Chapter 6: The Spotlight

He walked towards the garage, his footsteps soft in the evening air. The garage door was already open, and the guard, noticing his boss, hurried over to open the gate. He quickly unlatched it, pulling the heavy metal door wide.

Russell slid into the driver’s seat, turning the key in the ignition. The engine purred as he smoothly reversed out of the garage. When he reached the gate, he nodded at the guard in thanks, who stood aside respectfully.

He drove onto the street, the cool breeze filtering through the window. Russell was heading to Style Studios, a well-known spot in town. He didn’t even need to ask Sylvania for directions; everyone knew where it was.

As he drove, the city lights began to flicker on. People walked along the sidewalks, some hailing taxis, while a few vendors still sold snacks.

As he drove on, Russell's thoughts drifted to his family. His brother, Marco, had crossed his mind earlier. It had been a while since they last spoke. Though Russell wasn’t the type to dwell on the past, he realized he missed the easy conversations they used to have. Maybe he’d give Marco a call after the party; Just a quick catch-up, nothing more.

He let the thought go, refocusing on the road.

Meanwhile, Sylvania stood in front of her mirror, giving herself a final touch. Her long, flowing diva dress hugged her figure perfectly, and her loose curls fell down her back just the way she liked.

After applying a final coat of lipstick, she smiled. Tonight was special. It wasn’t just about celebrating her success at Style Studios; it was also because Russell was coming.

Grabbing her hand bag with everything inside, she whispered to herself, “You’ve got this.”

The party was set outside her workplace, in the car park. Since it was summer, the management had decided on an outdoor event. They decorated the space like a garden, with colorful flowers everywhere. It was going to be a night to remember.

Just as she was about to leave, she noticed Coco, watching her with big, sad eyes from the floor. Sylvania bent down and gave him a hug.

“I’m sorry, Coco,” she whispered. “I wish you could come, but this is a human party. I’ll be back soon.”

Coco nuzzled her hand, as if to say it was okay. With a small smile, she stood, grabbed her keys, and headed out the door.

Russell arrived at Style Studios a few minutes later. The gate was wide open, and he drove through smoothly, noticing the lively surrounding. Guests were arriving in stylish cars, chatting near the entrance, while the car park had been transformed into a party space. Music played in the background, and lights twinkled everywhere.

He parked in a grassy area to the side, which had been set up as temporary parking. Stepping out of the car, he locked the door and felt the cool evening breeze against his face.

As Russell walked towards the event, he pulled out his phone. He had meant to call Marco earlier but hadn’t gotten around to it. He tried dialing, but the call didn’t go through. Frowning slightly, he shrugged it off. “Maybe later,” he thought. No reason to let it distract him from the night.

Just then, Vivian approached. “Russell! Hey, has Sylvania arrived yet?”

“I haven’t seen her,” Russell replied. “I thought she was with you.”

Vivian shook her head. “No, but I’ll call her.” She smiled. “Welcome, by the way! Enjoy the party!”

Russell nodded, sending Sylvania a quick text as Vivian walked away. His phone beeped moments later with Sylvania’s reply: “Just arriving. I’m at the end of the lot.”

He looked up and spotted her car pulling in. As Sylvania stepped out of her car, their eyes met, and smiles spread across their faces.

“Sylvania!” Russell called out, walking toward her.

“Russell!” she waved back, locking her car.

“You look amazing,” he said as they met, his eyes scanning her dress.

“Thank you,” she replied, blushing slightly. “You don’t look too bad yourself.”

Russell laughed. “Had to make sure I dressed up for tonight.”

“Well, you nailed it,” Sylvania teased, taking his arm. “Shall we?”

The party was in full swing, with people dancing and chatting all around. The smell of barbecue wafted through the air, while colorful lights gave the space a magical appearance.

“Wow, they really outdid themselves,” Russell said, looking around.

“They did,” Sylvania agreed, her eyes bright with excitement.

Just then, Vivian called out from a nearby table, waving them over. Russell and Sylvania joined her and Anita, along with a few other guests. After a quick round of introductions, they grabbed drinks from the bar.

