Before you dive in, know that this story was inspired by a soap opera—so expect drama, twists, and a whole lot of chaos. It's also written in a bit of a diferentt format to keep things fun and dynamic, so bear with me! And no, I'm not abandoning my first story! Just experimenting with something fresh. Hope you enjoy it!
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The ballroom at the Ashford Hotel gleamed under the weight of crystal chandeliers, laughter, and deceit. Money moved in whispers, alliances were sealed with handshakes, and the city's elite indulged in overpriced champagne, none the wiser to the three women moving through the crowd with their own private agendas.
They didn't know each other. Not yet. But soon, they'd be bound together in ways none of them could predict.
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Mercedes: The Ex Out for Revenge
Mercedes Jones had perfected the art of appearing unbothered, but tonight, every nerve in her body buzzed. She was standing near a secluded corridor, away from the main ballroom, pretending to check her phone while watching the man who had nearly destroyed her.
Derek Whitmore.
Once upon a time, she had loved him. Or, at least, she had loved the version of him he'd let her see. The charming businessman, the self-made mogul. The man who had whispered promises of the world at her feet before yanking the rug out from under her.
Derek hadn't just broken her heart—he had ruined her. His influence had blacklisted her from jobs, sunk her credibility, and left her with nothing but a bruised reputation and a burning need for revenge.
She wasn't here tonight as a guest. She was here to ruin him back.
Somewhere in this building was the person she needed—a journalist who could help her expose his empire. All she had to do was wait for the signal.
Except before that could happen, she locked eyes with a woman who looked just as out of place as she felt.
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Quinn: The Planner Seeking Justice
Quinn Fabray was here to steal something.
The plan was simple: slip into Derek Whitmore's private office, copy files onto her flash drive, and get the hell out. Her family had once trusted Derek, believing his investments would help their business grow. Instead, he bled them dry, manipulated contracts, and left them bankrupt.
Derek had walked away richer, untouched. Her family hadn't been so lucky.
Quinn had spent months tracking down the evidence to prove it, and tonight, she was going to get what she needed.
She was just about to slip back into the ballroom when she nearly collided with someone—
Mercedes.
Mercedes (narrowing her eyes): "What are you doing back here?"
Quinn (casual lying): "Took a wrong turn."
Mercedes: "Oh, really? Past the 'Staff Only' sign?"
Quinn (grinning, unbothered): "What can I say? I have terrible navigation skills."
Before Mercedes could press further, the sound of footsteps approached. Security.
Quinn (grabbing Mercedes' wrist): "We need to move. Now."
Mercedes barely had time to protest before Quinn pulled her into a side hallway.
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Santana: The Investigator Who Got Too Close
Santana Lopez wasn't here for the party. She wasn't even here for the free liquor, though that had been a strong motivator.
She was here because she used to work at the Ashford Hotel.
The job had been fine at first. Great tips, fancy guests, a little drama here and there. But then she started noticing patterns: VIP guests who never checked in. Private meetings in closed-off rooms. Security teams escorting men in and out with briefcases full of who-knows-what.
When she had started asking questions, the hotel had suddenly found a reason to fire her. So she had come here tonight to do something about it.
She hadn't figured out what yet, but standing still wasn't an option.
She had stepped away from the ballroom, debating her next move, when she heard it.
A gunshot.
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The Moment Everything Changed
Mercedes and Quinn froze mid-step. Santana spun around.
Just down the hallway, past the ballroom doors, a man collapsed, blood pooling onto polished marble.
And the shooter?
He looked up. Locked eyes with Mercedes. Then with Quinn. Then with Santana.
They had seen him. They weren't supposed now they had two options:
Run.
Die.
So they ran.
Or at least, they tried. Because before they could get far, the police stormed in.
The chaos swallowed the ballroom, but they didn't make it past the doors. Officers grabbed them, guns drawn, voices shouting orders. They were yanked into the storm of flashing lights and confusion before they could even process what had happened.
And just like that, their lives were no longer their own.
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The Arrest
Quinn (being handcuffed): "Okay, okay, okay—what the f*ck just happened?"
Mercedes (breathless): "We witnessed a hit."
Santana: "AND THE GUY SAW US."
Quinn: "Cool. Cool cool cool. Love that for us."
Mercedes: "What do we do?"
Santana (as they're shoved into police cars): "I don't think we have a choice."
They didn't know each other. They had nothing in common.
But in the span of thirty seconds, they became the only people they could trust.
FADE TO BLACK.