Wow. A week really flies by, huh?

If you didn't want me to find it, maybe you should have hidden it better

"What about this?"

I look up from my laptop, almost thankful for the distraction from the blinking cursor. Mariah stands in the doorway of my closet, holding a soft pink summer dress across her front. Her hands pull it taut across her round hips, and I know it'll look fantastic on her.

"It's yours," I say. "Seriously, anything you want. Have at it."

Julia leans over me from the other side of the bed. The smooth, silky sleeve of her elegant night robe brushes my arms as she reaches for the discarded carton of noodles sitting on my nightstand. "Mariah, show some restraint."

They invited themselves over, taking advantage of one of the few nights I was not scheduled to be with Kai. My plans for a relaxing night, snuggled under my blankets, working on applications as a movie plays in the background, were quickly thrown out the window when the two girls appeared at my door – unannounced, mind you – with four large bags of takeout and overnight luggage.

While Mariah dropped the food in the kitchen and her bags in my room, Julia's razor-sharp eyes took in the space. "This is different. Kai doesn't usually like so much color."

I looked around, seeing my cheap decorations in the luxury flat, which had only increased in recent months. I've developed a tendency to pick up the brightest, most annoying trinkets everywhere Kai takes me, if only to see the look of disappointment in his eyes. I've also added some plants to fill in the gaps.

Satisfaction warmed my chest. "I know, isn't it great."

She smirked, which I think is a sign of approval, but who can tell?

Before I knew it, we dressed in our pajamas – Mariah in a white and pink striped matching set of shorts and a tank top, Julia in a deep green nightie with black lace around the hems and matching robe. I stared, envious of how effortlessly beautiful she looked, but I wasn't about to trade my soft cotton blue pants and old gray tee I stole from Kai the last time I spent the night in my guest room. It's big and comfy, and he'll be lucky to see it again now that I have it.

I turn back to the screen. "I don't mind. I'll probably end up donating it all anyway. It's better that it goes to her."

Mariah crashes onto the bed at my feet, closing the laptop screen on my hands. "Donate it? Why would you do a crazy thing like that?"

I shrug. The wardrobe is indeed nice, and because of Romero, there's a constant flow of new items. Now that I have a plan, they'll be put to good use. I'll keep the more business-y items. I'll need those when I'm working, but all the fancy dresses can go to someone who'll get pleasure from them. All I see when I look at the clothes is Kai's reaction. As much fun as it is to goad him over my little souvenirs, at some point, I started watching for his look of approval and feeling a spark of joy in my heart when I got it.

Mariah, on the other hand, never fails to send me pictures of her favorite outfits from when I'm caught on camera out and about. She raves in a series of emotes each time. It's only right she benefits from a free shopping trip. What else is Kai going to do with them?

As hard as it is, I know this is the right decision. Keeping the clothes will only be a reminder of Kai. Besides that, it'd be like wearing a sign that says 'I was here for the money' every day.

"You deserve them," I say with a laugh, opening my laptop again as she takes another trip into the closet, and I go back to what I was doing.

"You're enabling her condition," Julia says around a mouthful of noodles, sauce dripping down her chin.

Seeing the human, less perfect side of her makes me smile. "Condition?"

"Her a-d-d-i-c-t-i-o-n."

"I can spell. And it's not an addiction. It's love." Mariah snips, her voice muffled by the rustling of fabric. "Don't try to act like shopping isn't one of your favorite hobbies."

I roll my eyes with a laugh. "I rather she takes them than let them sit to collect dust in my closet." I'm determined never to wear them again after this.

"Happy to be of service." Mariah emerges from the cave of wonders, happy as a cat with some catnip, and crawls up along my right side. She leans her head on my shoulder to see the screen, sandwiching me between her and Julia. "What are you working on?"

I close the screen, not wanting her – or more specifically, Julia – to see. "I have an interview coming up, so I'm researching."

I'm careful not to look at either of them as I set the laptop out of reach, pretending I don't notice the shared look over my head.

