Chapter Four: There Are Two Sides to a Coin
834 Words
Saturday mornings in Marcel Safari’s mansion were always hushed and bright.
Sunlight streamed across the polished marble floors, catching on the tall windows like glassy gold.
Madam Rosa, the housekeeper who had raised him like a grandmother, entered the vast lounge carrying a silver tray of coffee.
“Good morning, sir,” she greeted warmly. “Working again this weekend?”
Marcel set aside a folder of contracts. “Yes. I have work tonight.”
Rosa gave him a look of gentle disapproval. “It’s Saturday, Marcel. You never stop. Even the strongest lion needs to rest.”
A faint smile crossed his face. “Maybe next weekend, Mama Rosa.”
She sighed, placing the coffee before him. “You keep saying that.”
Marcel only chuckled softly and reached for his phone, already shifting back into the business that ruled his life.
Later that Saturday afternoon, Benny burst into Lucy Norman's home, her energy like a gust of summer wind.
“Lucy! You are not staying in tonight,” Benny announced without preamble.
Lucy looked up from the book she’d been reading. “Benny, I just want a quiet weekend. Work has been insane.”
“All the more reason to get out,” Benny shot back, hands on her hips. “Andre told me about this new club—he says it’s insanely mad. The lights, the music, the whole vibe. We have to go.”
Lucy shook her head with a soft laugh. “I don’t know…”
Benny sat beside her and leaned close, eyes sparkling. “It’s Saturday. No emails, no deadlines. Just one night. Come with me. We deserve it.”
“I was planning to sleep early,” Lucy tried again.
Benny wagged a finger. “Nope. Not tonight. Andre swears this place is the best in the city. You can’t say no to the best.”
Lucy bit her lip, half smiling. “You’re relentless.”
“And you love me for it,” Benny teased. “Please, Lu. Just this once. You might even enjoy yourself.” It's literally the best club in Miami
After a long pause, Lucy exhaled. “Fine. One night.”
Benny grinned in triumph. “That’s my girl.”
---
By the time evening settled over the city, the club pulsed like a neon heartbeat.
Lucy stepped through the entrance beside Benny, the music’s bassline thrumming up through the floor.
She was breathtaking: her black hair lay in a smooth, glossy sheet down her back, catching the lights like ink in motion. A deep-red satin dress clung to her hourglass figure, the slit at one thigh revealing just enough to make heads turn. Gold shimmer played on her eyelids, and her lips were a perfect scarlet, bold against her fair skin.
The women slipped toward the sleek black bar, ordering cocktails as dazzling lights flickered around them. They laughed and talked over the music, the night alive with promise.
---
Halfway through their drinks, Benny’s phone lit up. She glanced at the screen and squealed. “Andre! He’s here!”
Lucy smiled. “Your boyfriend?”
“Yep. Surprise visit.” Benny hopped off her stool. “I’ll be right back—don’t move!”
Lucy nodded, finishing her drink as Benny disappeared into the crowd.
A man in a dark shirt soon slid onto the empty stool beside her, leaning in with an eager grin.
“Beautiful night,” he said.
Lucy offered a polite nod, eyes on her glass.
“Are you here alone?” he pressed.
“My friend’s around,” she said coolly.
“Maybe I can keep you company.”
“I’m fine, thanks,” she replied, standing. But he followed.
“Don’t be like that—”
“I have a boyfriend,” Lucy said firmly and wove into the crowd until she lost him.
---
That’s when she heard it:
A man’s voice—low, desperate, pleading—just audible over the music.
“Please… I can fix this… please.”
Uneasy, Lucy followed the sound down a narrow hallway where the music dulled to a distant throb. At the end, a heavy wooden door stood slightly ajar, a thin blade of light spilling into the corridor.
She peered through the gap.
Inside, a man knelt on the floor, trembling as he begged for mercy. The figure he faced sat deeper in shadow, hidden from view.
“Please, give me another chance—” the man pleaded.
A cold, commanding voice cut through the air. A voice Lucy knew from countless office meetings.
Marcel.
“Too late.”
A hand extended from the darkness, holding a gun. A flash of silver on the wrist—a distinctive watch she had seen on someone many times.
The shot was deafening.
The kneeling man collapsed.
Lucy gasped and instinctively clapped a hand over her mouth.
“Someone’s there,” a deep voice barked from inside.
“Go check it out” a commanding voice spoke
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