LOGINMaya’s POVI ran beside Liam through the dark city streets with my heart pounding hard in my chest. Sirens sounded far behind us. Mr. Havisham’s men had found our last safe spot. Lights from passing cars flashed across our faces. My legs burned but I kept moving, Liam held my hand tight. His grip felt strong and sure.“Stay low, Maya,” Liam said quick. “We cannot stop now. The old hotel is two blocks away. It is empty and hidden. We will be safe there for the night.”I nodded fast. My breath came short. “They are getting closer,” I replied. “I heard footsteps. What if they catch us? The children, Liam. We cannot let them win.”Liam pulled me into a narrow alley. Trash bags lined the walls. We pressed against the cold bricks. “They will not catch us,” he answered. “I know these streets better than them. Breathe slow, we move when it is clear.”We waited a moment. The sound of running feet passed the alley entrance. My body shook against his. Liam kissed my forehead quick. “You are brav
Maya’s POVI ran through the pouring rain with my clothes sticking to my skin, the alley smelled of wet concrete and old trash. Water ran down my face mixing with my tears as I spotted Liam waiting under a broken street light. His messy dark hair clung to his forehead, his sharp eyes looked worried when he saw me. I stopped a few steps away, my chest rose and fell fast from running.“Liam, tell me the truth right now,” I said, my voice shaking with the cold and the pain. “Elena showed me the hospital papers. Sarah’s baby. It was yours. Not Havisham’s. You never told me. All this time you held me and promised to protect me. Was that a lie too?”Liam stepped closer, rain dripped from his jacket as he reached for my arm. “Maya, please listen,” he replied, his hand felt warm even in the storm. “I did not know at first. Sarah and I had one night before she got deeper with him. She told me about the baby later. I tried to get her out but Havisham found out. I never meant for any of this to
Maya’s POVI woke up in the small dark room with my phone full of notifications. The screen lit up again and again. My hands shook as I opened the messages. Tabloids had my name everywhere now, headlines screamed about the masked party video. Pictures showed my face clear, my dress high on my thighs. Pleasure written all over me. Comments called me terrible names. Gold digger, whore, office slut. I read some and felt sick inside.Tears came fast. I wiped them away and stood up. The underground safe house felt cold and lonely. Liam had brought me here last night after the leak. I could not go back to my apartment. Too many cameras waited outside. I packed my small bag quick and checked the window, no one seemed to follow me today.I slipped out the back door and walked fast through quiet streets. My hood stayed up over my dark curly hair. People on the sidewalk looked at their phones. Some pointed when they saw me. I hurried faster. Elena had sent a message earlier. We needed to meet a
Maya’s POVI sat in the back of Mr. Havisham’s car with my hands shaking around the small recorder. The device felt slippery in my palm. My heart beat so loud I could hear it in my ears. The confession about Sarah had been there just seconds ago. Now the file showed only errors and broken audio. I pressed every button I could find. Nothing worked right.“Sir, can you drop me near my apartment?” I asked in a soft voice. “I feel tired after the café. I need rest before more work.”Mr. Havisham glanced at me in the mirror. His eyes looked sharp and suspicious. “You seem nervous, Maya,” he replied. “Did something happen in that back room? You know better than to hide things from me.”I forced a small smile. “No, sir,” I said quick. “Just the public stares. They make me anxious. I will be ready for the office tomorrow. I promise.”He nodded but did not look convinced. The car slowed near a busy street corner. “Get out here,” he ordered. “My men will watch you. Do not do anything stupid, pe
Maya’s POVI sat frozen in the café booth with Chloe beside me. My heart raced so fast I thought it might burst. Mr. Havisham stood there in his expensive suit. His three armed security men blocked the way. Everyone in the café stared at us. Phones pointed in our direction. Whispers started right away. Chloe grabbed my hand under the table. Her fingers felt cold and tight.“Maya, do not go with him,” Chloe whispered fast. “We can call for help. This is too much.”Mr. Havisham smiled that calm dangerous smile. He reached out and took my arm in a strong grip. “Come, my personal assistant,” he said loudly for everyone to hear. “We have urgent business. You know how I hate delays in the office.”I stood up on shaky legs. My body felt weak from fear. “Sir, please,” I replied softly. “Not here. People are watching.”He pulled me closer. His fingers dug into my arm. “That is the point,” he answered. “They should see who you belong to. Now move.”Chloe tried to stand too but one security man
Maya’s POVI walked into the small café with my heart beating fast in my chest. The place smelled like fresh coffee and sweet pastries. I spotted Chloe in the corner booth. She wore a simple blue sweater and her blonde hair was tied back neat. Her eyes looked red like she had been crying too. I took a deep breath and sat down across from her. My hands felt cold on the wooden table.“Chloe, thank you for coming,” I said softly. “I know you are angry and I understand why. The videos, everything, it looks so bad.”Chloe stared at me for a long moment. Her fingers twisted a napkin on the table. Tears already shone in her eyes. “Bad?” she replied. Her voice shook a little. “Maya, I saw you with my dad. Bent over his desk like some kind of toy. How could you do that to me? To our friendship? I trusted you more than anyone.”I felt tears burn my own eyes. I reached out but stopped before touching her hand. “It started because I needed the job so badly,” I explained. “My family business was d
Maya’s POVThe voice on the phone counted down in my head. Ten seconds. I stared at the video of me and Mr Havisham on his desk. My body bent over. His thrusts. Everything clear and loud. Liam stood right beside me with his hand reaching for the phone. My finger shook above the send button.“Do not
Maya’s POVLiam stood very close to me outside the apartment building. His sharp eyes looked straight into mine. “Then I am coming with you,” he said again. “You are not going to that warehouse alone tonight.”My heart beat so fast I felt dizzy. The money from Mr Havisham felt heavy in my bag. If I
Maya’s POVThe loud knocking on my door made me jump. Liam’s voice sounded shocked and hurt. “Maya! Open the door right now! What the hell is this video? Who are those men?”I sat on the floor shaking. Tears ran down my warm brown skin. I sent the video like the blackmailers wanted. Now Liam saw ev
Maya’s POVMy phone screen glowed bright in the dark hallway. Five minutes. The message said I had only five minutes to delete everything or Liam would see the terrible video from the warehouse. My hand shook so bad I almost dropped the phone. Liam stood right in front of me waiting for answers.“M







