เข้าสู่ระบบGISELLE.I walked out of the bathroom to find that chaos had ruptured the ballroom. There were echoes of ambulance sirens and paramedics swarming into the elevators that led to the rooftop. Guests were restive, chatting and pushing against the crowds to find the nearest exit. I turned around with my heart in my throat. "What's happening?" I caught the arm of a reporter, whom I'd recognized from the press stand earlier. "I don't know but I think someone's been shot!" She replied and before I could say another word, she wriggled out of my grasp. "Shocked?" My voice went low. I pulled out my phone, gritting my teeth. "Fucking Donna." She'd told me she had a plan but not that anyone was going to be hurt. I looked around for Nicholas but he was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Hazel. They could've been on the rooftop. They could've been the ones injured!I rushed towards the elevator before I stopped by a paramedic. "Ma'am, I'm afraid you can't go any further." He warned but I was panic
NICHOLAS.I saw Giselle when she walked into the room. For a moment, our eyes met and given how we left our last conversation, I knew we needed to talk so I found a place just behind the bar. Just the two of us."One for you, one for me." I brought her a glass of wine too, sipping my own whiskey. She looked up at me and Josef was about to excuse himself when he asked."Where is she?" He had taken my advice to tell Hazel he was leaving but I hadn't seen her in a while. "I think she's outside." I replied him. When he left, I took the chair next to Giselle. She was determined not to make eye contact again which was fair. Her hating me was justifiable. "I don't drink." She hissed, a lie."Since when?""I don't want to talk to you, Nicholas." She rolled her eyes with a stone-cold expression on her face. I couldn't blame her. She could punch me in the face in that moment and still, I wouldn't blame her."But you came here, Giselle." I replied calmly. She didn't say anything for a moment.
HAZEL.Warm blood soaked through my fingers faster than I could stop it."No, no, no—stay with me!" I yelled. My voice cracked violently as I pressed both hands against the wound in his stomach, but the blood kept slipping between them. He winced beneath me, gasping for breath out of his mouth. The gunshot still echoed in my head.One second he was standing next to me and the next. Bang.He collapsed in my hands and I feared it was too late now.THREE HOURS EARLIER. "You look gorgeous," Nicholas complimented, his hands reaching around to help with the zip of my emerald dress. It was a custom-made midi with a high-cut leg. Silky smooth and draped in its wet luscious color. Nicholas had handpicked this dress. He had an admirable sense of style thanks to the many women he'd been with in the past. I sucked in air, keeping my thoughts to myself."As always." He whispered, drawing up the zip with his hands and his heated breaths crashed into the back of my neck. After a moment, Nicholas
NICHOLAS.The moment I walked into my office, Josef was already waiting for me. Even though I didn’t tell Hazel he had texted me earlier. I sat behind my desk, wondering what he wanted to talk about so urgently before the dinner party tonight.It was then that he placed a piece of paper on the table and I looked back and forth between his cold expression and the thin paper. “Josef?” I called. Of course, it wasn’t what I thought it was. At that moment, he stood in his army green turtle neck, fitting his hands into his trousers. “Aren’t you supposed to be prepping for the party tonight?” I asked, wedging my hand underneath my chin. “About that…” He cleared his throat. “I’d like you to review my resignation, effective from Monday.” He said and I gulped a hard lump down my throat.Josef had worked at Pearson’s for as long as I could remember, he’d been employed first at the Milan branch where slowly with diligence and expertise, he climbed up the corporate ladder. I knew he’d make a com
HAZEL. "Oh My God!""I can't find my phone," I exclaimed, patting down my empty pockets and searching around the room to no avail. I had dressed up, ready to meet Evelyn later that day to get a few more of my things, see my aunt, and hopefully try to talk to her too. It had only been a few days but time away from my best friend felt like forever. "Nicholas!" I called out to him. "Nicholas have you seen my phone?" I ruffled the pillow and the bedsheets. He didn't respond. "Where in God's name is he?" I walked out of the room down the stairs till I got to the parlor. And there he was, sitting next to Elizabeth and Ryan with a game console in their hands. The air was light and my kids were screaming and chuckling with Nicholas Vaughn. There was a huge smile across his face, usually so stoic and emotionless. And I couldn't remember the last time I saw the twins this happy. I clung to the corridor doors, a smile warming its way to my lips. I wasn't sure how long I stood there, watching
EVELYN.I resumed work the next day like nothing had happened. The hours went by fast and luckily, I didn’t run into James or Peter. Nor the handsome man I’d slept with the last night whose name I didn’t even know. Each time I closed my eyes, I had to pretend like I wasn’t plagued with heated flashes. But as much as I wanted to, I knew I was never seeing him again. The bar closed a little past midnight and I walked out of the exit, straight into my car. Sliding the key into the ignition, I tried to start the engine but it only made a clicking sound. “Fuck!” I cussed, looking into the mirror. The car wasn’t starting. I’d had this 1964 Ford Mustang for as long as I could remember, passed down from my grandfather before he passed away. An old vintage maroon colored car that had its fair share of issues.“Don’t do this to me Isla,” I had a name for her. I slammed my hands against the steering wheel, trying to start the car a couple more times before finally coming out. It was 12:30AM a







