coldly.
My heart stopped.
The bodyguards stepped closer,their shadows swallowing me.
"Miss Katy!" I screamed. "PLEASE! They're all I have,please don't let them die-"
The elevator doors closed behind her.
She left us.
Just like everyone else.
I stood there in the hallway-broken, shaking, crushed beneath fear and regret.
My girls were gone.
My life was gone.
And the devil responsible was still out there.
A tear slid down my cheek as the truth hit me like a knife:
"We should never have underestimated him" I whispered. "We were fools..and now we're paying the price"
I clenched my fists,anger mixing with agony.
"Richardo Alterdo" I sobbed, "you'll pay for what you did to us"