The morning sun filtered through the curtains of Mindy's apartment, casting a soft glow over the room. Emily Cooper sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at her reflection in the mirror. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess, the events of the previous night playing over and over in her mind like a broken record. Doug's voice still echoed in her ears, his threats lingering in the air like a foul stench.

She knew she should be getting ready for the corporate party at Versailles, but the weight of dread sat heavily on her chest. She felt like she was being watched, her every move scrutinized by unseen eyes. The phone call from Doug had shaken her to her core, and no matter how hard she tried to push it aside, it clung to her like a shadow.

A knock on the door startled her out of her thoughts. "Emily? Are you okay?" Mindy's voice was gentle but laced with concern.

Emily blinked, realizing that she had been staring at herself for far too long. "Yeah, I'm… I'm fine," she replied, though her voice lacked conviction.

Mindy stepped into the room, followed closely by Camille, who wore a worried expression. "You don't look fine," Camille said, her tone soft but firm. "You've been quiet all morning. Is it about last night?"

Emily nodded slowly, her eyes meeting Camille's in the mirror. "I can't shake the feeling that he's still watching me. Doug… he knows too much. And the way he spoke to me… it was like he was right there, just waiting for the perfect moment."

Mindy exchanged a glance with Camille before sitting down next to Emily on the bed. "Listen, I know this is terrifying, but we're here for you. We won't let him hurt you. And you're not alone in this. We'll get through it together."

Camille nodded in agreement, placing a comforting hand on Emily's shoulder. "We're not going to let him win, Emily. Today is about you being strong, showing him that you won't be intimidated."

Emily took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. "You're right. I can't let him control my life. I have to be strong."

"Exactly," Mindy said with a reassuring smile. "And besides, we've got a party to go to. Let's focus on that for now. We'll deal with everything else as it comes."

Emily nodded, though the unease still gnawed at her. She forced herself to get up and begin getting dressed for the party. The three women worked together, helping each other with their outfits and makeup, trying to keep the mood light. But beneath the surface, the tension was palpable.

As they finally finished getting ready, they made their way to the door, Camille glancing back at Emily with a reassuring smile. "Let's go show them what we're made of."

The drive to Versailles was uneventful, the grandeur of the palace looming in the distance as they approached. The corporate party was already in full swing when they arrived, the opulent surroundings filled with the chatter and laughter of Paris's elite.

Emily tried to focus on the present, to immerse herself in the event and forget about the dark cloud hanging over her. But as they entered the grand hall, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her. Her eyes darted around the room, scanning the faces of the attendees, but there was no sign of Doug.

Mindy, ever perceptive, noticed Emily's discomfort and gave her a gentle nudge. "Hey, are you okay?"

Emily forced a smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'm fine. Just… a little overwhelmed, I guess."

Mindy nodded, understanding. "Let's stick together, okay? We'll get through this."

As they moved through the crowd, Mindy's attention was caught by a familiar face. Nicolas de Léon, the charming and enigmatic man she had been seeing, was standing near the bar, engaged in conversation with a group of people. Mindy's heart skipped a beat, and she couldn't help but smile.

"Looks like you've got some company," Camille teased, nudging Mindy with a grin.

Mindy blushed slightly but kept her composure. "I'll catch up with you two in a bit, okay?"

Emily and Camille nodded, watching as Mindy made her way over to Nicolas. They continued on, eventually spotting Sylvie Grateau, their boss, who was holding court near one of the grand fireplaces.

"Sylvie," Camille greeted her with a warm smile. "It's good to see you."

Sylvie turned to them with a nod, her sharp eyes assessing them both. "Emily, Camille. I trust you're enjoying yourselves?"

Emily managed a polite smile, though her mind was still elsewhere. "Yes, it's a beautiful event. Thank you for inviting us."

Sylvie's gaze lingered on Emily, as if sensing that something was off. Before she could say anything, Julien, one of their colleagues, approached with a curious expression. "Emily, someone wants to see you."

