GREETINGS FROM W

Ten

I knew they suspected me.

The security agents forgot their screens— and their pizza. They looked at me with a furrowed eyebrow, and I panicked. 

“We've been watching you for like ten minutes,” one of them started, “You seemed quite lost. Were you looking for the bathroom? For real?”

I gulped and looked at him with a smile. “Uh, sorry,” I chuckled nervously. “It's my first time in this building, so...” I rubbed the back of my neck. 

“Make sure to read well next time,” he added, still frowning. 

“Of, course,” I nodded, “Well, uh, I got to go,” I scratched my neck, “Thank you, and enjoy your pizza,” I smiled again and left the room.

I had to keep pretending as I knew they were going to follow me until I leave the building. There were cameras on every corner, and I couldn't go unnoticed. 

I shook my head on purpose and acted as I was laughing at myself for being clumsy. But in reality, I was laughing out of disappointment and shame because I couldn't succeed on my mission. 

As I walked in the hallway, I spotted a familiar face. Dark grey key slicked back, expensive marine blue tuxedo and an eight thousand euros watch, yes, it was the one and only Kye Wright. 

I didn't know what to do as he was one of our suspects. Kye was the main reason why I came to Glass Entertainment. I had to confirm that he was involved in Luke's false accusal and his arrest. But I failed to get more pieces of information. The only things I knew were that the Sixth Sense members agreed Luke was innocent, and that Wolfe was at the agency on that same day. 

Wolfe must have known something. 

Kye Wright walked passed me, and I could smell an unfamiliar scent of expensiveness. Money covered him from head to toe. Even his necktie was worth ten of my outfits. 

I pretended to look at something on my phone until he walked a little further. But before I could feel relieved, he called, “You,”

Damn, it.

I stopped, and I took a deep breath before I turned around to find him looking at me with a raised eyebrow. “I've seen you before,” he said with his deep voice. “You were at the funeral.”

I nodded as I pressed my lips, “Yes, Wolfe was my friend,” I approached him and offered my hand, “I'm Skylar Clarke,”

Kye shook my hand and looked at me for a moment with his sparkling blue eyes, “Kye Wright,” 

“Nice to meet you, Mr Wright,”

“What brings you to our agency?” 

“Oh, um,” I ran my fingers in my hair and smiled, “I visited Sixth Sense as I knew they were close to Wolfe.”

Kye didn't say anything, and he didn't look convinced by my simple answer.

“I brought them invitations to his memorial service,” I added. 

“I see,” he rubbed his chin, “Am I not invited?” he scoffed, “I knew Wolfe very well. I believe you know he worked with me for many years.”

“Yes, of course,” I nodded, “I heard you are often busy, and that's why I didn't want to bother you.”

He shook his hand slowly, “Not at all. It's the least I could do for Wolfe.”

I gulped and nibbled on the bottom of my lip as I wondered what to do. My brain froze for a moment, and I couldn't make a quick decision. Inviting Kye Wright to the memorial service was like an insult to Wolfe.

We wanted to say goodbye to him for one last time with his loved ones, the people whom he trusted and cherished. 

But at the same time, I had to keep playing my role. If I refused Kye Wright, he would be suspicious, and in no time, he would know that we were planning something. With his connections, it was difficult for us to work in secrecy. 

“Well, then,” I smiled and got an invitation out of my bag. Thankfully, Rex printed extra ones. “Be there at six, on Friday evening,” 

Kye smiled back and nodded, “Thank you, Miss Clarke.”

His smile didn't have any trace of warmth. I knew he was faking as much as I was. We were playing the same cards— the same on the table at least. But I couldn't see the ones in his hand, and he could see mine. I was probably going to lose, but I would surely not stop the game. 

“I will see you there, Mr Wright,” I said before I turned around and walked out the hallway. I couldn't see behind me, but I had a feeling his piercing blue eyes followed each of my steps until I was out of sight. 

“Hello, miss,” a tall man startled me as I was lost in my thoughts. “Are you here for an audition?” he asked.

“No,” I shook my head, “I just had some business here,”

“I see,” he adjusted his glasses with his index finger and shook my hand, “I'm Jimmy Pearse, from the A&R Department,”

I looked at him with a raised eyebrow as I didn't know what he was trying to do. 

“Would you like to be part of our agency?” he smiled.

“Uh, what?” I chuckled, “You haven't heard me singing.”

Jimmy laughed and ran his fingers in his dirty blond hair, “We teach everything here,” he said, “But you have the potential to be part of us,” he added as he eyed me from head to toe, making me frown.”

Jimmy was one of Kye Wright's dolls. He was wearing the same skinny jeans and a baby blue shirt I saw on other employees. 

He surprised me by walking around me as he took notice of every part of my body. I felt uncomfortable, and I moved my bag behind me to stop him from looking at my butt.

“Excuse me, Mr Pearse,” I furrowed a brow, “What are you doing?” 

