Veiled Vendetta

CHAPTER NINE

Luiz and Alex stood at the forefront as the others arrived. Nina approached Izzy, draping her arms over Izzy's shoulder, and inquired, 'Why didn't you join us? You could have come with Jade.' Izzy flashed a smile and responded, 'I had some stuff to do for Mom anyway. Come on, let's head upstairs.' Together, they took the elevator up, and Blake remarked, 'Izzy, your apartment is on top.' Izzy nodded with a smile, 'Yeah, Dad got me the largest one in the building.'

Upon entering, Jay observed the spaciousness, saying, 'Izzy, this is not an apartment, it's a penthouse.' Izzy chuckled, 'I don't know, they call this an apartment.' Alex, considering the difference of City W, mentioned, 'Living here is very different.' Luiz agreed, 'Indeed, take a look around.' Jade suggested, 'We should ask our parents to move here to City W.' Izzy paused, reflecting on her own family's preference for houses, 'Our parents prefer houses. It's better to have something we can call our own.'

Privately, Izzy mused, 'Can't believe I'm saying this when the whole city is practically owned by my family.' Aloud, she continued, 'I don't live alone; usually, I'm with my parents. I have roommates here. They look after the apartment for me.' She called out to the other twins, 'JD, GD, come and meet my friends.' JD and GD emerged from the CCTV room, greeting the others. Soon, they all got acquainted, preparing dinner together.

While they were having dinner, Blake and Jay suggested having a sleepover. Izzy agreed, acknowledging, "I wouldn't have been able to prepare the food without JD and GD." JD humorously chimed in, "We're the chefs around here. Izzy doesn't know her way around the kitchen." Izzy laughed and replied, "That's true. I've got the best cooks at my service."

Curious about JD and GD's arrival, Luiz inquired, "How did you all meet?" Izzy of course didn't want to say 'Oh, My dad hired them to work under me and my brother. Also, they are former criminals so, they are very talented and dangerous at the same time.'. She replies "I was exploring the city after moving into my apartment, and they were also looking for a place. I suggested they help me maintain the apartment and become roommates. They're a bit older than me, but we get along just fine."

As the conversation moved forward, the group seemed to accept Izzy's explanation. However, the expressions on JD and GD's faces suggested they were privy to a different truth, hidden behind polite nods and smiles. JD and GD exchanged a glance, silently acknowledging Izzy's skillful storytelling ability.

After dinner, the group lounged on the sofa and engaged in casual conversation. As they chatted, Luiz noticed Izzy seemed lost in thought and asked, 'Izzy, what's on your mind?' Izzy responded with a nonchalant 'Oh, just random thoughts.'

Evy, sensing something might be bothering Izzy, gently encouraged, 'If something's bothering you, feel free to share, Izzy.' Izzy nodded, contemplating her next words carefully. 'I saw a couple of men wandering around the city a few days ago. They were dressed similarly.'

JD and GD exchanged a knowing glance, understanding Izzy's covert intention. Jade inquired, 'What were they up to?' Izzy shrugged, saying, 'Just walking around as if searching for something.' Eve speculated, 'They're probably affiliated with some business, scouting around.'

Blake, puzzled, asked, 'But why would they be looking around City W?' Izzy continued, 'I couldn't tell much, but I overheard some shop owners talking about them. They mentioned a common ring these guys wore, engraved with something.' Glancing at the twins, she prodded, 'Do you remember what was on the ring?'

GD paused, feigning contemplation, 'I recall it had DAAHQ engraved.' Alex chimed in, 'Some big companies provide their employees with accessories, granting special access or authority.'

Jay, suddenly struck by a memory, interrupted, 'DAAHQ on a ring... Jade, remember when we went to that project visit with Mom?'

Jade interjected, 'They were all in black suits.' Jay nodded, recalling, 'Yeah, and they had rings on too. The company was the Avenue Company.' Izzy raised an eyebrow, 'Avenue company? I've never heard of them.'

Luiz, adding his insights, mentioned, 'They haven't gained much attention in the market. As far as I know, they're into mall construction. They even approached my dad once for investment, but he wasn't interested.'

Izzy shrugged, easing up, 'Well, now that I know, I won't be overly concerned about it.' As everyone began feeling sleepy, the boys headed to the twin's room, and the girls settled down for the night in Izzy's room.

In a bustling classroom, Izzy sat quietly, familiar with the chaos that erupted whenever the boys made their grand entrance. Their boisterous arrival hardly fazed her anymore; she was content within her circle, mainly spending time with Nina and a close group of friends. She didn't seek connections beyond this circle, nor did others try to breach her guarded space.

One day, as the chatter in the room elevated, Izzy noticed Nina arriving with Blake, his arm draped casually around her shoulders. They were followed by a cluster of others, converging around Izzy. It was a moment of familiarity, a comforting sense of protection that she found in her newfound companions. This group had become her shield, and she held them close, ready to stand by them no matter what.