Emily frowned, her unease growing. "Who?"

Julien shrugged. "I'm not sure. They asked me to tell you to meet them at the Versailles Gardens. Sounded urgent."

Emily's heart skipped a beat, suspicion gnawing at her. "Did they say who they were?"

"No," Julien replied, shaking his head. "But they seemed insistent."

Camille's eyes narrowed in concern. "Emily, are you sure you should go? It could be—"

"I know," Emily interrupted, her voice steady despite the fear bubbling inside her. "But I need to see who it is. It could be important."

Camille hesitated but eventually nodded. "Just… be careful."

Emily took a deep breath and made her way toward the Versailles Gardens, her mind racing. As she stepped out into the cool evening air, the gardens stretched out before her, beautifully illuminated by soft lights. But despite the beauty, there was an eerie stillness that made her skin prickle.

She walked deeper into the gardens, her senses on high alert. The sound of her heels clicking on the stone pathway echoed in the quiet, each step amplifying her anxiety. She reached a secluded area, the statues and fountains casting long shadows in the dim light.

But there was no one there.

Emily's heart pounded in her chest as she scanned the area, her eyes darting from shadow to shadow. She felt a chill run down her spine, the sense of being watched more intense than ever. And then, her phone buzzed in her hand.

She looked down at the screen, dread washing over her. It was the same unknown number. Her hand trembled as she answered the call, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Doug?"

"Hello, Emily," Doug's voice came through the line, calm and cold. "Nice to see you're still following orders."

Emily's fear quickly turned to anger. "What do you want, Doug? Why did you bring me here?"

Doug chuckled, the sound sending a shiver down her spine. "I didn't bring you anywhere, Emily. You came on your own. I just… nudged you in the right direction."

Emily's eyes narrowed as she scanned the area, trying to spot any sign of him. "You're lying. Where are you? What do you want?"

"I'm closer than you think," Doug replied, his tone dark and mocking. "And what do I want? I want to see you suffer, Emily. I want you to know that no matter where you go, no matter what you do, I'll always be there. Watching."

Emily's grip tightened on the phone, her fear now mixed with a burning rage. "You're sick, Doug. This ends now. I'm not going to let you control me anymore."

Doug's laugh was low and menacing. "Oh, Emily. You think you can just walk away? You think you can defy me? You've always been so stubborn, so sure of yourself. But you're nothing. Just a scared little girl who thought she could outsmart me."

Emily's anger flared, her voice trembling with both fear and defiance. "You're wrong, Doug. You don't scare me anymore. I'm done playing your games."

There was a pause on the other end, a silence that seemed to stretch on forever. And then, Doug spoke again, his voice dripping with venom. "We'll see about that. But here's a little clue, Emily. You're not as safe as you think. Not you, not Mindy, not Camille, not even Gabriel. You're all just pawns in my game. And you're about to lose."

Emily's heart raced, her mind spinning as she tried to process his words. "What do you mean? What are you planning?"

Doug's voice was icy, filled with malice. "Let's just say… you're about to learn what it really means to be helpless. Enjoy the party, Emily. And remember… I'm always watching."

Before she could respond, the line went dead. Emily stared at her phone, her hands trembling with a mixture of fear and rage. She knew Doug was lying, trying to manipulate her, but the threat felt all too real. She clenched her fists, her mind racing with thoughts of what to do next.

And then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement in the shadows. Her breath caught in her throat as she turned to face it, her heart pounding in her chest. But when she looked closer, there was nothing there—just the eerie silence of the night and the distant sounds of the party.

"Pussy," Doug's voice echoed in her mind, the final word he had spoken before hanging up. The insult stung, but it also fueled her determination. She wouldn't let him break her, wouldn't let him win.

With a deep breath, Emily turned and headed back toward the party, her mind made up. She wasn't going to be a victim anymore. She would confront Doug, face him head-on, and put an end to this nightmare once and for all. But as she walked back through the gardens, the sense of unease lingered, a constant reminder that the danger was far from over.