We eventually located the front counter of the nightclub but were promptly ignored by the staff. While we were there, we heard a patron making enquiries if there were girls available to spend the night with. The staff member merely handed him a card. It was all rather cloak-and-dagger.
Rather naively, I whispered to Hannah, “What’s that?”
Hannah explained, “It’s a card with a number on it. It’s the same in other bars or clubs. Due to the wide variety of characters that flow through sordid places like these, the nightclub caters to a similarly wide range of demands. That guy we just saw at the front counter should have been a new patron. He may have come from overseas, been here on business, or was simply here to try something new. There was a phone number on the card. I’m guessing that there’s a woman waiting upstairs for the customer to call the number on her card. I suppose it’s pretty much self-service from then on.”
I didn’t understand. “What do you mean? What will he do upstairs?”
Hannah said patiently, “The units above this nightclub are all apartments occupied by women. The staff at the nightclub connect these women with their clientele. Plainly put, it’s a brothel.”
I frowned. “Surely Rylee can’t be in such pressing need for money, can she?”
Hannah shrugged listlessly. “I wouldn’t have thought so, but after what we just witnessed outside, it’s hard to say for sure. One thing we can be certain about is that she’s no longer in contact with Mr. Quinn. He’s getting married to a K City socialite named Jordyn Bloom. I heard that she’s a sophisticated woman who just returned from studying in Granatano. She’s only in her early twenties and is a young and pretty lady. It’s a pity that her parents pushed her to marry so quickly. Who knows how it’ll turn out!”
“Joe?” I asked doubtfully. “Is he really engaged to a socialite?”
Perceiving my skepticism, Hannah replied, “It happened a few months ago. You were occupied with taking care of Summer, so I didn’t want to bother you with this frivolous gossip. Apparently, after Jordyn found out about Joe’s playboy ways, she made a fuss and wanted to terminate the engagement. Jordyn only went ahead with it begrudgingly because her parents pressured her into it.”
All sorts of conflicting emotions stirred uneasily within me. I’d been jealous of Rylee ever since I came to know Anthony. I could not deny that I’d been incredibly anxious about which one of us Anthony would choose, Rylee or me. Even though I had defeated her, I could not find it in me to rejoice after seeing Rylee’s predicament. Perhaps I had also never really believed that Anthony would leave me for Rylee. Besides, my identity as a member of the Moore family had already cemented my superiority to her.
It was peculiar how one’s family background could make such a vital difference to one’s bearing and attitude towards life. Anyone who possessed any sort of self-confidence or boldness usually had the backing of a strong heritage and family status.
Hannah looked determined to continue hunting down Rylee. Unwilling, I tugged at her, saying, “Let’s go back! There’s nothing much for us to look at here. No matter what caused such desperate straits to befall her, it’s none of our business either. Let’s leave this place quickly!”
Hannah frowned, then egged me on, “Aren’t you curious at all to see how Rylee’s faring?”
I shook my head firmly. “Nope. There’s no point in doing that anyway.”
What was the point in witnessing Rylee’s debasement? What would I gain from gloating over it? No matter what Rylee was doing now, wasn’t my business with her already entirely relegated to the past?
Seeing my obstinate expression, Hannah decided not to pursue the matter. “Fine. It doesn’t matter anyway. Let’s go, then!”
There was a small alley just behind the nightclub. Hannah seemed to be in a particularly daring mood today. She was usually rather meek and timid, but today she was exhibiting a wildly uncharacteristic side of her. She was spontaneous and seemed to be especially seeking out a challenge.
I wondered if it had anything to do with Chandler. Now that Hannah knew there would always be someone supporting her unconditionally, she felt absolutely liberated to act without fear of the consequence.
I, however, hung back slightly and trod rather fearfully behind her a little way, Noticing that the last dregs of daylight were fast fading, I shimmied closer to Hannah, urging, “Hannah, shouldn’t we be turning back already?”
Hannah turned to me with a mischievous grin on her face. “Chandler’s still out of town, and Xavier’s staying with Uncle Louis. I’m so bored staying home all alone. Let’s just take a stroll together! I’m going to get married in a few days’ time and will be under Chandler’s thumb for the rest of my life. He won’t let me out to play, I’m sure! The thought of it is dull enough.”
Hannah’s pout belied the warmth in her tone. I smiled at her obvious happiness. Romance was a truly lovely thing. It could utterly rejuvenate and transform anyone.
Unable to resist Hannah’s cheerful enthusiasm, I thus continued down the gloomy alley with her. Nervously, I joked, “Why are we taking a stroll here? Wouldn’t a mall be more suitable?”
Hannah turned to me and pressed a finger to her lips. As if she were sharing a delightful secret, Hannah whispered, “I’ve been hearing about this place for the longest time. Apparently it’s a gathering place for all sorts of characters at night. I wanted to take a look to satisfy my curiosity.”
I gaped at Hannah, aghast. “What are you so curious about nothing for? All we’ll meet are probably hardened criminals! Shouldn’t we be fleeing instead of charging straight into their den?”
Hannah sniggered. Gleefully, she declared, “I wrote a book recently and was considering adding some scenes set in the city’s underworld. All the true crimes I’ve ever heard were paltry drug sellers earning a few quick bucks, though. I’ve never seen the real deal, you know? K City is rife with all sorts of shady characters. I really wanted to come here after all I’d heard about it and see for myself, hoping to gain some material for my writing.”
I groaned inwardly. This woman is crazy!
I reluctantly trailed after Hannah. We hadn’t proceeded much further, however, when we came to a halt.
