Invisible String

Chapter 1

Three years later...

The sound of sirens and gunshots welcomed April the second she stepped out of the airport. She tried to hide it but her smile showed that she was happy to be back after three years, even just for a few weeks.

"Hello? Yes, we're here. Thank you," she heard her best friend and assistant, Lucas, said on the phone.

April met him a week after she moved to Liberty City. When she met him, the man was a pure soul and didn't even drive past the speed limit. But being April's best friend, he learned to be more confident. They had their fair share of illegal adventures, like dealing drugs on the side while running a multi-million dollar business.

A black Rolls Royce pulled over in front of them just a few minutes after Lucas hung up the phone. The driver, wearing a black suit and tie, hopped out of the car and greeted them. She left her stuff with Lucas and the driver to put at the back of the car while she got in the car.

During the car ride, Lucas was on the phone handling the Liberty City business, being Pixel Perfect's CEO. For the past 3 years, April has worked hard to build her own business, with the help of Lucas and some friends she met.

Pixel Perfect is a company that sells polaroid cameras, which later became one of the biggest companies in Liberty City. Even without experience in dealing drugs, she also successfully built an empire that produces and sells every kind of illegal drug.

"Los Santos is nothing like Liberty City," Lucas uttered when they arrived at The Mond Hotel.

"Los Santos made Liberty City looks so peaceful," she chuckled and ordered the chauffeur to help them with their things. "By the way, Lucas, when is Ricardo coming here again?"

Lucas checked his phone and saw the date that April's stylist will be arriving in the city. "Next week, the 10th, to be exact," he answered as they were walking to the hotel's lobby.

She nodded and was about to say something, but got distracted by the giant screen in the beautiful hotel lobby. A brunette-haired woman's picture flashed on the screen with her title on the side.

Ray Michelle Mond
Owner and CEO, The Mond Realties

She smiled proudly seeing her gorl. Her son, Lil Bleach, had been updating her about Ray Mond and the rest of the gang, but seeing how successful her gorl-slash-sister was in her business made her happy. The hotel screamed of Ray Mond. The neutral colors of the minimalist interior and the statement furniture showed that Ray was hands-on in the business.

"Hi, reservation for Lucas Spade," her best friend told the front desk. "It should be the penthouse and one other room."

The woman at the front desk smiled at both of them. "Here you go, Mr. Spade," she said after typing and confirming their reservation, then handed them key cards. "That'll be room 2213, and the penthouse on the 25th floor."

"Thanks," Lucas responded and handed her his card.

After she registered his credit card, they were guided by one of the hotel staff to the elevator and their rooms.

"Thank you," she told the hotel staff when they reached the penthouse and he helped her with her luggage. He smiled and bowed at her before leaving to go back down.

April was in awe when she saw how beautiful the penthouse was. The big windows let all the light inside the room, and the neutral interior made the room seem so comfy. The framed picture on the bedside table caught her eye, which widened her smile. It was a picture of her and Ray, as Barney and Esteban.

She already guessed that it was her son who did that. Since April left Los Santos, Ray made sure to look after Lil Bleach, and with that, she had given him access to everything she owns.