Chapter Two: A Girl Reborn.

Alexis POV.

“Are you sure about this?” Amelia, my roommate asked as she stood there hands folded, face full of worry as she watched me put on my earring in front of the mirror.

“Yes I am” I said, adjusting the edge of my gown. “I've been preparing for days.”

She sighed. “Just...be careful okay?”

“Sure thing” I muttered.

She escorted me to the door, still anxious looking. “Call me as soon as you get there, and if you notice anything off–”

“I should leave immediately, I know I promise I will.”

 I walked outside, slamming the door behind me. The air was cool, calm and tense filled. I raised my hand as I flagged down a taxi

“Louvre museum,” I said as the driver gave an affirming nod before I slid inside, fastening my seatbelt.

As the car began moving , I watched as the street lights lit up the buildings. The closer we got, the heavier the thoughts hit my mind like a knock. The plan, risk, the main reason I was here tonight..it pressed at the back of my mind, making the air tensed up for me. I kept rethinking what I was about to do, rechecking each step again and as every block we passed, the air thickened.

My phone buzzed. A message from Amelia popped; last chance to back out before it's too late.

I exhaled, with a little smile as I turned the screen face-down. My mind had already been made up before now.

The event tonight was an auction. A themed fundraising display of priceless artifacts, attended by people wearing glittering gowns pretending to care about history while secretly bidding on things they shouldn't even own.

My dress was simple but stunning, red silk and sleeveless with a slit that was from my knee downwards. I wasn't here to impress anyone but to work. Even though I needed to blend in, the dress did the trick, Elegant, stand out and eye-catching without begging for attention.

The museum entrance was glowing even from a mile ahead as the taxi stopped. I paid and stepped outside as the cool breeze brushed past my shoulders and I approached the entrance.Two guys stood there dressed up in black suites with tiny earpieces tucked behind their ears. One of them held a guest list tablet, the other checking each person carefully.

“Good evening ma'am,” he said with a professional tone. “Name please?”

I smiled on the outside even though I felt a sharp pulse run under my skin.

“Arella Vance,” I replied smoothly.

He scrolled then paused.

My heart flipped for a moment.

He then nodded. “You're on the list, welcome to the Louvre midnight constellation Gala.”

Of course I was on the list. I spent the last two nights hacking it myself. Rerouting the logs so “Arella Vance” appeared with the correct ID number, donor code, background check and it all paid off.

He stepped aside offering me a gesture inside. I walked past him but inside me I was washed over with relief.

The crowd was filled with ladies wearing glittering gowns, men with expensive tuxedos and chatter all over the place pretending to admire the artifacts while secretly measuring each other's wallets.

I forced myself to walk naturally, fixed my gaze all over the place, acting like I belonged. But the place was too high class.Cameras in every corner, guards surveying the place by the minute.

The hair pin was displayed in an upper room, encased in a glass and surrounded by highly sensational security systems. I had exactly six minutes before the guards rotated.

I blended into a cluster of guests, pretending to examine a sculpture while my eyes kept track of everything else. I moved closer, headed upstairs and got to where the hairpin was displayed.

I moved toward the nearest case, my reflection faint against the glass. I slipped my hand into my clutch, pulling out a small device.

The device clicked softly as I activated it. Upstairs, the CCTV system went null.

The lock on the case gave way without resistance. I lifted the glass just enough to complete the process I was in the middle of.

Up close, the hair pin was a stunning gold filigree shaped like a crescent moon, designed with tiny pearls. The kind of piece people killed for.

I slipped my fingers and disabled the passcode. Inside the alarm wires glowed, I pulled out a chip disguised as a hair accessory and slid it between the two circuits. The alarm went off.

I lifted the glass casing just enough and snatched the pin and replaced it with a replica into place and lowered the glass again steady and smooth.

The alarm flicked back on. A little smile tugged my lips.

I drifted away from the pedestal, carefully leaving the room and headed back downstairs blending into the group of guests. 

A ripple of attention moved through the room as several men entered.

They didn’t speak nor were there announcements but somehow I could feel the room dull and conversations faltered as they passed.

One of them paused, his gaze fixed on people in the hall and just before I could take another step, it caught mine briefly, narrowing.

I froze, momentarily transfixed.

I broke away first and continued toward the exit, unease tightening in my chest.

Whoever they were, they hadn’t come for the auction.

And that was my cue to leave.

My job here was done.

The night air brushed my skin as I stepped outside, finally letting loose as I sighed in relief. 

But just before I could hurl the next cab, I heard a voice.

“Ms. Alexis Brooks.”

I stopped.

“You’re under arrest.”