Ten times better

The plan

Billie and Sierra didn't rush back to the apartment. They stayed on the curb opposite the little café, eyes fixed on the glass façade where Alex and the mysterious woman were still talking. The city's neon lights flickered, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch toward the two strangers inside.

When the conversation finally wound down, Alex slipped out first, his shoulders hunched as he headed for his car. The woman—her coat still buttoned up, a black scarf pulled tight around her neck—followed a few steps behind, sliding into a sleek black sedan. As the engine roared to life, Sierra's hand shot up, and a cab materialized out of the traffic like a summoned ally.

"Follow that car," Sierra whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of the engine.

The cab weaved through the night‑filled streets, the black sedan never far ahead. It stopped in front of a modest apartment building on a quiet side‑street. The woman stepped out, glanced around, and disappeared into the lobby.

Sierra turned to Billie, eyes sharp. "If you go up there, she'll recognize you. Let me talk to her."

Billie hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. Just... be careful."

Sierra slipped out of the cab, crossed the street, and knocked on the apartment door. When it opened, the woman stood there—tall, with a fierce gaze that softened only a fraction when she saw Sierra.

"Hi," Sierra said, trying to keep her tone steady. "I need to talk to you."

Lydia's eyes widened. "Who are you?"

"I'm sure you know Alex," Sierra replied, stepping closer. "I'm his... girlfriend?"

Lydia's face twisted, a mixture of anger and hurt, and she laughed. "Which Alex? The Alex I know has only one girlfriend, and that's me."

"No, my darling... I am his girlfriend too. He always has two fiancés, who are also sisters—so, girl, he's for everybody," sierra spoke calmly but mockingly

Lydia spat. "So he's been cheating on me, his fiancé, his fiancé's sister, and even you?!"

"Yes, I've seen the texts, the photos... and I'm done.. I'm done with his lies and manipulations, I'm not here to fight you; I'm here to make you see who he truly is." Sierra spoke with a concerned look on her face

Lydia smiled and stretched out her hands. "I'm Lydia."

Sierra returned the handshake with a warm smile. "Sierra."

"And I'm Billie," Billie said, stepping forward.

When Lydia saw her, she looked tense, but Sierra quickly made her feel comfortable, saying, "We are all in this together."

Billie's voice dropped to a whisper. "Lydia, we're not here to hurt you. We just want the truth."

Lydia stared at Sierra, then at Billie, and then at the empty hallway behind her, as if weighing whether to let the dam break. Finally, she stepped aside and let them in.

Inside the cramped living room, Lydia sank onto a couch, hands trembling. "You want to know why I'm here? Because Lena has a video—a s*x tape of Alex and me. She's been using it to blackmail him, to make him do whatever she wants."

Billie, who had been standing close to the door listening, felt a cold knot tighten in her chest. Part of her wanted to believe that Alex was still the man she loved, that he was being coerced. But another part—sharper, louder—reminded her of every betrayal, every lie.

"Lena?" Billie asked, voice barely above a whisper. "She's the one who's been pulling the strings?"

Lydia nodded, eyes brimming with tears. "She's been threatening to send the video to his family...the Don's, and to everyone. He's terrified. He's been doing everything she asks—giving her everything she wants, covering her tracks... I thought I was the only one he was cheating with."

Sierra moved closer, her expression softening. "We can take that power away. If we get the tape, Lena can't hurt anyone anymore."

Lydia looked up, hope flickering. "You... you would help me? After everything?"

Billie stepped forward, jaw set. "We're not doing this for you, Lydia. We're doing it for ourselves. We need that video."

The three women fell into a hushed planning session. The only way to get the tape was to go back to the house where Lena lived—back to the lion's den—under the guise of reconciliation. Billie would have to pretend everything was forgiven, gain Lena's trust, and slip away with the incriminating footage.

"It's risky," Sierra warned, eyes flicking to the window where the night pressed against the glass. "If Lena catches you..."

"She won't," Billie said, a fierce resolve lighting her features. "She thinks she's untouchable. She thinks I'm broken" she turned straight to the window with a smirk on her face "let's play the game"

Lydia nodded, wiping a tear from her cheek. "We can do this together."

As the plan took shape, a new fire ignited in Billie's chest—not just anger, but a steely determination. The city outside roared on, oblivious to the quiet storm brewing in that small apartment.

When the cab finally pulled up to take them back home, Sierra turned to Billie. "Are you sure about this?"

Billie looked at the dark skyline, the neon lights blinking like a promise. "I'm done being a pawn. It's time to become the player."

Sierra smiled, a brief flash of solidarity. "Then let's make a move."

The cab drove away, leaving the apartment building and its secrets behind, but the road ahead was clearer than ever. Billie was ready to play a dangerous game of deception—one that could finally free her from Lena's grip, or plunge her deeper into darkness.