The Ghost in the Penthouse
776 Words
Selene’s POV
8:00 AM | Archer Tower Penthouse
The red dress clung to Selene like a second skin. She glared at her reflection, adjusting the neckline for the tenth time. *Too much cleavage. Too much everything.*
“Stop fidgeting,” Kael said from the doorway.
She spun. He leaned against the frame, arms crossed, in a charcoal suit that cost more than her life. His eyes raked her body, lingering on the slit that exposed her thigh.
“You look… adequate.”
“Adequate?” She stepped closer, heels clicking like gunfire. “You dressed me like a brothel chandelier.”
He smirked. “You’re the *passionate, working-class heroine* the press adores. Play the part.”
A knock cut the tension. Viktor entered, his scarred face grim. “The car’s ready. And, sir… *she’s* here.”
Kael’s jaw twitched. “Handle it.”
Selene frowned. “Who’s—”
“Don’t ask questions.” He gripped her elbow, steering her toward the elevator. “Smile for the cameras, *fiancée*.”
The Press Conference (1,200 words)
9:00 AM | Archer Tower Lobby
Flashbulbs exploded as they stepped into the lobby. Reporters shouted:
“Mr. Archer! Is the slap scandal true love?”
“Selene! Are you pregnant?”
Kael’s hand slid to her lower back, possessive. “Ignore them,” he murmured, lips grazing her ear.
She shivered. “Easy for you to say.”
He spun her abruptly, cupping her face. “Then give them a show.”
Before she could react, his mouth crashed onto hers.
The world narrowed to heat and hunger. His kiss was a wildfire—devouring, punishing, *addicting*. She clawed his shoulders, torn between shoving him and dragging him closer.
The crowd roared.
He pulled back, breath ragged. “Better?”
“Go to hell,” she whispered.
“Already there.” He licked his lip, smirking at her smudged. “But you taste like heaven.”
10:00 AM | Charity Hospital Tour
They posed in a pediatric ward, Kael’s arm a steel band around her waist. Kids giggled, snapping selfies. Selene’s smile ached. *Luna should be here.*
A nurse approached. “Mr. Archer, your donation saved us! Let me show you our new wing—”
“No.” Kael’s grip tightened. “We’re done.”
Selene stiffened. The walls seemed to close in, machines beeping like countdown timers. *Luna’s hospital. Luna’s coughs.*
“Wait.” She broke free. “I’d love a tour.”
Kael’s eyes flashed. *Don’t*, they warned.
She followed the nurse anyway.
The Bloodstained Ledger
10:30 AM | Hospital Archives
The nurse led her to a dusty records room. “Wait here.”
Selene frowned. “Why—”
The door locked.
Panic spiked. She rattled the handle. “Hey! Let me out!”
A file fluttered to the floor. *Archer Group: Manila Factory Incidents.*
Her breath hitched.
*Page 1: Employee Deaths – 2015-2023.*
*Page 2: Cover-Up Payments to Families.*
*Page 3: A photo of her mother’s corpse, Kael’s signature on the disposal order.*
Bile rose in her throat. *He knew. He knew all along.*
The lights died.
“Miss me, Eva?”
Selene whirled. A woman emerged from the shadows—raven hair, crimson lips, a carbon copy of the photo in Kael’s safe.
*Clara Archer.*
Kael’s POV
“Where is she?” Kael snarled, shoving Viktor against a wall.
“Gone. Clara’s work.”
His vision blurred. *Clara. Alive. Hunting.*
He smashed his fist into the wall. “Find her. *Now.*”
Clara’s Revenge.
11:00 AM | Hospital Basement
Clara circled Selene, a knife glinting in her hand. “You’re prettier than his usual whores.”
“I’m not his—”
“*Liar.*” The blade pressed to Selene’s throat. “He’ll destroy you. Like he destroyed me.”
“Then why help him?”
Clara laughed. “I’m not helping *him*.” She sliced Selene’s palm, smearing blood on the Manila files. “I’m helping *you*. Run, little mouse. Before he eats you alive.”
The door burst open. Kael charged in, gun raised.
Clara vanished into the vents.
Selene backed away. “You killed her. You killed *all* of them.”
He froze. “Eva—”
She slapped the bloody files against his chest. “Was any of it real?”
His silence shattered her.
**12:00 PM | Archer Penthouse**
Kael watched Selene sleep, the files burning in his fireplace. Clara’s text glowed on his phone:
**She knows. Game over.**
He unlocked the forbidden room. Inside: wedding photos, Clara’s ashes, and a shrine to every lie he’d ever told.
Selene stirred.
He closed the door.
“Sweet dreams, Eva.”
- Writer
