chapter 3

Mia woke up the next morning to a knock on her door. It was Jessa, Rico and Blaine. They were back again, ready to torment her with her reality.

A part of her had wished to wake up and realise that everything that happened the previous day was just a nightmare, but now they were standing in front of her and it was more than clear that it wasn't a dream.

“Good morning. I hope you slept well, because this is going to be a long day,” Jessa said, too cheerfully for Mia’s liking.

Mia wished she could say all the things burning at the back of her throat, but she swallowed them down. Making them angry was the last thing she needed.

They walked into her living room before she could stop them. The next hour felt like she was being forced through a difficult lesson that would definitely show up on an exam she could never pass. She wasn’t even sure she’d make it inside the examination hall.

“You will be wearing this so we can communicate with you,” Rico said and handed her a small comms device.

Her stomach twisted. Everything felt more real by the minute. What if she were caught? What if they left her to rot?

Who was she kidding? They absolutely would.

They would probably act like they had no idea who she was.

“You just need to do as we say and everything will go smoothly. It’s that simple. Remember, Mia, this is a win-win situation for us. You get to clear your debts and we get what we want. You can’t afford to mess things up.”

Mia wanted to scoff, but she said nothing. They were already pinning everything on her when they were the ones who wanted her to do something absolutely crazy. They were treating this like she wasn’t being forced into something insane, something that could destroy her life.

She couldn’t bear to imagine how crazy the day was going to turn out. All she could hope for was not to get caught and thrown into more trouble. That would really be the last straw for her.

---

The charity event was held at one of the city’s grandest hotels, all gold lights and glass walls. Fancy cars lined the entrance, cameras flashed, and people laughed, holding glasses of champagne like the world was perfect.

Mia swallowed when the car stopped. Her hands were already trembling in her lap.

“Time to go,” Jessa said, and she nodded, even though she was far from ready. Her trembling hands travelled to the car door handle, but she couldn’t bring herself to open it and step out.

“Remember, Mia, we aren’t always going to be this nice to you. If you mess things up tonight, things are going to get really messy for you, and I’m pretty sure you don’t want that,” Blaine said in a bone-chilling voice that made an icy shiver run down Mia’s spine. She knew his words weren’t empty.

“Blaine, don’t make her nervous. I’m sure she knows what’s best for her, am I right, Mia?” Jessa chipped in and smiled warmly at Mia through the rearview mirror, but Mia knew the smile was far from genuine.

She just opened the door and stepped out into the cool night air. One hand gripped her purse, the other brushed against her comms, checking it was still in place.

She stood across the street, holding the fake invitation. Her heart was pounding so loudly it echoed in her ears.

She took multiple deep breaths before she finally started to walk, each step making her feel like she was walking directly to her doom, but she didn’t stop until she was standing in front of the hotel. Thankfully, many other people were arriving, causing anyone to barely notice her.

She slipped inside unnoticed, blending with the flow of guests. Everything sparkled, the chandeliers, rich people wearing expensive diamond jewellery and bright smiles. Mia felt like an impostor among them. She followed them into the hall where the gala was taking place and stood at a table at the back so no one would pay much attention to her. That was the last thing she wanted, even though that was the reason she was here for someone to notice her. She hated it so much.

“Have you sighted him?” she suddenly heard and almost yelled out loud in shock, then remembered she had comms in her ear. Mia let out a deep sigh.

“Not yet,” she said in a low voice, hoping no one would notice her speaking to herself.

“Then search for him. You don’t have all night. He will be gone as soon as he writes his damn check!” Jessa yelled into the comms, causing Mia to roll her eyes, even though she did as she was told. Her eyes scanned the room until they stopped on a figure.

Max Hult.

He stood near the back, tall and still, talking quietly with a man in a suit. No cameras followed him, no one dared interrupt, and his presence alone drew a kind of silence as if the air around him belonged only to him.

Mia couldn’t move. For a moment, she forgot why she was there. Then Jessa’s voice sounded in her ear again, snapping her back.

“Make him notice you.”

The way she said it almost made Mia lose her mind. It was easier said than done. What did they want her to do? Just walk up to him and introduce herself? Introduce herself as what, a woman sent for him to notice?

“I’m not joking around,” Jessa said again, and Mia felt her chest tighten. She had no idea how to make Max Hult notice her. That would definitely make everyone else notice her, and that was the last thing she wanted.

“Must I do this? There has to be another way. If you give me enough time, I promise...”

“No, Mia, that isn’t what we agreed on. The agreement was that you would do exactly as we said. It’s as easy as that. All you need to do is make Max Hult notice you and get us what we want, and then all your debts will be cleared. We know things have been a little rough for you these days, taking on a debt that isn’t yours. This will be a weight lifted off your shoulder if you just shut up and do as we say.”

Security was tight and every move was watched. Mia was completely frozen to the spot until she saw Max Hult starting to walk away.

“He is leaving,” she said absentmindedly, causing Jessa to groan in anger.

“What! It’s only been fifteen minutes, go after him!”

Mia’s legs immediately started to move. He was heading toward the side exit and she did the same, but he was already gone by the time she got there.

“He hasn’t entered his car yet. A black car will pick him up in a minute, go now!”

Panic clawed at Mia’s chest as she ran outside into the rain, her heels slipping against the wet pavement. Her eyes immediately fell on a black car, and the car turned onto the road, already leaving but heading toward her. She thought she had a minute! Her heart hammered against her ribcage, confusion setting in.

“He is leaving, there is nothing I can do!” she said to Jessa, but Jessa scoffed.

“We don’t have a choice. Then you have to stop the damn car. We can’t get an opportunity like this again. Stop the car!”

“What!” Mia said in disbelief, her eyes growing wide. How the hell was she supposed to stop a moving car?

“Stop that car right now!” Jessa yelled into the comms.

Mia looked up, and the black car was already turning toward the main road.

She had seconds.

Just seconds. How could she stop the car!