"Does Kai know about the interview?"

"He's aware that I'll be interviewing, but not about this specific interview."

"Where's it at?"

The way information spreads around this group, I know it's a mistake to give them too much information. I've thought long and hard about what I want after this, and my mind settled on one position at a single company. It's a long shot. Given that I haven't made many strides in the past five years, this would be a leap in responsibilities, but it's where I imagined myself always being.

A few days ago, I submitted my resume under a fake name. Today I got The Call. Less than 24 hours until the interview, and now I'm starting to panic. What a liar I've become. Kai's a bad influence.

I bite back a smile. I think he'd be impressed with my cockiness, but I'm not ready for him to know. The Hiwatari family is overwhelming, and their reach is long. This isn't a daydream or a fairy tale for me. It's my life, the one I'll have to live when Kai's long gone, so I want to get there on my own.

"I don't want to jinx it," I say with a wink toward Mariah, since we're closer.

"You believe in luck?" Julia asks skeptically. She looks over me to Mariah. "I didn't think we associated with losers."

Mariah opens her mouth, but before she can say anything, I'm jumping to my defense. "It's not that easy," I retort. "You all have a leg up in this world just by your names alone. I don't want my worth to be determined by who I know."

Julia's eyebrows go up, and I can see she is ready for an argument, but a pointed look from Mariah shuts her down. I settle, not interested in fighting with her. I like Julia. Most of the time.

"So, when is this interview anyway?" Mariah asks as she stretches out, laying her head on my pillow. Her arms settle over her head, pink hair a halo around her, and eyes hood with a sudden exhaustion she didn't have a second ago. She looks so comfortable laid out like that.

I sigh, leaning back against the upholstered headboard. "Tomorrow."

Her eyes bulge. "What? It's like two in the morning."

"Almost three," Julia quips from the other side. "You were in the closet for a while."

"Why didn't you say anything? Hilary Tachibana, go to bed right now."

"You're ridiculous." I laugh as I crawl over her legs, heading for the bathroom to do my night routine.

Closing the door, I shake my head in the mirror, spreading a spot of toothpaste on my brush and wetting it. They bring a different pace than the rush I feel at Kai's side, and If I'm being honest, an appreciated break.

Not that I'm complaining. The dates Romero arranges are fun.

A day on the Hiwatari family yacht; a private tour of a museum and gallery, followed by a wine tasting; and a baking class, all of them mysteriously finding their way to my social media for the public to pick apart. I enjoy those days because they feel like they're a part of a different reality. A time and place where we can just be Kai and Hilary, instead of Kai-and-Hilary.

Kai-and-Hilary is the heart and backbone of our lie, and our most enthusiastic supporters eat it up. They love the mix of his sullen attitude with my unrelenting positivity. How I pull him closer with a starry, dazed look in my eyes.

If I allowed myself, I could easily become caught up in the excitement, as if we were an actual couple.

A clip someone recorded on their phone became a trending soundbite for a while. "I adore him," I said as I looked over at him with this dopey smile on my face. "Everything about him. He's the love of my life."

Yuck.

My knuckles turn white from gripping the toothbrush. Just thinking of my fake doe eyes makes me want to start a fire. I spit, rinse, and floss.

It's almost over, though. I just have to nail that interview tomorrow – err, In a few hours – and then, everything will be ready for me to disappear back into the void while Kai goes his way. We'll both be back on the path we were always meant to be on.

I finish with my multistep skincare routine that Romero and Giancarlo drilled into my head. The last step is a night cream that probably cost more than one month of my rent. I can't downplay the results, though. My skin has never looked better.

When I open the door, Julia and Mariah are already under the comforter on either side of the bed. They lay facing each other and judging by the way they both hush almost immediately, I gather they are talking about me.

They look back, expressions innocent. I wait by the door, their dramatic halt to the conversation sending off warning bells.

"Your phone vibrated," Julia announces as she nods to the side table where it's charging.

