CHAPTER SEVEN
1210 Words
City Club – VIP Lounge (Night)
Dim lights. Low music. A private world above the chaos.
Ryan sat alone on the couch, a glass untouched in his hand.
His mind wasn’t in the room.
Last night replayed in fragments.
The party.
The whispers.
Rosette collapsing.
Her burning skin.
His jaw tightened.
Who did it?
Then—
Another memory surfaced.
A voice.
“Maybe I’ll see you at the party.”
Ryan’s eyes darkened.
His phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered immediately.
“You said you’d be at the party.”
A soft laugh echoed through the line.
“I was.”
A pause.
“You just didn’t see me.”
Ryan frowned slightly.
Then the voice continued—
“Did you like my little gift?”
Ryan’s grip tightened.
“…Gift?”
A quiet chuckle.
“Rosette.”
A beat.
“Your red rose.”
Ryan’s expression turned cold.
“You drugged her.”
Silence.
Then—
“You didn’t spend the night together?”
A mocking tone.
“What a waste.”
Ryan’s anger rose—
Then settled.
Controlled.
“What do you want?” he asked.
The voice softened.
“Relax, Ryan.”
A pause.
“I’m not here to hurt you.”
The call ended.
Ryan lowered the phone slowly.
Something twisted in his chest.
Not fear.
Not anger.
Something else.
The door to the VIP lounge opened.
Elena stepped in.
She waved lightly.
Ryan gestured for her to come closer.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” he said.
Elena sat across from him.
“I saw you last night,” she said calmly.
A pause.
“You carried Rosette out.”
Ryan didn’t react much.
“She was drugged,” he said. “I got there in time.”
Elena studied him.
Then—
“Why do I feel like there’s something going on between you two?”
Ryan’s gaze snapped to hers.
Sharp.
“Nothing is going on.”
Elena raised her hands slightly.
“Alright. I’m not interfering.”
A small pause.
“But… it might actually benefit you.”
Ryan frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Elena leaned back.
“If you and Rosette were to get married—”
Ryan cut her off immediately.
“That’s impossible.”
His tone turned cold.
“There’s a long-standing conflict between the Monroes and the Vanders.”
A pause.
“I don’t trust them.”
Elena’s brows furrowed.
“You think they’re that bad?”
Ryan’s expression hardened.
“They’ve always been like that.”
A beat.
“And they won’t change.”
Elena looked at him carefully.
“What exactly do you mean?”
Ryan’s voice dropped.
Cold. Final.
“Stop asking questions.”
Silence.
Elena held his gaze for a moment—
Then nodded slightly.
“Fine.”
She stood up.
“I’ll leave you to it.”
The door closed behind her.
Ryan remained still.
The room felt quieter now.
He leaned back, eyes unfocused.
Rosette.
His grip tightened slightly.
“Red rose…”
Something about that name didn’t sit right.
City Club – Main Lounge (Night)
The music pulsed through the room.
Lights flashed. Laughter echoed. The night was alive.
Elena stood near the bar, scanning the crowd absentmindedly.
She turned—
And collided with someone.
Her drink almost slipped.
“Watch it—”
She stopped mid-sentence.
The woman in front of her was…
Striking.
Tall. Composed. Effortlessly dangerous.
Their eyes met.
Just for a second.
Cold.
Unreadable.
The woman didn’t apologize.
Didn’t speak.
She simply walked past.
Elena frowned, slightly annoyed.
“Seriously?”
She rolled her eyes.
Rude.
But something about that woman lingered.
A strange feeling.
Unsettling.
She shook it off.
Moments Later – VIP Floor
Ryan stepped out of the VIP lounge and spotted Elena still inside.
He walked toward her.
“You’re still here?”
Elena turned slightly.
“I felt like staying a bit longer.”
Ryan studied her briefly.
“Suit yourself.”
She smiled faintly.
“You know… you’re actually a good person.”
Ryan raised a brow.
“That supposed to mean something?”
“You hide it well,” she said.
For a brief moment—
His expression softened.
Then it disappeared.
Ryan turned and walked away.
Elena watched him go.
Then sighed softly.
After a while, she set her glass down.
“I should leave.”
City Club – Parking Lot (Later)
Elena stepped out into the night.
The music faded behind her.
She walked toward her car—
Then—
Gunshots.
She froze.
Then moved quickly behind a pillar.
Footsteps.
Fast.
A man ran past her—
Bleeding. Desperate.
Then—
Another figure appeared.
The same woman.
The one from inside.
Ravenna Blaze.
Gun in hand.
Calm.
Focused.
Deadly.
Elena’s eyes widened slightly.
It’s her…
The man stumbled toward Elena—
And she reacted instinctively—
Grabbing him.
Everything spiraled from there.
She grabbed the blade with her bare hand—
Pain shot through her palm—
But she didn’t let go.
She twisted his wrist—
Forced him down—
Pinned him hard—
Then struck.
The man cried out.
A gunshot rang out.
Silence.
The man dropped.
Dead.
Elena froze.
Her heart pounded violently.
She turned to Ravenna.
“You killed him!”
Ravenna didn’t respond.
She simply stared at her.
Cold. Unmoved.
“You’re a murderer,” Elena said, anger rising.
“I’ll report you.”
Ravenna smirked faintly.
“Try.”
Then she walked away.
Moments later—
Police sirens filled the air.
Officers rushed in—
And found Elena.
Standing over the body.
She was arrested.
Police Station – Later
“I didn’t kill him,” Elena said firmly.
The officers exchanged uncertain looks.
No weapon.
No clear proof.
Security footage?
Damaged.
Ryan arrived.
Mr. Silverstone close behind.
Ryan’s expression darkened.
“This doesn’t add up.”
He made a call.
Calm. Precise.
Minutes later—
New footage appeared.
A hidden camera angle.
Ryan watched.
His eyes narrowed.
“…Ravenna Blaze.”
The officers stiffened.
The name alone changed everything.
Elena was released immediately.
She looked at them, confused.
“What about her?”
The officer hesitated.
“…No one goes after Ravenna Blaze.”
Elena frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Ryan stepped forward.
“She’s untouchable.”
Elena stared at him.
“Agencies have tried,” Ryan continued.
“They failed.”
A pause.
“She operates beyond the law.”
Elena’s fists clenched.
“That doesn’t make it right.”
Ryan met her gaze.
“It doesn’t change reality.”
Silence.
Something shifted inside Elena.
“I’ll take her down,” she said.
Ryan’s expression remained cold.
“Don’t chase something you can’t handle.”
Elena stepped closer.
Her voice steady.
“Watch me.”
Mr. Silverstone stepped in.
“That’s enough.”
But Elena didn’t back down.
“She’ll pay for what she’s done.”
Mr. Silverstone looked at her—
And for a moment—
He saw her mother in her.
He exhaled quietly.
“Let’s go.”
They left together.
Ryan remained behind for a moment.
Then he picked up his phone.
“She’s back,” he said.
A pause.
“Ravenna Blaze is in the city.”
The line went silent.
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