“To a fantastic night,” Anita said, raising her glass.

“To a fantastic night,” everyone echoed, clinking glasses.

After a few sips of champagne, Russell turned to Sylvania. “So, who do you live with?”

Sylvania smiled. “I live with my dog, Coco.”

Russell raised an eyebrow. “Coco, huh? Does he have a last name?”

“Coco Scarlet,” Sylvania laughed. “And yes, he’s my dog.”

Russell chuckled. “I’d love to meet him someday.”

“I’m sure Coco would love you,” Sylvania replied with a smile.

As they walked closer to the heart of the party, music thumped louder, and the energy of the crowd welcomed them. People were dancing and laughing under the twinkling lights.

At the center of it all, Tashil Simons, the boss at Style Studios, took the microphone.

“Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention?” Tashil’s voice boomed over the chatter.

As the crowd quieted, Tashil continued, “We’re here tonight to celebrate someone very special. Sylvania, our incredibly talented fashion designer, has truly raised the bar with her work. She’s the best designer Style Studios has ever had, and we couldn’t be prouder!”

The crowd erupted in applause, chanting “Congratulations, Sylvania!”

Smiling, Sylvania stepped forward as Tashil gestured her to the front. She took a deep breath and began her speech.

“I’m so grateful to be here tonight,” she said, with tears of happiness shown in her eyes. “Thank you to everyone at Style Studios, and to all of you who’ve believed in me. This success wouldn’t be possible without your support.”

The crowd cheered once more, and Sylvania made her way back to her seat, feeling the love and appreciation around her.

“You were great out there,” Russell said, handing her a glass of wine.

“Thank you,” she replied, taking a sip.

The night was just beginning, but it was already clear; it was going to be a celebration Sylvania would never forget. As the guests chatted about fashion, Sylvania shared stories about her design process. She spoke of idea generation, material samples, and drawing inspiration from the world around her.

“I wanted this collection to feel like a tropical paradise,” Sylvania explained. “The beautiful colors, the lush greenery; it’s all meant to transport people to a beautiful place.”

Her passion lit up the room, and by the end of the night, everyone knew one thing: Sylvania wasn’t just a designer. She was an artist, and this was only the beginning.Top of Form

Russell stayed close to Sylvania throughout the night, his admiration clear in every smile and word of encouragement. He watched as she charmed the crowd with her talent and wit, feeling pride as she finally got the recognition she deserved.

He approached her. "I’m so proud of you," he said, his voice full of affection. "You deserve every bit of this."

Sylvania gave him that beautiful smile again. "Thank you, Russell. I couldn’t have done this without my team."

Russell grinned, wrapping an arm around her waist. "I love seeing you happy," he said, raising his glass. "To us, and many more moments like this."

They clinked glasses, the soft sound of the party surrounding them. "To us," Sylvania replied.

As the night went on, they mingled with guests, shared stories, and laughed together. It was a night to remember; a perfect evening where nothing else seemed to matter.

Meanwhile, across the city, in a dimly lit room thick with cigar smoke, a different kind of gathering was taking place. A long wooden table dominated the center, surrounded by men dressed in sharp suits. These were the top players in the city's underworld; here to meet their leader.

Macholo, the underboss, sat back in his chair, fingers drumming lightly on the polished surface. His eyes flicked across the room, watching the capos; Yeyo, Lashar, and Marvin who were waiting in silence. Each man had a part to play in the next mission. Yeyo held a map of the city, Lashar played with his car keys, and Marvin sat quietly, holding a gun.

The screech of tires outside signaled the Don's arrival. The room went still as the door creaked open. The Don entered with quiet authority, his presence commanding instant respect. He was dressed in a tailored suit, and his sharp eyes scanned the room, studying each and every one of them.

"Gentlemen," he began with a low clear voice. "We've got business to discuss."

The Don took his seat at the head of the table, taking all the control. "The job at Abibba’s building was handled well," he continued. "But that’s only the beginning."