I glance at it as if it's a snake that might bite. Which is stupid because it's just a phone. It's just there's only one person who texts me at 3:00 in the morning. Judging from their mischievous, hardly concealed examination of my reaction, they know who it is too.

Shaking my head, I pick up the phone and tap the screen. The notification confirms my assumption, as the picture that I have set for Kai comes up. As well as the picture we took in his office that I never bothered to change. I hardly recognize it now, but I can only imagine what it looks like to them.

The message is simple and brief, as it usually is with him. A time, location. Lunch tomorrow, noon, at a little café that I recognize is not too far from his office in the business district. I should be done with the interview by then. Weirdly, he didn't give me a reason for the lunch.

'You should be asleep,' I text back first. The type bubbles appear, but before they come through, I add, 'Yes to lunch. What's it for?'

The bubbles disappear for a moment, and I bite my thumbnail. It's fun to lecture him about his sleeping routine. He never takes it well. And I'm imagining his response will be something along the lines of me being awake at this hour, too.

'Appreciate the concern,' he fires off, 'I'd advise you to do the same but some people never listen.'

Some people. That jerk. I smile, despite myself.

'No agenda. Just us.'

My eyes scan the words again and again. Four words, and yet my heart is skipping. They mean nothing, I know, but sometimes it's hard to remind myself of that.

"I know that look," Mariah singsongs. Her amber eyes aglow with glee. Julia's eyes, too, have a bit of haughty satisfaction.

I shake my head with a tired laugh. "It's nothing. Kai's just being stupid." I say, putting the phone down and crawling over her to the center of the bed. I lift the comforter and sheets, wiggling down between them. Thankfully, this bed is big enough for the three of us. My small single sleeper in my old apartment would have never worked.

"Stupid, huh?" Julia tilts her head at me. Her tone is smug and suggests she has more to say but doesn't bother. She leaves the bed for the bathroom, leaving me to Mariah's full attention.

"How's the wedding planning going?" I ask playfully before she can start anything. Usually, she is bursting with information about my fake wedding and what it takes to make it look real. I feign interest, not at all curious about a wedding that will never be mine. Even if it does look beautiful from all the samples she and Romero have shown me.

Tonight, she's been silent on the subject.

She huffs in a pout. "Kay keeps trying to increase the guest list. The distant cousin of one of Kai's college professor's sons simply cannot be excluded. I think she's trying to kill all of us."

I laugh at her frustration.

Her gaze sharpens. "But don't worry. Every time she calls, I send a bouquet of daisies to her lab. She's allergic to flowers and hates daisies most of all. Every time I see her puffy, red eyes, I sleep better."

"Well, I'm happy you're not letting her get to you."

A wry smile tips the corners of her mouth. "Never," she says mischievously, snuggling deeper into the pillow.

She's so funny, I think as I stare at her relaxed face. She's been the most excited for tonight; Julia and I were just along for the ride. But she's the first to fall asleep after making a mess in my closet.

I can't convey the way I feel about her with words. I think I'd be lost in this world if Mariah hadn't stepped up to give me a grounding hand. She's become more than a friend in such a short time, and I'm almost heartbroken at the thought of losing her just as quickly.

But she's from Kai's world, so of course she'll stay on that side of the divide when it comes. As if sensing the direction of my thoughts, Mariah finds my hand under the covers, her breathing evening out.

I hear the light switch click in the bathroom, and Julia emerges seconds later. The darker part of her hair has been contained in a single braid. She flicks it over her shoulder, walking through the shadows to get to bed. The robe is left at the foot before she slips in next to me. Whatever lotion she applied smells divine, and I wonder if I asked, would she tell me?

But Julia doesn't seem like the sharing type.

At college, one of my professors told me that I make a good advocate. I didn't understand what he meant at the time, but I get it now. I've always found it easier to take on other people's issues than to handle my own. I can throw myself at a problem if it's on behalf of someone else.

