Who’ Gonna Win
1203 Words
Mark leaned back in the driver’s seat, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel. The silence in the car was heavy, broken only by Flora’s shallow breaths. The events of the night were still sinking in, but Mark’s focus had already shifted to the storm brewing ahead.
As the car turned into the underground parking of Mark’s penthouse, Flora finally found her voice. “Who were those men? Why were they after us?”
Mark didn’t answer immediately. He parked the car in a reserved spot, turned off the engine, and then looked at her. “They work for the mafia. Your uncle didn’t waste time sending them after the ledger.”
Flora’s hands trembled. “Why would he do that? What’s so important about it?”
Mark opened his door. “Come inside, and I’ll explain everything.”
Flora hesitated, but the weariness in her body and the chaos of the night convinced her to follow.
---
The penthouse was breathtaking. Glass walls offered a panoramic view of the city, and the modern decor spoke of Mark’s wealth and influence. Flora felt out of place in the luxurious surroundings, her worn clothes and messy hair a stark contrast to the pristine interior.
Mark poured two glasses of whiskey and handed one to her. “Drink. It’ll calm your nerves.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want it. I want answers.”
He sighed, setting the glass down on a nearby table. “The ledger contains evidence of your uncle’s illegal activities—drug trafficking, organ trade, money laundering. It’s everything he’s tried to bury for years.”
“And you? Why do you want it?”
Mark’s jaw tightened. “Because he’s not the only one in that ledger. There are others—people in positions of power, people who’ve wronged me. With that information, I can destroy them.”
Flora stared at him, her chest tightening. “So this is about revenge?”
“It’s about survival,” Mark corrected. “Your uncle isn’t the only one with enemies. By keeping this ledger, I protect myself.”
Flora looked away, her mind spinning. “What happens to me now? He won’t stop coming after us.”
Mark stepped closer, his expression softening. “You stay here. It’s the only place where you’ll be safe.”
Flora shook her head. “I can’t just hide forever.”
“You won’t have to,” Mark said firmly. “I’ll take care of everything.”
---
Meanwhile, across the city, a storm was brewing in another luxurious penthouse.
Alexandra Pierce, Mark’s betrothed, paced the length of her room, her heels clicking against the marble floor. Her phone buzzed, and she snatched it from the table.
“What did you find?” she asked, her voice sharp.
The man on the other end hesitated. “Mark was spotted with a woman. She was with him during the attack tonight.”
Alexandra’s grip tightened on the phone. “Who is she?”
“We’re still working on it,” the man said. “But she’s staying with him at the penthouse.”
Alexandra’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Find out everything you can about her. I want to know where she’s from, who she is, and why she thinks she can take what’s mine.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She ended the call and tossed the phone onto the couch. Mark Grifford was hers—his wealth, his influence, his future. And if anyone thought they could interfere, they would regret it.
---
The next morning, Flora woke to the smell of coffee and the sound of Mark’s voice. He was on the phone, his tone clipped and businesslike.
“Double security at the penthouse,” he said. “I don’t care about the cost. Just make sure no one gets through.”
Flora stepped into the living room, her arms crossed. “Are you always this paranoid?”
Mark ended the call and turned to her. “Not paranoid. Prepared.”
“For what?”
“For whoever your uncle sends next,” Mark said. “He won’t stop until he gets what he wants. And that means we need to stay ahead of him.”
Flora frowned. “What’s the plan?”
“You’ll stay here,” Mark said. “I’ll handle the rest.”
“That’s not a plan,” Flora argued. “That’s avoiding the problem.”
Mark approached her, his blue eyes intense. “Do you trust me?”
Flora hesitated, then nodded. “I don’t have much choice, do I?”
“No,” Mark said with a faint smile. “You don’t.”
---
Across town, Alexandra sat in her private office, reviewing the information her investigator had compiled.
“Flora Grace,” she murmured, reading the name aloud. “Twenty-two years old, orphaned, currently entangled with Mark Grifford.”
Her fingers drummed against the desk as she read further. Flora’s connection to Dr. Johnson intrigued her. The man had always been a shadowy figure in Mark’s world, and now this girl was at the center of it all.
“She’s a problem,” Alexandra said to herself.
Her assistant entered the room cautiously. “Ma’am, your meeting with Mr. Grifford is in an hour.”
Alexandra smiled coldly. “Good. Let’s see how much he’s willing to lie to my face.”
---
Mark and Alexandra met at an upscale restaurant.
“You’ve been busy,” Alexandra said, her tone light but her eyes sharp.
Mark leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. “Business never stops.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Alexandra said, her voice dropping. “Who is she?”
Mark’s jaw tightened. “That’s none of your concern.”
Alexandra’s smile didn’t falter, but her tone turned icy. “Everything about you concerns me, Mark. Don’t forget who you’re engaged to.”
“I haven’t forgotten,” Mark said. “But my personal life is just that—personal.”
Alexandra’s eyes narrowed. “You think you can brush this off? You’re playing a dangerous game, Mark. Don’t let her become a liability.”
Mark met her gaze, his voice low and firm. “I can handle my affairs, Alexandra. Focus on your own.”
---
That night, Flora stood by the window of Mark’s penthouse, staring out at the city.
“Long day?” Mark asked, joining her.
Flora nodded. “Do you ever feel like you’re just... stuck? Like no matter what you do, you can’t escape the things holding you down?”
Mark’s expression softened. “More than you know.”
Flora turned to him. “Then why do you do it? Why play these games, make these deals, live this life?”
Mark exhaled slowly. “Because it’s the only life I know. And because if I don’t, someone else will.”
Flora looked away. “That’s not much of an answer.”
“It’s the truth,” Mark said.
Flora sighed, her gaze returning to the city lights. “What happens now?”
“Now?” Mark said. “We wait. And we fight back when the time comes.”
- Writer
