chapter 12

Amaira snuggled under the blankets, her eyelids growing heavy as she prepared for a well-deserved rest. The soft glow of her phone on the nightstand caught her attention, and she reached for it, assuming it was a reply from Raven.As she unlocked the screen, her heart skipped a beat. A message from Scar Boss, the man who had controlled her every move, glared back at her. His words sent a shiver down her spine:"Amaira, get out of the mansion NOW. Take the first black car in the garage and drive to the Hotel Eclipse. Room 69. Don't bother asking questions. You'll regret it if you're late."Amaira's mind reeled as she read the message again and again, trying to make sense of it. Scar Boss had always been strict, never allowing her to leave the mansion. But now, he was ordering her to venture out alone, to a hotel room, no less. The contradiction was jarring.A wave of fear washed over her as she contemplated the possibilities. What could Scar Boss want from her? Why the sudden change in behavior? The more she thought about it, the more her confusion deepened.Amaira's eyes darted around the darkening room, as if searching for answers in the shadows. She felt trapped, unsure of what to do next. A part of her screamed to disobey Scar Boss, to refuse to play along with his mysterious game. But another part, the part that had been conditioned to obey him without question, urged her to comply.With a sense of trepidation, Amaira threw off the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She knew she had to make a decision, and fast. The clock on her nightstand seemed to tick away with an ominous urgency, reminding her that Scar Boss was not a man to be kept waiting.***As she stepped out of the elevator on the third floor, Amaira's heart was racing. She walked down the hallway, her eyes scanning the room numbers.Finally, she stopped in front of room 69. But she was surprised even further. There were two rooms facing each other which had the number '69'. What shall she do now? She had to make a quick decision to which room to enter. She had to try one of the rooms. Amaira took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. She turned left and moved the door handle. With a mechanic click, she realised that it was unlocked.She pushed the door open, her eyes scanning the dimly lit room. The air was thick with the scent of candles and something else...something sweet and intoxicating.As she stepped inside, her gaze fell upon the bed, where the sheets seemed to be moving of their own accord. A shiver ran down her spine. Something didn't feel right. This wasn't what she had expected. Scar Boss's message had been cryptic, but she had assumed it was some kind of test or meeting.Amaira's instincts screamed at her to leave, to get out of there as fast as she could. But her feet seemed rooted to the spot. She was frozen in a mix of fear and curiosity.Just as she was about to turn and make a hasty exit, a figure emerged from the tangled sheets. Amaira's heart skipped a beat as the man slowly turned to face her. At first, she saw only his broad back, the muscles rippling beneath his skin. But as he turned, his face came into view, and Amaira's world came crashing down.It was Raven. The man she had given her heart to. The man she thought she knew.But it was what - or rather, who - was beside him that made Amaira's blood run cold. Her friend, Raya, lay tangled in the sheets, a look of guilt and shame etched on her face.Amaira felt like she had been punched in the gut. The room began to spin, and she stumbled backward, her hand grasping for the door handle. She needed to get out of there, to escape the toxic reality that had just been revealed to her.But as she turned to flee, Raven's voice stopped her. "Amaira, wait..."Raven and Raya scrambled to their feet, their faces guilty. "Amaira, please listen—" Raven began as he tried to put on some clothes.But Amaira didn't want to listen. She didn't want to hear their excuses or their justifications. She simply turned and walked out of the room."Amaira, wait!" Raven called out, but Amaira didn't stop. She was in the corridor now about to walk away, when Raven grabbed her.Raven's eyes pleaded for forgiveness as he said, "Amyra, I know I messed up. It was a mistake, it just happened. I was drunk, I wasn't thinking..."Amaira's mind reeled as she stared at Raven. She felt like she'd been living in a dream, and suddenly, everything had shattered. The memories of their time together, the laughter, the whispers of forever – all of it now seemed like a lie. She felt a wave of nausea wash over her, followed by a chill that ran down her spine. Her heart ached, her soul felt crushed."How could you?" she whispered, her voice trembling.Raven took a step closer, his hands reaching out. "Amaira, please –"But Amaira's words cut him off like a knife. "You're not even sorry, are you? You're just sorry you got caught."Raven's face reddened, and he spat out the words, "Fine. If you want the truth, I never loved you. I was bored, and you were convenient. And as for my mistake... it wasn't a mistake. It was Raya. I've been in love with her since the beginning."Amaira's eyes widened, and her world came crashing down."Don't think too highly of yourself." He continued, "I got close to you only for the sake of Raya. I was with you only cause I was pity and this was also the way to get into the life of Raya. At first I thought it would be hard to get her, but who would have thought that the thought of YOU having a boyfriend would make up her mind to give me a chance."Amaira was baffled. A slight rustle brought her attention to the door where Raya stood, her hands folded and her sexy attire slightly unorganised. "Raya, is he right?" Amaira's eyes pleaded. Her boyfriend (ex-boyfriend whom she loved) had betrayed her. It broke her heart. But the thought of her friend's betrayal was shattering her soul.There was an unexpected grin in Raya's face. "So how did you like my surprise little besty. I hope you liked it. It's indeed satisfying to see you in this state. From the day you came to London, you have been replacing me in everything. I have my own ego. I can't see an orphan making more money than me. But now I am happy. I have a better life than you. At least my boyfriend or bestfriend didn't betray me. Or at least I wasn't a slave working for a criminal." Her sinister laugh echoed the corridors...