Drama At Second Glance

“What do you mean Audrey wasn't with us last night?” 

As Jax paces back and forth, her frustration and concern mounting, the rest of the group tries to cope with their own ailments from the previous night's revelry. 

“Jax, silence!” Alexa, nursing a headache, pleads for Jax's silence, while Reggie interrupts with a bout of nausea, his focus on a more immediate need.

“Let me puke, Jax. For fuck sake!” 

Jax, overwhelmed by worry, runs a hand through her hair, her anxiety palpable. She reaches for her phone, intending to call Audrey, but to her dismay, Audrey's phone appears to be switched off. 

Panic takes hold of Jax, and her mind races with questions about Audrey's whereabouts.

Meanwhile, Audrey, now dressed and determined to uncover the truth, begins her search within the suite. With each room she checks, her uncertainty grows. Eventually, she descends the stairs, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of Luke, the person she suspects may hold the answers she seeks. 

Fortunately, he is nowhere to be seen.

Approaching the staff members, Audrey inquires about her friends, hoping for some information that could lead her to the truth. 

Her quest for answers brings her to the reception area, where she poses a specific question about the room she woke up in, hoping for a clue about the mysterious person she spent the night with.

However, the staff member, apologetic yet unable to provide the desired information, informs Audrey that the bill has been settled, but they cannot disclose the person's name. 

Frustration wells up within Audrey as she realizes her search for answers hits another dead end. The nameless stranger remains a mystery.

Feeling a mix of disappointment and urgency, Audrey decides to leave the club, stepping out into the open air.

 In need of a moment to collect her thoughts, she takes a deep sigh, her mind racing with questions and confusion. 

Craving a respite, she swiftly makes her way to the nearest bakery, seeking solace in the familiar comfort of caffeine and a pastry.

At the bakery, Audrey places an order for a much-needed cup of coffee and a croissant, hoping that the familiar tastes will provide a moment of clarity amidst the chaos of her thoughts. 

As she waits for her order, she takes a seat, preparing to contemplate her next steps and determine how she can uncover the truth behind the enigmatic events of the previous night.

The man in the lavish presidential room, engrossed in his own thoughts, turns his chair to face the glass door that offers a breathtaking view of the cityscape. 

The sky is adorned with clouds, and the weather outside appears pleasantly serene. 

His focus drifts to a neighboring building, nearly as tall as the one he occupies, capturing his attention.

A knock on the door interrupts his contemplation, prompting him to swivel his chair around.

 In his deep, commanding voice, he grants permission for the visitor to enter, saying, "Yes?"

A man of advanced age steps into the room, assuming a respectful position in one corner. 

Addressing the man in the chair, he begins, "Sir..." His voice trails off, indicating a sense of importance and urgency.

The man in the chair, identified as Mr. Ashford, expresses his curiosity, inquiring, "What is it, Sean? Did you find it?" 

His eyes fixate on Sean, awaiting his response.

Sean, who evidently works for Mr. Ashford, shakes his head slightly, his gaze falling to the ground. He carries an air of shame, aware of his failure to deliver. 

"No, Mr. Ashford... we did not find it anywhere," he admits, his voice laced with disappointment.

Taking a deep breath, Mr. Ashford rises from his seat, the dice still rolling within his palms, and approaches the expansive window. 

His eyes narrow with annoyance, his words carefully chosen as he speaks, "I need that watch at any cost, Sean. You know my uncle will kill me if he finds out..."

Sean nods, his commitment unwavering. He reassures his boss, "Don't worry, Mr. Ashford. I will make sure to find it before Mr. Richard does." Instilling confidence in his words, Sean pledges to rectify the situation.

After dismissing Sean, Mr. Ashford finds his mind drifting back to the events of the previous night, tragic as they were. 

Reluctant to dwell on those memories, he pushes them aside, determined to focus on the task at hand.

Just as he tries to regain his composure, his phone rings, jolting him from his thoughts. Answering the call, his tone softens as he speaks, "Hello?" 

The shift in his voice hints at a different side of his personality, one that contrasts with the sternness he typically exudes.

He arrives at the designated location where he has been summoned, finding a familiar face standing before him. 

The two share a history, but their relationship has always been strained. He wastes no time in getting to the point, tucking his hands into his pockets as he addresses Paul. 

"What is it, Paul? Why did you call me here?" His voice is firm, reflecting his no-nonsense demeanor. The three-piece suit he wears is impeccably pressed, a testament to his attention to detail.

Paul can't help but grin mischievously as he jumps out of his car, approaching him with an air of excitement. Paul's response to his sternness is far from compliant. "Kalix! Kalix! Kalix!" he exclaims, his laughter echoing in the air. 

"We are not close, Paul. You better refer to me as Mr. Ashford," Kalix reminds him, asserting his authority.

Chuckling, Paul's grin persists as he playfully retorts, "To the world, maybe. But to me, you will always be Kalix... the workaholic cousin." 

His words carry a hint of teasing and a touch of malice, aimed at provoking a reaction from Kalix.

Kalix's gaze briefly shifts to his polished shoes, a momentary distraction before he locks eyes with Paul. His voice softens, yet holds an underlying firmness as he warns, "I don't want to dirty my shoes today, Paul. So it's either you say what you want or..." 