“Making sure that you are qualified enough to be here,” 

I scoffed and shook my head in disbelief, “How dare you?” I looked at him in confusion. “Is that how you choose your singers? By looking at their butt?” 

“Is it essential for our artists to have a pleasing to the eye body,” Jimmy replied calmly. He didn't look the slightest bothered by his words. “People tend to support good looking singers more than, uh, ugly ones.” he faked a smile. 

“Until there's a technical problem on stage and they get to hear their real voice,” I chuckled, “Don't you ever think about this?”

“It is not important,” Jimmy said proudly, “Glass Entertainment always makes sure there are no such problems on stage.”

“Oh, everything is possible, Mr Pearse,” I said, “And at that moment, you'll see if their hips and t**s could save the day,” I winked and shook his hand again, “It was nice to meet you, Jimmy. But I have no intention of being here.”

As soon as I got in the car, my legs started trembling. I hid my fear earlier, and I had to stand strong and confident not to make myself more suspicious, But I couldn't take it anymore. 

Those few minutes in the CCTV room scared the hell out of me. And meeting Kye Wright was the cherry on top. 

Now I was terrified to face my friends. They were counting on me, and I disappointed them. What was I going to tell Shadow? And Thomas? 

“Stupid,” I mumbled before I started the car. 

I arrived at Wolfe's house after a few minutes, and I took a deep breath before I rang the doorbell. 

“I'll get it!” I heard Kaela shout, and I was relieved because I didn't have to face Shadow first. 

“Hey!” she pulled me for a hug, “How was it?” she whispered as if she knew it was difficult for me. 

I chuckled nervously, “I don't know, Kaela. I don't know,” I gave her a small smile, and she put her arm around my waist as she guided me to the living room where they were all sitting, waiting for me.

“Hello, Skylar,” I was surprised to see Thomas with them. It only confirmed how much important my mission was. “Did you meet them?”

“Yes,” I nodded, “I handed the invitations.”

“What did they say?” Rex asked. 

I took a seat next to Kaela, who offered me a cup of water, and replied, “They also believe Luke is innocent.” 

“That's a good thing,” Thomas nodded. 

“They said Wolfe was at Glass on the same day,” I added, “I believe he had an idea of what happened to him.”

Thomas hummed and looked at Shadow, “Maybe Wolfe knew exactly what happened. Therefore, they pressured him.”

“How about the CCTV?” Jay asked with a lazy tone. He was finishing his fourth beer bottle, which startled me because he rarely got drunk three years ago. The sudden events may have affected him a lot. 

I shook my head slowly, and I was too embarrassed to look at them. “I, uh, I couldn't do it,” I mumbled quietly.

Jay scoffed and smashed the empty glass bottle on the table, making my heart jump. Kaela put her arm around my waist and moved closer to me. 

“You had one job, Sky,” Jay faked a smile. 

“One job I've never done before,” I frowned, “I panicked, okay? They suspected me, and I couldn't do it.”

“It's okay, Sky,” Kaela whispered in my ear as she caressed my back gently. 

Jay stood up and shook his head in disappointment. He was drunk, and he couldn't walk straight.

“You can't expect me to give them an envelope full of money when I was like a deer in the headlights.” I rolled my eyes, “I can't even bribe my younger sister.”

“What can you do then?” Jay walked clumsily toward me and raised an eyebrow,

“Why did you even bother coming back to Waveland if you're not going to be useful?” 

“Jay,” Shadow called him, “Sit down.”

“I expected you to be all great and successful after those three long years of absence,” Jay continued, unbothered by their stares, “But look at you, you're still the shy little girl who can't even honour her dead friend.”

“Jay!” Shadow stood up this time and pulled his arm. “You're f*****g drunk,” he muttered. “Go take a shower and freshen up.”

Jay looked at him and started laughing, “Come on Shadow. You're not going to act as if you weren't furious that she didn't come back.” 

Shadow pressed his lips and looked away. 

“All of you!” Jay pointed at our friends, “How many times have we talked about her? Did you forget all the conversations we had in this same living room?” he furrowed a brow, “You said you were mad at her for breaking her promise.”

That promise. 

Three years ago before my departure, I promised to visit them from time to time to catch up and talk about our life improvements. But I never came back. Not that I didn't want to see them, but I was too ashamed to show myself without any achievements.

“And now she's pretending to be a part of us and to help us honour Wolfe,” he scoffed and looked at me, “You broke his heart, do you know that?” he asked, “He was missing you, he needed his friend by his side. But Miss Clarke was too busy writing her useless books to make a call.”

I closed my eyes and looked down. Jay was right. I didn't bother making a call, nor asking how he was doing. I only had an idea of what was going on in their lives based on their social media posts.

“Don't think he's ever going to forgive you for giving up on him,” Jay finished before he pushed Shadow away from him and headed upstairs.