...At eight that night, Vicky arrived before Room 1331 with a key card she received from the receptionist, but she simply could not summon the courage to step inside.Just then, her phone vibrated, and she saw a text message on her phone.[Are you waiting for me to call Tyler Hart before coming inside?]Vicky's heart sank, and she immediately pushed the door open.Darkness loomed over the room, and there was only a dim light by the couch where she could see a man sitting.The man's shadow twisted under the light, and the familiar sight took her memories back to Forever Night as all the details she tried to forget came rushing back to her.She froze in place, unable to step forward."Why are you just standing there?" the man asked. "Should I come over to bring you in?"Vicky clenched her fists and walked inside reluctantly.He studied her with his dark, brooding gaze under the mask and said, "You look better than you were in Forever Night. It looks like you've been having the
'He isn't giving me options. He's trying to corner me!' she growled mentally.The man's mask shimmered under the light as he sat elegantly and observed Vicky like a predator gazing upon his dying prey."Have you decided, Miss Shaw? Are you going to spy on Tyler for me, or..." He lowered his voice and murmured, "Are you sleeping with me?"She jolted and stuttered, "I... I can get the confidential information on his computer for you, but...that's just for three months."The look in his eyes darkened. "Looks like your innocence is more important to you than your husband’s career."Vicky lowered her gaze."Since you've made your choice, I won't push you," the man said. "I heard that your husband is recently on a business trip, so...it should be easy for you to obtain the information." The man paused for a few moments to think and said, "Bring a copy of whatever is in his computer to me tomorrow at the same time."Vicky stared at him. "It's just for three months...deal?"The man cro
As she focused on filtering the documents, the phone she placed on the desk started ringing.Ring!Vicky was startled by the sudden sound and took some time to calm her racing heart.When she saw Tyler's name on the screen, she twitched and answered the call right before it automatically ended."Tyler…" she whispered, her hand trembling as she held onto the phone."Nanny Paterson said you didn't eat much today." His familiar voice came from the other end of the line. "Are you feeling unwell?""I'm fine. I just...didn't sleep well.""Nightmares?""Yeah.""Why are they starting again all of a sudden?" Tyler's voice turned into a low growl. "I'll call Doctor Grimes to pay you a visit later."Doctor Grimes was the therapist who had been counseling Vicky.Vicky felt a lump in her throat at the concern in his voice."I guess... I'm having a hard time adjusting to you going on a business trip."Tyler remained quiet for a few moments and said, "I'll try my best to handle everythin
The light in the living room flickered, and his shadow stretched and twisted in the most peculiar way.Tension rose in the air, and Vicky instinctively clenched her fists."I've gone through the documents," the man said emotionlessly. "You gave me the list of employees and their respective departments... Are you trying to get me to work there?"Vicky looked away. "I'm a designer, not a businesswoman. I don't know much about the company and...I thought that these were plans for Hart Corporation and copied them.""What about finance reports, bidding reports, and contracts the company had signed before?""I didn't see any.""Really?""Really." Vicky tried her best to sound as sincere as she could. "Tyler is a skeptical man, and he's going to place the important documents in encrypted files. I'm not a hacker, and I can't possibly find them. These are all I found."The man chuckled. "Vicky Shaw, do you take me for a fool?""Sir, I don't understand...""You are a designer and it is
"Next time? Do I look like someone who gives second chances?""I promise that this won't happen again—""Your promise is worth nothing to me," the masked man interrupted Vicky impatiently.He had said something similar before.When she was stuck in Forever Night, she sought his help, and he said that her gratitude meant nothing to him.Realization dawned on Vicky, and she backed away.Amused by Vicky's wariness, the man said, "You can leave whenever you want. Leave with my phone, if you want to. I have plenty of phones, and I can always replace them."He did not go after him, but his words alone were enough to push her over to the edge of a mental breakdown.Tears welled in her eyes as she muttered, "Sir, can you please...just give me one more chance?""No," he said cruelly.Despair filled her heart as she thought to herself, 'What should I do? What am I supposed to do?'Sensing that she was about to break, he drawled, "Miss Shaw, you chose this. You have no one else to blam
The next morning, Vicky was woken up by the ringing of her phone. She fumbled for her phone and answered. "Hello...""Still sleeping?" A cold, melodious voice came from the phone."Tyler?" Vicky jolted awake and said, "Is…something wrong?"After a brief moment of silence, he said, "I texted you this morning and you didn't reply, so I was worried about you."'This morning?' She repeated inwardly and glanced at the time to find that it was already twelve at noon.When Vicky did not respond, Tyler added, "I called Nanny Paterson, and she said you're not at home. Did you not go home last night?"She started panting heavily at the memories of the night before."I... I stayed in the hospital with Jennifer last night, so I didn't go home."Tyler knew that Vicky had gone to spend nights with Jennifer in the hospital in his absence and did not suspect a word she said."You've been up all night taking care of Jennifer again, haven't you?" he asked.Vicky tried her best to comb through
Vicky closed her eyes and dialed back after a few minutes.Beep, beep, beep…The call was answered shortly after, but the man did not say a word, so Vicky spoke first, "I was occupied just now and didn't hear my phone ringing."A voice altered by a voice changer came through the line. "Did you not hear it, or did not simply wish that you didn't hear it?""I didn't hear it."The man did not argue on the matter and asked, "Have you decided how you're going to accomplish your mission tonight, Miss Shaw?""Do I have to meet you tonight as well?" She panted heavily. "Are... Are you asking me to meet with you every single night?""That's right.""Tyler isn't in Stoneford City right now and I can go out to meet you, but he'll be back in a few days! By then—""How is that my problem?" interjected the man curtly.Vicky froze."I'll be waiting for you in the same hotel," said the man before ending the call without giving her the chance to react....At eight that night, Vicky remain
At first, Vicky thought that she was dreaming of Tyler, but it all felt too real to be a dream.She opened her eyes abruptly and sobered when she saw the dark figure before her.Realization dawned on her that it was not a dream, and she instantly recognized the man in her room.It was the masked man.They could not see much of one another in the dark, but their eyes reflected the light and shimmered."Why... Why are you here?" Vicky gaped at the figure.For a moment, she wondered if she was still asleep.After a few moments of silence, the altered voice echoed inside the room. "You've extended an invitation to me, Miss Shaw. I would be rude if I don't come over here.""When have I ever invited you here?!""You didn't show up at the hotel. Isn't that your way of inviting me to your house?"Vicky shivered in rage and said, "You're imagining it!""So be it," he said casually.Vicky was so shocked by the sight of the man that she forgot where she was for a moment. Realization d