I suppose that's how I ended up here. There wasn't a job opening listed. As far as I can tell, the job I'm going for has never existed. It's not the one I applied for to secure an invitation to the building. This could go terribly wrong, but I have to take my shot.

The carpet is plush under my heels. The desk opposite the large double doors is huge, made of solid wood, with a stone surface. Black with flecks that glitter like stars. Built-in bookcases span the back wall, all the way to the ceiling, filled with hardback books, plaques, and pictures. The two chairs for guests are a deep red, made of crushed velvet and wood. Everything in here is made well; made to last. The person who picked these pieces didn't care about what was trendy. They chose things that would work for a long time.

Running my hand over the back of one of the chairs, I feel like I understand that mentality. The idea of sticking with things that have proven themselves. I walk over to the large window that looks down on the business district. Almost unwillingly, my eyes drift to another building, one more familiar to me. It's shorter than this one, and if I wasn't acutely aware of the one person who occupied the top floor office, I wouldn't be able to pick it out of all the other buildings around it.

Funny. It used to seem so big to me. But now, I'm looking down on it.

The hum of voices breaks through my thoughts as the doors open. I turn and wait for the two women to notice me.

The assistant reacts first, snapping her binder closed and reaching for her phone. "This is a private office. You're breaking and entering. I'm calling security."

The older woman – the one I'm here to see – puts her hand out. "Wait," she says, eyeing me. My heart beats like a hammer in my chest, waiting for the final strike to push the nail through. So far, everything is going according to my plan.

The woman's lips drift up. "I think I want to hear this."

I'm out of breath from rushing by the time I reach the spot. It's a nondescript storefront with flower boxes in front of the windows and curly cursive writing on the door set back. Inside, potted green leafy plants line the brick walls, giving the space a rustic outdoor feel. It's a contrast to the elegant high-back booths that run along the right wall. The left side has a more casual cafeteria-style seating, with one long wooden table with chairs on both. Kai is already seated in a booth near the back. He scowls when he sees me enter. It follows me until I'm swinging into the seat opposite of him.

"You're late," he says as I slide into the empty side.

"Sometimes you're so late, you don't even show up." Nothing he says can ruin my good mood right now.

He eyes what he can see of my outfit. It's all business. He'll have no problem piecing things together. "Good interview?"

I pretend to not smile, holding the menu over my face. My eyes drift down, and I'm more relieved than I'd like to admit that I recognize everything here. "Maybe."

I hear a sigh from the other side. Well, it's more of a huff of frustration. I decide to take pity on him and put down the menu.

"It was good, but I don't want to jinx it." I smile because that was a bit of truth. I didn't get an answer, but they heard me out. Now, it's just waiting.

This seems to satisfy him. I can nearly see the tension roll off his shoulders. A few minutes later, a waiter comes by to deliver water and take our orders.

"So," I start, leaning in to whisper conspiratorially across the table, "who are we showing off for?"

"No one. You're off the clock."

"Really? There's no one with a camera ducking behind one of these booths?" I laugh, looking around for the sight of a flash.

"Hilary."

I pause, surprised by how gently he says my name. I don't know if he understands what that will mean. It's hard to let myself relax when we're in public. I'm prepared to be harassed by cameras and random questions thrown in my face. Dropping the act – letting ourselves be ourselves... "But people will see."

"Then let them think you're mad at me," Kai answers, shrugging, and glaring out at no one in particular. "Anger is a normal emotion to feel in my presence."

I snort. "I didn't think you noticed."

"I notice everything," he said confidently.

My face threatens to flush under his dark eyes. I turn away, playing with the utensils on the table, trying to push the roaring in my head away. I need some clearer thoughts.

The phone appears, as usual. Kai pulls it from his jacket pocket, tapping away with his thumb before he sets it face down on the table beside him and crosses his arms in front of him, leaning forward. He's focused, and interested.

"We've been working well together lately."

I nod. He's got Business Voice activated. Where's he going with this? "It's been fun."

