Two Couples, Opposite sides of a coin.
The tires of the black fake delivery van screeches very loudly as it pulls into the parking lot, and as soon as it gets to the frontm, the car stops, not bothering to park like a sane person would.Maybe because the person driving is not exactly doing it sane.Brie is just stepping out of the building, her iPad and folder in one hand, red heels clicking sharply against concrete, as her other hand is used to press her phone to her ear as she issues orders like a military commander. Outside, Brie is already descending the concrete steps of the run down building, a building that is very familiar to Marsh because he’s been there before.“Yes. The contract has been signed. Burn all the backups from befire, no need to do undercover anymore. I have the signature, we’re golden. This is checkmate. Also, have the legal team draft the press statement. No, I don’t care how aggressive it looks. The point is to make it-”The back of the van bursts open loudly and it catches her attention as she paus
Arthur runs a hand through his hair. “You both are insane.” Bethany moves closer. “Arthur. It’s the only way we get proof. To catch them all.” He stares at her for a long moment. Then he exhales. “Fine. But I’m not letting you out of my sight. I’ll be there.” Marsh nods. “You and I both. Surveillance van. Outside the venue. If anyone so much as breathes wrong, we’re in.” Arthur didn’t sit. He stood behind Bethany like a wall, arms crossed. “So I do nothing, then, while my wife is bait for what we don’t even know is about to happen?” Bethany shook her head. “Yes. We let them take me, and no, you’re not doing nothing, darling, I’m the one they want and I know you’ve got my back. They won’t physically harm me until they get what they are after.” Marsh blinked. “You sure about that?” “Dead sure.” “No pun intended, I hope,” Arthur mutters, running his hand through his hair. She ignored him. “I want to know who’s really behind this. Brie, definitely, but maybe not alone. And if I le
The light in the window has changed. The opaque film has shifted just a little bit enough to know that it is now light outside.Bethany notices it first thing as she cranks her sore neck. Morning, or something close to it, has arrived. Not that it means anything in a place like this. She did not have a good night, far from it. Her hands are numb from how tightly they’re bound. Her legs ache. Her mouth feels like she’s been chewing sandpaper for hours and the worst is her neck, terribly sore with each shake of the head.She’s tired. Bruised. Still recovering slightly from the car explosion, now the icing on the cake, her kidnap. But even though she hardly had a good wink of sleep, her mind is pretty clear and patient.The heavy door creaks as some keys are inserted from outside.She doesn’t move an inch, not like she can anyway.The door is pushed open and Charles enters first, eyes flicking lazily across her body like she’s some exhibit. His smile is back, slimy and expectant, the same
Cheeks still stinging from the unexpected slap from earlier, Brie stalks out of the party hall amidst stares and whispers, a little part of her is kind of grateful for the reason to leave but the most part of her emotions right now is anger.Arthur had dared to raise his hands on her when all he had was suspicion?Who says she is behind the woman’s disappearance… Well, she is in on it but what proof does Arthur have to slap her? She scoffs as the biting cold outside hits her bare skin.Her car comes around the corner as she stands at the end of the red carpet. She gets inside, momentarily happy to be out of the cold while the limousine’s interior smells like lavender and old money, polished leather seats cradling her body like a throne. Her gloved fingers toy absent mindedly with the hem of her dress, her thoughts a scattered puzzle. The gala lights are fading behind them now, masked faces left dancing in the shadows of their own ignorance.She doesn’t look back once, her mission ther
Arthur Worth Has Had Enough.It’s the way Quinn says it that shatters everything.Not the words.Not even the implication.Just the quiet confirmation of the suspicions that should have crossed his mind had he stopped to think for a minute these past fifteen minutes that he has looked everywhere for Btehany but did not find her.“Charles.”Arthur blinks. “What?” The name tastes like ash in his mouth.Charles Worth. He’s behind Bethany’s disappearance.The words shouldn’t be so still. So solid.They shouldn’t make everything else in the world feel fake.But they suddenly do.How could a man take out of here, a whole woman without anyone seeing them? Without anyone stopping to inquire abotut the situation unless they are all in on the game?Across the large ballroom, the clinking of glasses continues. People laugh, toast, sip, glance at him and pretend they did not just do so. A waiter walks past with a tray of oysters. The music swells. Nothing has changed. All except Arthur who yanks
Bethany wakes to momentary darkness.The room Charles keeps her in smells of bleach and something rotten. There’s only one window, shut tight, its glass fogged and smeared with what looks like glue or a thick, transparent film. The sole lightbulb overhead buzzes faintly, like it might die at any second. It swings slightly. A fan hums in the corner, but it’s not for air, at least it does not seem like it.Bethany sits uncomfortably in a metal chair, wrists bound to the armrests with zip ties that bite into her skin when she even tries to move in the slightest. Her feet are like her hands, bare, ankles crossed and zip tied to the legs of the chair. Her dress has remained untouched but for some reason, it is pulled up to her thighs so her legs are very well seen. Her shoes are gone and so is her mask, gone too.Her mouth is very dry. Her tongue feels like sandpaper. Her head pounds from the slow coming to after the effects of whatever had been used to drug her is starting to wear off.She