Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
chapter THIRTY SIX partners, maybe .
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
ahliya sat in the dim corner booth of a high-end café, sunglasses perched on her nose despite being indoors. the cappuccino in front of her had long gone cold, untouched since the waitress had set it down nearly an hour ago. she was waiting, checking the time on her phone with a sigh, irritation bubbling just beneath the surface.
a discreet buzz drew her attention to the door. there he was, strolling in with the kind of charm that could disarm anyone but her. ahliya crossed her arms, leaning back in her seat as he approached.
"you're late," she said sharply, her voice laced with annoyance.
they slid into the booth across from her, flashing a grin that did little to placate her mood. "traffic," they said smoothly, motioning to the waitress for a coffee. "you look as radiant as ever, ahliya."
she rolled her eyes. "cut the crap. we're not here to exchange pleasantries."
"right to business," they mused, leaning forward. "that's what i like about you."
ahliya gave them a withering glare but pushed her phone across the table toward them. "here. as promised."
they picked it up, playing the video. on the screen, mason's voice rang out, sharp and angry, though the words were somewhat muffled. the shot wasn't perfect, but it captured enough: mason yelling into his phone, gesturing wildly, his frustration palpable.
"and that's just the good part," ahliya said, smirking. "there's plenty more where that came from."
they watched the video intently, nodding as they set the phone down. "you weren't kidding. this is gold. the fans will eat it up."
"i don't care about the fans," she snapped, leaning closer. "this isn't about them. this is about making him pay."
"oh, i know," they replied, their voice calm, calculated. "but let's not get sloppy. we need the timing to be perfect. too soon, and it won't have the same impact."
ahliya raised a brow. "you sound like you've done this before."
they shrugged nonchalantly, taking a sip of the coffee the waitress placed in front of them. "let's just say i know a thing or two about timing."