"Can I ask you a question," Kai asks.

"It's weird that you ask first. Normally you don't bother wasting the breath."

"Can I ask you a question without you getting mad?"

My shoulders shake with a chuckle. "What?"

"Why do you want a job so badly?"

I have to tap down the annoyance that flares up. Am I supposed to want to sit at home and wait around from my more important half? But from Kai's piercing look, I hold back with a sigh. "We've had this conversation. I have to work."

"Have you considered starting your own business?"

"I - uh," I'd prepared to argue, but what he said caught me off guard. "No."

"You have the startup money now if you've been saving. You can do anything you want."

"I've never thought of starting my own business," I mumble. My eyes drift away from him to the table between us. Why have I never thought of that? "What would I do?"

Kai shrugs.

"It's too risky," I sigh, shaking my head.

Kai stares at me.

"No."

"You coward."

"Kai."

"I'd do it."

I pause, intrigued. "You would?"

"Absolutely. Nothing would be better than building something from the ground up. Working only with people you trust. Doing it exactly how you want. Knowing whether you succeed or fail, it was on your terms."

"Says the man sitting at the top with the world handed to him," I point out, giving him a pointed look.

"Hiwatari is mine to take, and I would be stupid not to. Not to mention, I've put in my share of blood and sweat. That doesn't change the fact that I would love to have the time to build something of my own. That's freedom that you can't get with a company like Hiwatari."

I lean forward, elbows on the table. "I've never heard you say something bad about Hiwatari. Usually, it's all"- I drop my voice and do a terrible impression of his deeper tone- "'I'm the greatest. Once I take control, nothing will stop me.' Or something like that."

Kai is unamused, as expected. He doesn't like it when we mock him, but he never stops his friends from doing it. He's funny like that.

Letting it go, I lean back again. "I wouldn't even know where to start."

"You're scared."

I nod. "Yeah. Normal people are."

"I didn't take you for normal," Kai answers, returning my pointed look. "You're the girl who jumped out a window and agreed to fake an engagement for six months with a man you didn't know."

I smile small, meeting his stare. Kai doesn't fidget. He doesn't break eye contact. He's serious and focused and in control, and those are the moments where he's the most dangerous to me. When Kai is interested, he gets to me.

I'm thankful when the waiter delivers our plates. "Yay, food!" I try to cheer.

The waiter gives me a flat smile, purely to be polite, but it breaks the mood that settled over me.

Kai unfolds his cloth napkin, settling it over his lap. "Something to think about," he mutters, before digging into his grilled chicken.

I pick up my burger. I'm off the clock, so there's no need to pretend I'm a dainty lady. With our mouths busy, we don't talk much. I munch on my fries, not feeling the need to fill the silence or worry about what he's thinking.

I reflect as I chew, imagining myself, not an employee, but a business owner, and what that would look like. I've always wanted to help people and improve situations for others. There are so many opportunities to be better; to do more. I used to want to volunteer, but I always put it off before because I was busy. That's not entirely the case anymore.

Before I'm finished with my plate, Kai puts his napkin on the table, drawing my attention. "I'm going back now," he says as he rises from the booth. "There are a few other things we need to talk about. You're available tonight?"

I fight off a smile. "You have my schedule."

"I know. Just checking." He smiles lightly. Then his lips fall back into their usual line. "Go back to mine. I'll be home -"

"For dinner," I tease. This time, I can't keep the smile from spreading across my face.

He seems to hesitate a moment, tapping his knuckle against the table, before inhaling sharply and walking away. Weird. I turn and watch from over my shoulder as he moves through the restaurant. I follow the width of his shoulders as he moves coolly through the aisle until he's at the door, where Rick suddenly appears at his back.

"What was that about?" I wonder.

I take my time finishing the burger and fries, feeling satisfied when my plate is clean. The waiter clears both the plates as soon as I'm finished, leaving the bill. I know Kai would have me put his card in, but I pull out the one connected to my account instead.