He leaves the sentence hanging, implying the consequences if Paul continues to test his patience.

Paul raises both hands in mock surrender, a playful smile still dancing on his lips.

“I heard you lost something?” He can't resist taunting Kalix, revealing that he has heard about Kalix's secret. "The watch, is it?" Paul's voice drips with a mix of amusement and curiosity, knowing he has struck a nerve.

Kalix's expression turns serious, his eyes narrowing as he becomes alert to the potential threat Paul poses. He scoffs dismissively, attempting to downplay the significance. 

"Bullshit!" Kalix retorts, seeking to undermine Paul's knowledge. He continues quickly, trying to regain control of the situation. "I have given it for polishing."

Paul, undeterred, presses further, his tone suggestive. "Oh yeah? Did you ask my dad?" His words hang in the air, implying that Kalix 's actions might have repercussions beyond their personal relationship. 

Kalix clenches his jaw, his anger simmering beneath the surface. He knows he has to remain silent, but his tightly clenched fist betrays his inner turmoil.

With great effort, Kalix manages to speak, his voice laced with defiance. "Am I answerable to you?" he challenges, refusing to let Paul's presence intimidate him.

Paul clicks his tongue, his response filled with a mixture of amusement and authority. "No, but you are... to my dad." 

The implication is clear—Kalix’s actions carry consequences that extend beyond their familial dynamics, and Paul is not hesitant to remind him of that fact.

"You might be wondering how I came to know about this little secret of yours," Paul says, a vile grin spreading across his face as he addresses Kalix. 

His words drip with malice as he continues, "Well, I got resources. Also, here's what I am going to do, dear cousin."

Paul approaches Kalix, locking eyes with him as he delivers a warning. "I am going to wait for two days. Then I am revealing everything to my father." 

The threat hangs in the air, leaving Kalix unsettled and gritting his teeth. He prefers to remain silent, though thoughts of retaliating and breaking Paul's jaw flicker through his mind.

As Paul slides into his Bugatti Noire and the car begins to disappear, Kalix's attention is caught by his secretary, Sean, who appears nearby. 

Sean, ever polite and attentive, asks his boss, "Sir, is everything alright?"

Turning towards Sean, Kalix's senses are heightened. He realizes the urgency of the situation and rushes towards his own car, his voice filled with determination. "No, Sean. We need to find that watch, or I am gone."

With a sense of urgency and the weight of impending consequences, Kalix sets off, determined to track down the missing watch before Paul carries out his threat.

Sitting in the car, Kalix is already exhausted when he unexpectedly hears Sean's voice. He lets out a deep sigh, bracing himself for whatever Sean is about to say. "Sir, Miss Natalie wants you to join her at the art exhibition this weekend..."

Kalix scoffs, turning to face Sean with a mocking expression. "Art exhibition, you say, Sean... Here I don't have time to jerk off." His tone carries a hint of frustration and dismissiveness.

To Kalix's surprise, Sean chuckles lightly and responds, "You don't have to do that since you were with a woman last night." 

Instead of getting offended by the comment, Kalix's lips twitch, an idea sparking in his mind.

"Sean! Yes! I believe I have left my watch with that woman," Kalix exclaims, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. Sean, taken aback by the sudden revelation, continues to ask his boss, "But sir, are you sure?"

Kalix, feeling a surge of determination, commands Sean to find the woman from last night so they can thoroughly examine her. 

The possibility of the watch being in her possession fills Kalix with renewed energy, as he sees a potential solution to the predicament he finds himself in.

Audrey arrives at her apartment and rings the doorbell, growing increasingly impatient as she waits for her friend to answer. 

Finally, Alexa opens the door, her face lighting up with excitement at the sight of Audrey. Without wasting a moment, she gives Audrey a warm hug and exclaims, "Oh my God! Audrey, where have you been?"

Amidst the exchange, Audrey's attention is drawn to the sound of crying coming from another room. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she stepped inside, heading directly towards the room. There, she finds Jax, tears streaming down their faces as they cry endlessly.

"I hope she's alright! Where the hell is she? We should file a complaint," Audrey scoffs, contemplating entering the room. 

However, before she can take any further action, she dismisses the idea. "That won't be necessary."

Jax turns to look at Audrey, immediately wrapping their arms around her in a tight hug. Through their tears, Jax manages to speak, "We... we lost you and..."

Audrey chuckles softly, finding humor in the situation. "Why the fuck are you crying?" she asks, unable to resist teasing her friend.

Sniffling, Jax tries to answer, their voice shaky. "We... We thought something happened to you. We were so worried."

Audrey spends some time chatting with her friends, offering comfort and reassurance. Eventually, someone in the group brings up the events of the previous night. "You were with a guy last night. What happened?"

Audrey's mind wanders, struggling to reconcile the fragmented memories from the past. She thinks deeply, but the details elude her. "Um, I don't really remember. But I woke up naked on a bed... all alone. So that jerk probably ran off in the morning."

Feeling a mix of exhaustion and confusion, Audrey retreats to her room. She throws her bag onto the bed and, as she does, various items spill out. Among them, her eyes are drawn to a sparkling object. 

Curiosity piqued, she picked up the unfamiliar watch and wondered aloud, "What is this, and why is it in my bag?”