Midnight Heat

Party Invitation Again

Maya’s POV

I woke up in Liam’s arms the next morning. His strong chest moved up and down under my head. For one short moment everything felt peaceful. Then the memory of the message came back. Tomorrow night at the warehouse. Mr Havisham would be there. The blackmailers wanted the old phone and Liam. My stomach twisted with fear. Inside my head I thought, Sarah tried to fight and she died. Now I am walking into the same trap. But I have Liam with me. Maybe together we can survive this.

Liam kissed my forehead when he saw I was awake. “We will face tomorrow together,” he said softly. “Today we act normal. No mistakes.”

I nodded and got ready for work. My body still felt sore from everything. When I reached the office Mr Havisham was in a good mood. He called me in and f****d me quickly on his couch. He did not say much. He just used my body like it belonged to him. I moaned and pretended to enjoy it while my mind stayed on the danger ahead.

The day passed slowly. I felt tired and scared. When evening came I left the office fast. As I reached my apartment building Chloe was waiting outside. She held two shopping bags and smiled brightly.

“Maya!” she called. “I have a surprise for you.”

She hugged me tight. Her coconut smell felt familiar and safe. We went up to my apartment. She dropped the bags on the couch and looked at me with excited eyes.

“I got us invitations to another big party this weekend,” she said. “It is at a fancy mansion. Masks again but this time it is more elegant. Rich people. Good food. Dancing. Please say you will come with me.”

I sat down slowly. My hands felt cold. Inside my head I thought, A party? With everything happening tomorrow night at the warehouse? How can I think about dancing when people want to kill me? But saying no would make Chloe ask more questions. She already suspects something.

“I do not know Chlo,” I said quietly. “I am very tired lately. Work is hard.”

Chloe sat beside me and held my hands. “That is exactly why you need this. You have been so different since you started working for my dad. You barely smile anymore. Come with me. We can dress up pretty and forget everything for one night.”

Her eyes looked so hopeful. I felt heavy guilt inside my chest. She did not know her father was a monster. She did not know he might have killed my sister. She did not know I let him use my body almost every day.

“Maybe,” I said. “I will think about it.”

Chloe pulled out two beautiful dresses from the bags. One was deep red and tight. The other was black and shiny. “Try them on. You will look amazing.”

I changed into the red dress. It hugged my body and showed my curves. Chloe clapped her hands. “You look so hot Maya. The boys will go crazy.”

I looked at myself in the mirror. The girl staring back looked pretty on the outside but broken on the inside. I forced a small smile. “It is nice.”

We talked more about the party. Chloe laughed and planned what masks we would wear. For a little while I forgot the warehouse. I forgot the blackmail. I forgot the danger. But then my phone buzzed on the table.

I picked it up with fear. Unknown number. The message said, “Enjoy your little talk with Chloe. Remember what happens if you tell her anything. Warehouse. Tomorrow night. Bring Liam and the phone. No excuses.”

My hands started shaking. Chloe noticed. “Is everything okay? You look pale again.”

I put the phone down fast. “It is nothing. Just work stuff.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You are lying to me Maya. I know you too well. Something big is happening and you will not tell me. Is it my dad? Did he do something bad to you?”

I wanted to cry. I wanted to tell her the truth so badly. But the blackmailers would destroy her if I did. “Your dad is strict but he is fine,” I lied. “I am just stressed about money.”

Chloe hugged me again. “I love you. You know that right? If my dad hurts you I will never forgive him.”

Her words made my heart hurt more. I hugged her back tight. When she finally left I sat alone on my bed. The red dress still on me felt too tight now. Liam knocked on the balcony door a few minutes later. He came inside and saw the dress.

“You look beautiful,” he said. But his eyes showed worry. “What happened with Chloe?”

I told him about the party invitation. He listened quietly. Then he pulled me close. “We cannot think about parties now. Tomorrow night is dangerous. We need to prepare.”

He kissed me softly at first. Then deeper. His hands unzipped the red dress and let it fall to the floor. He laid me on the bed and made love to me slowly. His thrusts were deep and careful. I moaned his name and held him tight. For those moments the fear went away. I came twice while he moved inside me. He finished with a low groan and held me close after.

But as we lay there catching our breath my phone buzzed again. I opened it with a heavy heart. A new video played. It showed Mr Havisham earlier today talking to someone on the phone.

“Make sure everything is ready for tomorrow night at the warehouse,” he said. “Maya and the boy will not leave alive.”

Liam watched the video with me. His body became stiff beside me. “He is planning to kill us both.”

I started crying again. Sarah’s old phone lay hidden under the bed. The blackmailers wanted it. Chloe wanted answers. Mr Havisham wanted me dead. Tomorrow night everything would crash together at the warehouse.

Liam wiped my tears. “We go. But we go smart. I have a plan.”

I looked at him with fear in my eyes. “What if we do not come back?”

He kissed me hard like he wanted to promise safety. But we both knew the truth. Tomorrow night could be the end.

Then another message came. This one had a picture of Chloe sleeping in her bed. The text said:

“Bring everything tomorrow. Or your best friend dies first.”