I sling my bag over my shoulder. It's still early afternoon and I have nowhere specific to be. I could walk around for a while and take advantage of one of the last warm days left.

This idea charms me, and I set off from the restaurant, turning right. The opposite way from Kai's office. I don't have a plan for where I'm going. I just walk, breathing in the autumn air.

I should be feeling bad about the interview. A part of me still stings. But Kai took something bad and made it good. Again. His never-defeated attitude is infectious. I can't let these setbacks and emotions hold me back from what I want.

I debate my options.

My mind turns towards Kai's suggestion, giving it weight. If finding a position at an established company is staying safe on level ground, then starting my own business is bursting forth from that safe position, hoping I learn how to fly midair. I could fail and look like a doofus. Even worse, I wouldn't have anyone there to make it better.

Anyone?

I laugh at how, even in my mind, I'm trying to trick myself.

I won't have Kai there. By then, this will all be over, and he'll be gone.

But that's what I want, isn't it? For this to be over?

In the end, it doesn't matter what I want, because it's coming either way.

A loud, lengthy honk startles me. I look up, blinking rapidly, and realize I'm standing on a street corner, the walking symbol across the street blinking. Another honk follows before the car at my side swiftly goes around the corner. I must have been standing here too long.

Checking that the way is clear, I start across the street, taking in my surroundings. This area is less familiar, but still in the business district. Still, I should probably call for a car before it gets too late.

I pull out my phone, noticing a message from Emily that I ignore, already knowing what she wants, and a missed call from Mariah, which I can deal with after. I find the car service in my contacts and hit the call button, bringing it to my ear. It's as I'm looking at the street signs for an address to pick me up that I notice a familiar face that freezes me in place.

Ralf and Johnny walk on the opposite side of the street, side by side. My eyes follow them. They enter one of the businesses. It stands out from the rest, as it's the only one on the street where the door is set back in an alcove, under a stone archway. Above the door sits a small carved statue. It's too difficult to identify from a distance, but the sign that curves around the arch reads "Gryphon" in fancy yellow letters.

Stupid, a voice inside warns. It would be stupid to follow them in.

My feet move forward on their own.

Kai will be mad. He's always mad when I do things without letting him know first. But he's working, and I've already stolen his attention once today. And I know what he'll say.

My feet don't stop, driven forward by insatiable curiosity.

The door is a slab of heavy wood, with two gold handles in the shape of a bird's wings. Or a Griffon, as I can now tell what the creature above the door is. It looks down at me as if guarding the entrance.

I shake my head, giving myself one last chance to walk away. I should just walk. Away.

Throwing my shoulders back, I swing open the door – or try to. I have the upper body strength of a jellyfish, apparently, because I can only get it opened enough for me to squeeze through. It slams closed behind me with a thump. I glare at it, straightening my jacket and bag.

It's dim inside, the wood on the walls stained a deep rich purple, with low lit sconces on the walls. The black and white checker floors lead to a large desk at the center of the room, where a lone man waits, staring at me. His dark eyes follow me, and despite being older with graying hair, there's a sharpness about him that sets back my confidence.

I walk forward, trying to think quickly. I have no idea where Johnny and Ralf would have gone, but I need to say something.

"Good day," I start. Does that sound too posh? Am I trying for posh? I should try to sound rich, like I belong here. How do rich people talk to each other?

The man nods. "Good afternoon, ma'am."

Good. Good. "I'm meeting with Ralf Hiwatari and Johnny..." What does Kai call him? Think "Mc... Greg ...or?"

He shakes his head. "I believe you're mistaken."

"No, no," I say too quickly. Clearing my throat, I try again, slower. "They were waiting for me, but I just missed them. I saw them come inside, though."

"Yes, they're here," he agrees. "But I don't think you're scheduled to meet with them."

I furrow my brow. "Are you calling me a liar?"

"Well, ma'am." He breaks off, shrugging helplessly. "This is a men's only club."

Oh.

