I averted my gaze to Luca sitting comfortably in one of the plush pedicure chairs, reading a magazine. The cover displayed nails and skincare routines, a heavy contrast I didn’t expect to witness.

He seemed really engrossed reading that thing, nodding his chin as if he’d found something worthwhile.

Dante, on the other hand, was seated close to the window, watching the moments below, and occasionally scrolling through his phone, black headphones covering his ears.

They were far too comfortable.

"You have very pretty nails..." the nail tech, Jade, said as she filed. "Girl, if I had nails like yours, I wouldn’t even bother getting them done."

"..."

"Oh, sorry... I just couldn’t help it. I talk a lot when it gets too quiet, and it is right now. It makes me nervous, so I talk nervously... I’m doing it again, aren’t I?"

I smiled even though I didn’t have it in me to do that right now.

Time is running out. Jacob had already texted me an hour ago asking where I was. I have been mulling over what to do, but so far I haven’t come up with anything.

I can’t lose this chance.

I wouldn’t get another opportunity to be away from Zade. This was too good to be true already. But that snake already proved he wasn’t taking any chances with me.

Fuck him.

I took a look around the beauty house. It wasn’t my intention to have the entire place reserved. In fact, I welcomed a few distracting company, but the twins booked the whole place.

Maybe it runs in their veins. The ability to ward people off with their poisonous presence.

At a soft humming tune, I dragged my gaze back to Jade. I could tell she was really doing her best not to engage in a conversation. The tune made it obvious, and it was so out of rhythm.

I snorted just in time as an idea popped up.

"Ahem! So um, Jade, are you from around here?"

"No. Is it that obvious? She asked too quickly.

Yeah, it was. My face has been plastered all over the internet, yet when I walked in here, she was the only one who didn’t look awed and simply confused by everyone gaping.

"It is... what am I even saying?" she added, sighing. "Still trying to ground myself. Still feels like a dream. I moved in a few days ago. This place belongs to my auntie, and I just happen to have the skills; the rest was bam!"

"So you work for her?"

"Something like that... really, she pays well, so I’m not complaining."

I tilted my head. I can’t imagine having to work for money, spend days tirelessly trying to earn even a little. Father never had to lift a finger, he just gathered loans like grass when the docks wasn’t giving him what he wanted.

"That’s sad..."

"Hmm?" She shot her gaze up.

"S-Sorry that came off wrong." I shook my head, closing my eyes briefly. "I actually meant that’s sad for—"

She giggled. "It’s okay. You’re quite sweet. Most of the customers I get daily are flat-out rude. Either don’t curve this way, this color doesn’t match, do it again, or—"

"Jade."

"Yeah..." Her smile dropped when she caught my expression, her brow knitting together. "What’s wrong?"

Slowly, I throw a look over my shoulder, lingering on the twins before setting my eyes back on her.

"I have a confession to make, please don’t freak out."

"O...kay...?"

I swallowed thickly. "Those men that came with me..."

She nodded slowly, suddenly eager to hear what I had to say.

"I don’t know them."

The blood drained from her face. She stayed like that for a while before looking over to Luca and Dante as if to double-check.

"I-I thought they came in here because they wanted to reserve this place for their girls, but.." I trembled against her grip. "I don’t think so now... they have been watching me more closely as time passes."

"Oh my god..." she gasped. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Shhh..."

"I thought they were with you!" she whispered.

"No."

I could see the panic rise in her face, and I felt shitty about it, but I had to do this.

"D-Do you want me to call security?"

"That will be very helpful, but I need to slip away first so that they can’t ever have their eyes on me again."

Jade nodded in understanding. "Okay, that makes sense. There’s um... a door. A backdoor reserved for workers, you can use that. It’s by the left, just at the corner there."

I placed my hand against hers. "Thank you, Jade."

"Don’t worry, I got this. Those men won’t bother you again."

"Just..." I stopped her before she could stand. "... make sure the security will be here when you confront them. Don’t do it alone."

"I got you, girl."

Jade walked to the reception area, exchanging a few words with the desk attendant, her eyes almost bulging out of her sockets, before she quickly picked up her phone to make a call.

I waited for a while before I caught sight of the security team. I took my handbag.

"Excuse me..." Jade walked up to the twins fearlessly. "I’m gonna ask you two to leave right now."

I didn’t wait for her to finish as I rushed to the back entrance. Amidst the disarray, the twins saw me slipping them away, and I smirked, shooting them a middle finger.

That went well.

I hurried my steps, fishing out my phone to text Jacob.

Me: Sorry, I had a little trouble. Where are you?

I made a stop at a boutique to buy a headscarf and a pair of sunglasses. Just when I was in the middle of wearing the shades, my phone vibrated.

Jacob: I’m on the ground floor. Be quick.

My heart raced as I hurriedly left the boutique, taking the elevator with mirrored walls.

I couldn’t seem to calm my nerves as the box moved, my neck stretching to see if I could spot him amidst the crowd.

My phone pulsed in my grip, and I checked again.

Jacob: I’m at the café called Oak.