ONELIA
˚⋅˖* ⊱❀⊰ *˖⋅˚
It's been two days since that conversation with that egotistical blonde bitch, and now I'm stuck with her stone-faced guard-whom Kendra can't stop gushing over-and a father who's in a comatose state, leaving me without any answers.
Scratching my head in exhaustion, I flip through the files in my father's office but still find nothing. Plopping down helplessly in his chair, I spin around while Kendra, sitting beside me, continues to look around, finding everything fascinating since it's her first time in his office.
"Oh wow, your dad has a lot of books about entrepreneurship," she says, smiling at me while holding a book.
"Yeah, and yet he still lies like... like..." I struggle to find the words to compare him to, but nothing comes.
"Like a cat claiming it wasn't the one who knocked over the vase while standing in the shards of glass?" she finishes, sitting on the desk, and we both break into laughter.
However, the laughter is cut short by a sigh that escapes my lips. "Still, I don't think there's a way out of this unless I let my father die."
And I wouldn't let that happen in any form or way.
Kendra's expression falters, her mood shifting to one of determination. "No matter what happens, we'll figure it out." She steps closer, jumping off the desk to wrap me in a tight hug. Yet, even in that moment, I can't bring myself to cry or smile still trapped in the weight of the situation I'm in.
For now, I can't do anything but accept it. Maybe, just maybe, in the future, my father will wake up, and I'll finally get answers from him.
"But you know what's one thing you can do?" Kendra pulls away slightly and looks me dead in the eyes.
"What?" I question, tilting my head.
"Make her suffer," she says as she fully releases her hold on me.
"What do you mean?" I ask again, still confused by what she's saying.
"It's plain obvious. The contract, from what you told me, says you can't be tortured, and they can't kill youonly your father." She grins, and you'd have to be blind not to see how proud she is at this moment of realization.
Then it clicks. She's right. Yet, it only adds more questions about why they need me.
"You're right." A smirk forms on my lips. "I mean, it's only fair, right?"
"Right!" she cheers. "Now, as your first act of defiance, you need to come to Vegas with me for that party!"
Her words instantly cut my joy in half.
"No," I say sternly. "You've been asking me to go way before all this, and my answer is no."
"Come on, it'll be fun!" She grabs my hands, urging me, but I can't just up and leave my father, who's in a coma, to go to some party.
Even after all he's done...
"One night," she says, cupping the left side of my face, pity slowly covering her features. "One more night where you can have fun..."
One night where I have control until I don't. Is it worth it?
"Come on," she pleads. "You'll look extra stunning too, and it's a masquerade as well!" She shakes me a bit, almost on the verge of tears.
"Okay," I say, finally giving in to her temptations.
Her eyes light up with surprise and excitement as she grabs my hands and pulls me off to my room to pack. Opening the door, she crashes into Law and looks up to meet his onyx gaze. Shock spreads across his face for a moment, but it quickly returns to its usual serious, hardened expression.
"Sorry, miss." He bows, and Kendra can only look at him.
Clearing my throat, I cut their little moment short. "Law, I'm getting ready to go to a party in Las Vegas. If you need to get stuff, please do so." It takes him a few seconds for his eyes to finally leave Kendra and meet mine.
"Right." He nods quickly, and instead of being the one pulled, I drag Kendra along as she can't take her eyes off Law.
"Law Graves," she mumbles under her breath, but I can hear her. "What a man..."
Shaking my head, I yank her to look forward. "Stop gushing over my guard. Remember, the enemy's bodyguard," I remind her, and the spark of determination rekindles inside her.
"Yeah! The enemy!" she shouts a bit too loudly. "But..." Her voice softens as she smushes closer to me. "We're going to Vegas!"
Right... Vegas.
The dazzling lights, towering buildings, and bustling streets filled with people donning outfits of every kind-Vegas is a city where casinos sprout like trees and fortunes are gambled away with ease. It's a place everyone dreams of visiting or hopes to experience at least once in their otherwise ordinary lives.
And you know what? Part of me is happy and excited for a night of fun.
As I step out of the car, my shoes touch down on the pristine pavement of one of the finest hotel entrances, the grandeur of the moment settling over me. My eyes scan the sign at the top displaying the name "Val Hotel," the only six-star hotel this place holds. Thanks to Kendra's father's obvious influence, we successfully booked it.
Though Kendra might not look like it, she's the daughter of Kingston Everly, one of the greatest painters in the country. The only reason she's working for us is because of her stubbornness and the feud she had with her father, causing her to work at a restaurant until her admission into Sigil College.
Coming out of the car behind me, she walks up beside me and whispers into my ear, "What, are you ready to back out already?"
"No, let's go in," I reply, holding back my excitement.
"Alright, remember," she says, turning to me before we enter the glass doors. All types of people of class and grandeur walk in to get their booked rooms. "We are here to have fun, so have fun, and don't mind the money. I've got us covered." She pulls out her black Amex card.
"Okay." I smile as Law walks up behind us with our luggage.
We move to the line of people, waiting for our turn. When we finally reach the desk, the receptionist greets us.
"Good day, miss. May I ask what room you booked?"
"Room 18," Kendra says, holding out her card.
The receptionist checks and frowns. "It seems the room is already booked."
"What do you mean? I booked that room a while ago," Kendra says, confusion evident.
"Well, I'm sorry, ma'am." The receptionist's gaze turns nasty as it finds mine, and I swear to god I hear a scoff escape her lips. "And it seems this hotel isn't suited for people like you." She whispers, and I hear it clear as day, but it seems Kendra doesn't
"Excuse me?" My brow arches.
"Are there any other rooms available?" Kendra questions.
But without even checking, the receptionist shakes her head. Kendra clenched her fist, her voice keeping her formalities.
"Look here, we don't have time to waste on pitiful creatures like yourself. I booked a room, and I will get a room."
Oh wow... This is my first time hearing her speak like this.
"Is that so?" the receptionist retorts with a confident grin. "Security!" she yells, waving over the squad.
All eyes in the lobby turn to us. One of the guards reaches for my arm, but before Law can react, a low and steady voice cuts through the chaos.
"If you don't want to lose it, then don't touch what doesn't belong to you."
I know that voice.