Stone Rich: Her 1st Experience

Chapter Fourteen: Hidden Paths

Malaya's POV

Malaya sat up in bed, staring at the number the PI had given her. The quiet morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a soft glow around her, but her mind was anything but serene. It was filled with questions—about Sebastien, about Club Escape, about what she was really getting herself into. She chewed her lower lip, her thumb hovering over the keyboard before she finally typed the words:

"How to escape."

She hit send and sat back, her heart thudding loudly in the stillness of the room. This is insane, she thought. She was chasing shadows now, walking into unknown territory, and for what? To uncover Sebastien's secrets? Or to be closer to him in ways she couldn't quite admit to herself yet?

Seconds felt like hours as she stared at the phone, waiting for a reply. When the screen finally lit up, her breath caught.

"7pm Tonight. Wear Red."

She blinked at the message, her thoughts spinning. That was it? No other details? The simple yet cryptic nature of the response made her uneasy. Malaya quickly typed back, "Address?" Her pulse quickened as she waited for another response. Then, the phone buzzed again, but this time the message was colder:

"This number is not accepting calls or texts at this time."

"Seriously?" Malaya muttered, tossing the phone onto the bed in frustration. The abrupt end to the conversation only fueled her anxiety. But she wasn't the type to give up that easily. If Sebastien was tangled up in this somehow, then she needed to figure out how and why—and fast.

After a quick shower, she slipped into a sleek, tailored dress for work and headed out of her apartment. The crisp air outside greeted her as she exited the building, and despite the knot of tension in her stomach, she managed a smile at Daniel, her loyal driver.

"Good morning, Ms. Richardson," he greeted her as she climbed into the back seat.

"Morning, Daniel," she replied, but her mind was already elsewhere. The whole drive she debated whether to ask him. Did he know anything about Club Escape? After all, Daniel had been working for her long enough to pick up on things that might fly under her radar.

Finally, she broke the silence. "Daniel," she said, catching his eyes in the rearview mirror. "Do you know where Club Escape is?"

The question seemed to catch him off guard. His brow furrowed slightly as he answered, "Yes... I've heard of it." His tone was hesitant, unsure. "It's a private members-only club. Why do you ask?"

She could feel the weight of his curiosity but didn't want to explain too much. "I just need the address," she replied smoothly, offering a reassuring smile to ease his concern. "Write it down for me?"

He hesitated for a moment but nodded. "Of course." When they arrived at her office, he handed her a folded slip of paper with the address on it. She thanked him, tucking it into her purse.

As she stepped out of the car, her mind began to race again. She had the time, the place, and now the address. A plan was slowly forming in her mind. She wasn't sure what she was walking into, but tonight, she'd find out.

Sebastien's POV

Sebastien woke to the familiar pounding of a hangover, his head resting against the sticky bar counter, the scent of spilled whiskey heavy in the air. With a groan, he lifted his head and blinked, trying to clear his fuzzy vision. He was still at the bar, apparently having spent the night there. Jack was nowhere to be seen, but the bottle of water and packet of Advil placed roughly beside him told him that his friend hadn't gone far.

He grabbed the water and pills without hesitation, popping the Advil and swallowing them in one go. The cold water was like heaven on his dry throat. As he rubbed his temples, Jack appeared, sliding into the booth next to him with a knowing look.

"You've got it bad, man," Jack said, his tone filled with humor, though his eyes held a note of sympathy.

Sebastien groaned, resting his head back against the wall. "Don't remind me." He couldn't get Malaya out of his head—her fiery attitude, her strength, the way she pushed back against him. She was nothing like he had anticipated, and it was driving him insane. This was supposed to be a business move, but now it was becoming personal.

Just as Sebastien was about to respond, Jack's phone buzzed on the table. Jack glanced at it, and a frown creased his brow as he read the message aloud: "How to escape."

Sebastien's head snapped up at the words. A sudden sense of foreboding washed over him. Could it be her? His heart rate quickened.

"What is it?" Sebastien asked, already knowing the answer, but needing confirmation.

Jack turned the screen toward him. "Looks like someone's looking for answers," Jack muttered.

Sebastien's stomach twisted. His mind immediately went to Malaya—how she was smart enough, relentless enough to dig deeper into his world. "I bet it's her," Sebastien said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Jack raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched across his face. "You think so?"

"There's no one else it could be," Sebastien muttered, rubbing a hand over his face. He felt a mix of excitement and dread. If Malaya was getting this close, it meant she wasn't backing down—but it also meant things were about to get a lot more complicated.

"Well," Jack said, leaning back in his seat with a casual shrug. "There's only one way to find out." He quickly typed back a response: "7pm Tonight. Wear Red."

Sebastien watched the message get sent, his mind already spinning. Tonight would either be the turning point in his plan—or the moment everything fell apart.

As he stared at the phone in Jack's hand, a realization settled in his chest. Malaya wasn't just a target anymore. She was a threat to his carefully laid plans—and worse, she was becoming a threat to his control.

And Sebastien hated losing control.