K City’s underworld was equally as squalid as how vibrant the city was. Beneath streetlamps so dim, there was barely a glow in the oppressive dark sat a few men. Some were leaning against the wall while others perched on top of it. Some looked haggard, skeletal, and barely sustained by the occasional meals from good Samaritans.
Others were dressed in flashy outfits, clutching thick wads of cash in their hands. Revolted by the grimy, seedy appearance of the place, I grabbed Hannah and yanked at her frantically, indicating that we should leave right away.
Hannah was evidently terrified as well. She took one glance and turned on her heels, ready to leave with me. Before we could escape, we ironically crashed headlong into the one person we’d come here to meet. It was Rylee! In the flickering light cast by the streetlamps, Rylee’s face looked absolutely ghastly.
Rylee’s eyes widened first in shock, then in recognition. She instinctively recoiled, her eyes darting nervously from side to side. Realizing that there was nowhere for her to hide or run, she faced me squarely, her eyes blazing in fury and despair. “Sienna? Why are you here?” she asked.
My gaze shifted to the object that Rylee wielded in her hand, then jumped in fright. “You…”
Rylee glanced down at the sealed plastic sachet in her hand. The corners of her mouth curved up into a sinister smile. “What? Do you want to try some? It’s good stuff. Once you’ve had some, you’ll find yourself craving for more the rest of your life.”
I staggered slightly in horror and gawped at Rylee. “Did you use the money from all your dirty deeds to purchase this?”
Rylee narrowed her eyes, then abruptly burst into peals of high, piercing laughter that sounded almost like a shriek. “So it was indeed the two of you I saw just now! I’d thought I was hallucinating,” Rylee admitted dizzily. She stuck a fingertip into the powder in her hand, then waved it in front of us. “Come on, I got lots of extras today. I can spare you a little. Why don’t you try a bit to see what it feels like? How about that? Just a little.”
“Get away from us!” Hannah struck out, shoving Rylee aside. She bellowed, “Rylee, no one cares if you become an addict. But you’d better keep your distance from us! We don’t want to end up like you.”
Hannah’s words seemed to trigger something in Rylee. Scowling, Rylee snarled, “Mrs. Featherstone, you’re already married to Anthony, aren’t you? What are you doing all the way out here, then? Why are you suddenly so interested in addicts like us? Aren’t you afraid that someone will kidnap you and demand a ransom of millions from Mr. Featherstone?”
“Enough of your nonsense!” Hannah snapped back in return. “You’ve already been reduced to such a state, yet you’re criticizing others? Let me tell you honestly then, we came here to look at you!”
Hannah pulled my arm again, but Rylee stood adamantly in our way. Raising her voice, she addressed the group of men standing behind us. “Everyone, listen up! She’s the wife of the president of Featherstone Corporation! If you manage to get her, you should be able to easily get a cool hundred thousand from Mr. Featherstone at the very least.”
Does Rylee intend to incite my kidnapping and threaten Anthony? I pondered.
Hannah was speechless. “Rylee, have you gone crazy? How can you bring yourself to stoop so low?”
Busy reveling in her loathing of me, Rylee seemed unfazed by either Hannah’s derision or the cold wind. One could say that Rylee was my nemesis, perhaps, but amongst all the possible endings to our rivalry, I’d never imagined this one. There was no light at all in Rylee’s dull eyes. She looked as if she had utterly given up on herself and life.
I had no intention of squabbling with Rylee. This wasn’t an ideal environment, and the sooner we got away from here, the better. Besides, I wasn’t invested enough in her to care. We were merely two individuals whose paths had crossed at one point in time but had diverged thereafter. I thus saw no purpose in further engaging with her antics.
I briskly pushed Rylee aside, dragging Hannah close behind me. But, Rylee stopped us with one hand. “Sienna, do you really think I’m going to let you get away so easily?” Rylee sneered.
Having said that, she howled towards the men behind us with a vengeance. “Inject her with the stuff! I’ll give my entire stash to anyone who succeeds. Quickly!”
I froze. Hannah lunged forward to restrain Rylee but was pushed aside. Rylee’s eyes were blazing. “Move aside if you don’t want me to kill you as well!”
I struggled, but Rylee seemed possessed with an inhuman strength. I was totally incapacitated by her strong grip.
The audience behind us in the alley sprang into action. I highly doubted that they cared about the legality of their actions. Rylee’s proclamation seemed to unleash the demons within them. They scrambled and sprinted over in their eagerness to inject me.
At the sight of those needles pointing towards me, I stood rooted to the spot, petrified. My mind raced and I panicked. These needles are all probably infected with something or another! I’m dead if they touch me!
Rylee laughed maniacally. “Sienna, I never thought I’d live to see you like this!”
Just then, a miraculous burst of energy surged through me. I wrenched my arm out of Rylee’s strong grip and hurled her towards the incoming needles. Without a second thought, I grabbed Hannah. We sprinted for our lives towards the exit of the alley.
Fortunately for us, it wasn’t a long way off. The addicts, probably lethargic, didn’t have enough of an interest to hunt us down.
Unfortunately, Rylee had given chase. Bemused, Hannah exclaimed with a short laugh, “This woman is really something!”
I found Hannah’s utterance rather abrupt. Before I could respond, I caught sight of Rylee standing just behind us, staring at us somewhat unsteadily.
Realization dawned upon me when I saw the car parked right outside the alley. Hannah’s irrational calmness now made complete sense.
By the time Rylee recovered her wits, it was far too late. The policemen were already converging on her and caught up within a few steps.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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