WHO AM I

INTO THE LIONS DEN

The lobby of the Grand Villa was even more luxurious than Lila imagined. Crystal chandeliers, marble floors, and gold accents everywhere—this wasn't just a hotel. It was a palace, and they were about to sneak in like clowns at a royal ball.

"Okay, why do I feel like we're about to get thrown out?" Jasper whispered as they entered, looking around nervously. "I'm not even sure I belong in this room, let alone in one of their fancy suites."

Lila adjusted her coat, trying to look more composed than she felt. "Just act like you belong, Jasper. Confidence is key."

"Easy for you to say. I look like I borrowed this jacket from my dad in 1985," he muttered, adjusting his ill-fitting blazer.

Kira, who looked stunning despite the last-minute outfit scramble, shot him a look. "Relax. You look... like you're trying really hard."

"That's supposed to be reassuring?" Jasper groaned.

Noah, ever the calm one, led the way to the front desk. "We'll just ask for a meeting room. Say we're waiting for someone important."

"Define important," Kira whispered. "Because if they ask who we're meeting, I'm going with 'the Queen of England.'"

"Perfect," Jasper added sarcastically. "I'm sure that'll fly."

They reached the front desk, and Noah flashed a polite smile. "Good afternoon. We're meeting someone in one of the private rooms. Can we have directions to the lounge area?"

The receptionist, a sharply dressed man with a clipboard, gave them a once-over. Lila could feel his eyes scanning each of them, and she felt her palms sweat.

"Certainly," he said, without much expression. "Would you like me to escort you there?"

"Oh, no need," Lila jumped in, trying to sound casual. "We've been here before."

The receptionist raised an eyebrow, but nodded, pointing them towards an elegant hallway on the right. "The lounge is that way."

As they made their way towards the lounge, Lila let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

"Well, that went better than expected," she whispered.

"Define 'better,'" Jasper mumbled. "I felt like I was going to pass out back there."

As they stepped into the plush lounge, the reality of the situation hit Lila. They were about to sneak around one of the most expensive hotels in the city, chasing a guy who was playing some twisted game with them.

"I feel like we're about to rob a bank," Kira whispered. "Should we, like, have codenames or something? I call 'Phoenix.'"

"Phoenix?" Jasper asked, raising an eyebrow. "Really? You're going with 'Phoenix?'"

"Well, yeah. It's cool and mysterious. What about you?"

"I'll be... 'The Jasper.'" He grinned.

Kira rolled her eyes. "Wow, you really put a lot of thought into that one."

Noah chuckled, shaking his head. "Focus, guys. We need to find out what Renzo is doing here."

Lila scanned the room, but there was no sign of Renzo. "He's got to be somewhere in this hotel. Maybe the penthouse?"

"You mean the place we absolutely have no access to?" Jasper asked, clearly nervous. "Yeah, great idea."

Noah's expression turned thoughtful. "We can get access if we're smart about it."

Kira's eyes widened. "Wait, are you seriously thinking about going up to the penthouse?"

"We need to find Renzo," Lila insisted. "We've come this far. We can't turn back now."

Jasper looked like he was going to protest, but Kira cut in. "Well, if we're doing this, I'm not going out like a coward. I say we take the elevator and just... pretend we're supposed to be there."

"And if someone asks what we're doing?" Jasper asked.

"Tell them we're here for the exclusive brunch buffet," Kira said with a smirk. "Rich people love brunch, right?"

They piled into the elevator, their nervous energy filling the small space. As the doors closed, Lila felt her heart race. This was a gamble, but they didn't have a choice. Renzo was hiding something big, and she needed to find out what it was.

As they reached the top floor, the doors opened with a soft ding. The penthouse hallway was eerily quiet, a sharp contrast to the luxurious chaos of the lobby below.

"Alright, time to be stealthy," Noah said, glancing around.

Jasper, clearly anxious, whispered, "I'm about as stealthy as an elephant in a china shop, just FYI."

They tiptoed down the hallway, passing several closed doors. As they reached the end, Lila noticed something strange. A door at the far end was slightly ajar. Her stomach did a flip.

"That's gotta be it," she whispered, pointing to the open door.

Noah nodded, motioning for them to follow him. They approached the door slowly, their nerves on high alert.

Lila pushed the door open a bit more, peeking inside. What she saw made her freeze.

Renzo was sitting at a table, casually sipping champagne. And across from him, a figure she never expected to see—Phillip. The two of them were laughing, as if they were old friends.

"What the—" Kira whispered.

Lila's mind raced. What was Phillip doing here with Renzo? And why did they seem so... comfortable?

Before they could make a move, Renzo looked up and spotted them. A slow, knowing smile spread across his face.

"Ah, there you are," Renzo said smoothly. "I was wondering when you'd finally catch up."

Lila's heart sank. They had walked right into his trap.

Renzo's game has only just begun, and now with Phillip involved, Lila and her friends are in deeper than they ever expected. What's the connection between Renzo and Phillip? And can they trust anyone at this point?