"Like escorts?" I whisper, leaning over the desk. My god, think of the scandal.

He jerks back, glaring. "No," he says as if I've personally offended him. "There are no women here."

My brows go up, but before I can say anything, he hurries to finish. "We are not that kind of establishment. This is a place where gentlemen can escape what is often a harried and hectic lifestyle, relax, exercise, and enjoy a meal – all without the eyes and calls of their counterparts. We cater exclusively to men."

"And that's legal?" I scrunch up my nose.

He looks down at me, pursing his lips. "If you're looking to make social connections, may I suggest the woman's only gym down the street? Or perhaps a lonely woman's book club?"

"What example are you implying?"

"I don't think I need to explain."

"Do you have any idea who I am?"

He rolls his eyes. "Oh, please."

I back down, already embarrassed that line slipped out. He probably gets that a lot anyway, and from people more important than me. I step away from the desk. It was a stupid idea anyway, I know that. I look around as I walk towards the door. A mural is painted on the high ceilings. Blackish blue background with gold stars. Thin lines connect some of the stars to make constellations. Behind the desk is an open space that branches off into many different doors and halls. I'm almost amazed that it extends so far. Nothing about the front indicated there was all this space here. The other businesses on the street must be fronts. There's even a second level, but all I can see is a bridge that extends from one side to the other.

I probably wouldn't have been able to find them even if I had gotten past the front desk. They could be anywhere.

As I start towards the exit, I glance back one last time, only to see the two objects of my focus walking across the second-floor hall.

It must mean something, right?

I look at the man at the front desk. He's in shape, but I doubt he can run in that suit and those shoes. Especially on the polished floor. All I need to do is find a place to hide until he stops looking.

Committed to my plan, win or lose, I grip my bag and approach the desk again. He's distracted by some papers in front of him. He doesn't bother to look up even though he knows I'm here, judging by that harassed sigh he lets out as I get closer.

At that moment, the phone rings. I watch, eagerly, as he picks it up, brings it to his ear, and gives his introduction. I wait as he listens intently. Used to privacy, he turns away, giving me his back.

This is my chance!

I dart around the desk, high-tailing to the open space behind it. It extends in three directions – left, right, and farther back. I go left, following where I saw Ralf and Johnny going, even though they were the floor above. There will be a way up there.

I hear the man shout, but no one comes after me right away. He must be calling security, then, since he can't leave the desk. That'll give me a chance to hide.

The floor back here is carpeted with lush, which softens my step. Ornate carvings on the walls, spaced between large paintings of battle scenes from wars and undressed women in various locations. Even sculptures on pedestals line the hall. Everything about this place screams old and traditional.

In other words, stuffy and filthy rich.

I pass a man in the hall, a pipe hanging from his lips. Tipping my head, I mutter a quiet greeting, which he returns before he realizes I am most certainly not a man. After I pass, I hear him grumble and complain loudly.

I come to a wide staircase with a curling banister. I swing myself around, taking the steps by two. At the top, I enter the first door I find on the left. I've been lucky so far, but I can't keep running.

Inside is a wide room, with wooden black floors with red parallel lines creating narrow boxes, about five rows of them. Swords of various lengths and sizes line one wall, and brown leather barrel chairs around circular tables on the other side of the court. Between the chairs and tables are wide columns of white marble, and I duck behind the first one, flattening my back and sinking low to the ground.

I rest, acknowledging my racing heart. My body hums with a mixture of anxiety and...fun? I cover my mouth to muffle the giggle that threatens to escape. That man's face was priceless, not to mention the rude guy at the front.

The door clicks open, and voices bounce off the high ceilings. I clamp my mouth shut, no longer finding it funny because I recognize those voices.

"All I'm saying is I don't think this is your way in," Johnny says, his loud voice echoing around the room.

"Perhaps," Ralf replies, softer than his companion. "But we won't know until it's over. So, stay on her."

On her ? On me? Am I her? I haven't seen Johnny in months, not since Kai's party. They may be talking about someone else.