A man entered, setting a bottle of wine and a glass in front of the Don. After pouring himself a drink, the Don continued. "The next target is Capital Bank. They've upgraded their security, but that just means they’ve left gaps we can use."

Excitement flickered in the men’s eyes. A bank heist was brave, but it was also risky.

Macholo leaned forward. "What’s the plan, boss?"

The Don smiled faintly. "We hit them during the shift change when the guards are distracted. I want a crew ready. We’ll need a safecracker, a lookout, and a getaway driver."

The room hummed with agreement. Macholo nodded, already thinking about who he could trust for this job. "What about the codes? The layout?"

The Don raised a hand, cutting off the chatter. "We’ve got someone on the inside. Lucas Garret. He owes us a favor. He’ll provide everything we need, and the code to the safe is B4-NK-S3-CODE."

Marvin scribbled the code onto a piece of paper as the Don continued. "Garret will send the signal tomorrow at nine. I expect you all to be ready."

Yeyo shifted uncomfortably. "And if things go south?" he asked quietly.

The Don’s expression hardened. "We don’t plan for failure, Yeyo. We adapt. If things go sideways, you adjust. Macholo knows this, and so should you."

Yeyo nodded, swallowing his anxiety. Macholo stayed calm, giving a firm nod to the Don. "We’ll get it done, boss. Clean and smooth."

The Don leaned back, satisfied. "Good. I want no loose ends. This is about more than money; it’s about showing this city who runs things."

As the Don prepared to leave, he paused, casting a sharp look at Macholo. "And one more thing. Even Victor didn’t react yet, I know his dogs are sniffing around. I hope my tigers are ready."

Macholo didn’t look away. "We’re ready, boss."

The Don gave a small nod and left the room, his words hanging in the air. The men looked at each other, the weight of the mission sinking in. They knew this wasn’t just another job; it was about power, control, and sending a message to anyone who dared challenge them.

Back at the party, the evening was winding down. Sylvania bid farewell to her friends and turned to Russell. "Do you want to stay over tonight?" she asked with a smile.

Russell’s face lit up. "I’d love that."

They drove back to Sylvania’s house, the quiet night a perfect ending to the day. When they arrived, Russell parked and followed her inside. As soon as they opened the door, Coco, Sylvania’s golden retriever, greeted them with excited barks and jumps.

"Coco, settle down!" Sylvania laughed, trying to calm the dog. "He’s a friend."

Russell chuckled, kneeling to greet the energetic dog. "Hey there, Coco," he said, scratching behind the dog’s ears. "Nice to meet you."

Coco sniffed him curiously before wagging his tail and licking Russell’s face. Russell laughed, wiping his cheek. "He’s a handful, but I like him."

Sylvania smiled, watching the interaction. "He’s just happy to see you. Come on, let’s get you settled."

She led Russell to her room, where Coco followed excitedly, his tail wagging. "And here we are; my room," Sylvania said, throwing herself onto the bed with a satisfied sigh.

Russell looked around, impressed. "Wow, it’s beautiful. So inviting."

"Thanks," she said, sitting up. "I’m going to take a quick shower. Make yourself comfortable."

Russell nodded, settling into the soft bed as Sylvania headed to the bathroom. Coco curled up next to him, he was then at ease. Russell lay back, enjoying the peaceful quiet. The sound of running water from the bathroom was soothing, and he was really at calm.

After a few minutes, Sylvania emerged from the bathroom, her hair was wet, and her skin looked much softer. Russell grinned at her. "You look even better when you’re wet."

She laughed, rolling her eyes. "You’re ridiculous."

Russell sat up, pulling her onto the bed beside him. "Maybe, but I’m also lucky," he said, wrapping his arms around her.

They lay together, the world outside feeling far away. Russell held her close, feeling the warmth of her body next to his. "Do you think we’ll always be this happy?" he asked quietly.

Sylvania looked up at him. "I do," she said, kissing him gently. "I love you, Russell."

"I love you too, Sylvania," he whispered back, pulling her closer. "More than anything."

They stayed like that, wrapped up in each other, letting the quiet of the night settle around them. It was the perfect end to an unforgettable evening.