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       ***EMILY GRAYSON'S ***

Jack, do you even know what today is?” I shot back, the bitterness evident in my voice.

His brow furrowed as he tilted his head, confusion swirling in his eyes. “It’s our one-year anniversary in this relationship… I said

Fuck,” he muttered, realization dawning on him. “I forgot.

Jack, just get out. It’s over,” I said, a resolute finality in my tone. My heart was breaking, but I couldn’t allow myself to be swayed by his presence.

“Baby, you can’t just end our relationship over a silly mistake,” he insisted, his desperation morphing into a plea.

“Silly mistake? Are you fucking kidding me right now?” I exclaimed, feeling anger bubble up like lava ready to erupt. “You think cheating on me with your secretary is just a silly mistake? How could you even say that?”

He looked momentarily taken aback by my yell. Yes, I have never yelled at him before. 

The shock was evident on his face. “Since when?” I countered, my voice rising again slightly.

“Since when have you been sleeping with your secretary?” I pressed, my voice a mixture of hurt and fury. It felt surreal that we were even having this conversation—like we were two strangers grappling with the fallout of hypocrisy and betrayal.

“Emily, please,” he said, moving closer to me, his hands reaching out to cup my face as if he could erase the pain with a touch. “I swear to you, it won’t happen again. It was a mistake.”

I flinched at his touch, instinctively pulling away from his grip. “I don’t want to hear it. Just open the door and leave,” I told him, struggling to keep my voice steady, to not let the cracks of hurt show through.

“We are done,” I stated, the finality of my words hanging heavily between us.

“Baby, I completely understand that you're feeling angry right now, and I recognize that your emotions are running high. Perhaps the best course of action is to allow you to rest and sleep it off. Let's take some time to cool down and revisit this conversation tomorrow, when you're feeling calmer and more at ease. Until then, take care of yourself. Goodnight, and I want you to know that I love you.”

With a stunned expression etched on my face, I found myself watching him walk out of my life, leaving the door ajar as he made his quiet exit from my appointment. The weight of his words hung heavily in the air, filling the space with an uncomfortable tension.

“Unbelievable. Rest and sleep it off.” did he just fucking say that..

      _____________________________

         ****ALEXANDER'S ANTONIO'S***

My hand rested under my chin, my fingers tapping my lip as I waited. I was getting more impatient by the second. I sat upright and rubbed my hands together, looking at the man across from me. His arms were bound tightly to the wooden chair he was forced into; his face was cut and bruised, with dried blood staining his dark tanned skin. I may have given him a slight beating. I wasn't afraid to get my hands dirty.

"I'm not going to ask again: what did you do with the money you stole?" I spoke slowly.

The man chuckled hoarsely. "Do you think I would tell you? I don't know where it is, and even if I did, I wouldn't tell you." He looked at me with a mad glimmer in his eyes, a sight I did not like.

"Very well." I pulled out a gun from my belt and held it to the man's forehead. "I don't like repeating myself." I clicked the trigger, and he was instantly dead. His head hung to the side as blood poured out of the gaping hole in his skull. I placed the gun back in my belt and turned around to see Raphael staring at me, his brow raised.

"What are your plans now?" he inquired, absently rubbing the faint stubble lining his jaw, a nervous habit of his. I turned my gaze towards him, a playful smirk creeping onto my lips. “Now… let’s head out and enjoy ourselves,” I replied, the hint of mischief in my voice. With those words hanging in the air, I turned on my heels and made my way out of the dimly lit warehouse, the atmosphere charged with anticipation. I ambled towards my sleek black 2020 Toyota GR Supra sports car, its polished exterior gleaming under the flickering fluorescent lights of the parking lot. The sound of Raphael’s chuckle followed me, echoing behind me, a sign of his approval and willingness to join in on the adventure.

Once inside the car, we settled into the luxurious leather seats, which wrapped around us like a warm embrace. I reached into the inner pocket of my tailored suit, withdrawing a pack of cigarettes.I pulled one from the pack and offered the remaining to Raphael, who eagerly took one for himself. With deft fingers, he produced a sleek lighter from his own pocket, igniting the small flame before bringing it to his cigarette, then returning the favor by lighting mine. The warm glow of the lighter illuminated our faces for a fleeting moment, capturing the camaraderie shared between us.