As they move around, I can hear the rustling of cloth and the clank of metal, but they've stopped speaking. I rotate farther behind the column in hopes that it will conceal me from their view. Difficult, when I don't know exactly where they are. Making myself as small as possible, For the longest time, it seems they put their conversation on pause. Neither of them speaks. I hold my breath, listening for even the slightest of sounds.

Rapid clanking follows, almost rhythmic in a way. The clanks come in quick succession, then break for a moment before starting again. Fencing, I realize, drawing the connection from boxes on the floor and the swords lining the wall. To confirm, I lean around the column, slowly peering to get as much as I can without drawing attention to my location.

Two bodies dressed in black uniforms and wire masks, unlike the traditional white ones I usually picture, move back and forth across the room. Their movements are quick and aggressive.

The door opens, and I move back to my hiding place just as Ralf lifts his mask.

"Sorry to interrupt, gentleman, but have you seen a young woman wandering the halls? She snuck past the front desk."

My body tenses and I stop breathing, knowing I can be caught any second if I make the wrong move.

"A girl?" Johnny howls with a laugh.

"No," Ralf says to the man, "now get out."

Without another word, the door clicks shut.

"A girl," Johnny repeats. "Sounds like fun. Hey, maybe we should quit this game and go on a hunt."

"And what would we do when we find her?"

"Oh, I don't know. Depends on what she looks like."

Ugh. I can practically hear him waggling his eyebrows. I'm beginning to agree with Kai's sentiments.

"That's repulsive."

You tell him, Ralf.

"She's probably snuck in to find a rich man to pay for her overly extravagant lifestyle. And thanks to my reckless cousin, our family is already dealing with one gold digger too many."

I take it back. They're both gross.

"Is it true that the old coot froze his inheritance?"

"It is."

"That's rich. I wish it actually affected him. He's not even breaking a sweat."

"Not to the naked eye, but then Kai's always been that way. Considering he's still hemorrhaging money to cover his tracks with the girl, he's probably not feeling too great about it. That's why we need to keep applying pressure. He'll break eventually."

Finally, the good stuff. At least this wasn't all for nothing.

Johnny is quiet after that, prompting Ralf to demand he speak up.

"It's just that -" Johnny's voice wavers before he powers forward. "Look, I'm on your side, right? Always been. Always will be. But we can't act like this is out of character for your cousin. Kai's never played by the rules. Taking his father's preference into account, isn't it possible he just fell for a nobody."

"They are not in love. He's paying her."

"It looks like an allowance."

"Look at the timing."

"The loser's not a public person, and this only came to light when your grandfather pushed him."

"Still, he could only have met her when he started at that location. He hasn't been there for very long. He's known her less than a year. A year!"

This is the first time Ralf's raised his voice, and my stomach sinks as I press tighter against the cold stone.

Again, Johnny doesn't say anything.

"It's a ploy. He can't seriously be interested in her. He certainly can't marry that girl. He must marry the one Soichiro picked out for him, and he needs to accept that." Ralf pauses and takes a deep breath. His next words are sharp and gritty. "But of course, he's been allowed to be stubborn and spoiled all his life, and now he refuses to listen. It's childish. He's never cared about the effect his actions have on other people. He makes decisions and moves forward, never even thinking about the lives of those around him. Kai has ruined my plans too many times, and I'm not letting it happen again."

"Alright." Johnny snaps, cutting Ralf off. He sighs. "I'll stay on the girl. She's not as skilled at this as the rest of us. She's bound to slip up eventually."

"Thank you."

Ralf's words reverberate in my head. He's right about Kai; he is selfish. We all know it.

But that doesn't mean he can't be made to see.

Slipping out my phone, I open my messages, typing out a quick SOS to Romero and sending my location.

'Are you kidding me' he messages back almost instantly.

'Rescue now. Talk later' I send off quickly. Followed immediately by, 'Don't tell Kai'

Double chapter update; AN on next chapter.