Unveiling Downpour

As the party concluded and the evening sky cast its gentle darkness, I found myself standing alone under the bus stop's feeble shelter. Raindrops danced on the pavement, and my thoughts were caught in the storm of uncertainty. The idea of my next step was as blurry as the reflections on the wet road. My breath created small puffs of steam as I contemplated my limited options.

Amidst my contemplation, the serene sound of a motor engine purred nearby. I looked up to witness a luxurious Rolls Royce pulling up gracefully, its headlights cutting through the rain. My heart quickened as the car parked right in front of me, and the window smoothly slid down, revealing the face that had become so familiar over the course of the night — Lucas.

"Hey there," he greeted, his voice a gentle rumble amidst the rain. "It seems fate won't let you escape me tonight." He smiled with a warmth that seemed almost disarming.

I felt a blend of emotions surge within me — surprise, curiosity, and a strange sense of security. It was unexpected to see him again, and his offer to provide shelter added a layer of intrigue to the evening.

"Hmph, today really isn't my day is it?" I forced a smile and turned my gaze down. I really had no right to act haughty in my current state. "You better start heading home though, it's getting quite late" I said, still faced down, I couldn't get my head to lift itself.

"Get in." he suddenly offered, sharply lifting my gaze from the ground and into his warm smile.

"Huh?" I asked to confirm what I just heard, did the disturbance from the rain make me mishear him? "Get in Rose, you heard me right. Did you expect me to drive off and leave you stranded here? Have some faith in men." He declared jokingly, maintaining his smile.

It was easy for him to say. All the men I had ever met till date in my life were all nothing more than shit. However, he could still be counted as a stranger even though we did talk a bit. I'm not so intrigued to explore the possibilities that come with following a stranger home.

"I don't think I should. It's fine, I could probably get a bus from here" I blatantly refused his kind offer. The realization that I didn't have any money left to even board a bus, not to talk of finding a place to spend the night, pierced the insides of my chest.

"You aren't scared, are you?" He asked nonchalantly, unknowingly hitting the nail on the head. The way he could read my thoughts almost like Jacob really made my chest feel lighter. If only… if only it were with him, would I have?

"If you're scared, I could swear on oath, or a blood covenant. Whatever makes you feel comfortable, I just don't want to see you stranded over there. Please, get in Rose." he pleaded, his hazel eyes glowing with sincerity.

"You really don't have to," I replied, hesitating, but his insistence and kindness gradually wore down my defences. He seemed genuinely concerned, and his demeanor felt trustworthy enough to consider his offer.

After a bit of back-and-forth, my resolve crumbled, and I found myself agreeing to Lucas's proposition. The rain seemed to soften as he stepped out of the car to open the other door for me, a gesture that I couldn't help but find overly chivalrous. We got into the luxurious vehicle, and as it purred to life once again, we drove away from the bus stop, leaving behind the uncertainties of the night.

Meanwhile, within the grand hall where the party had taken place, a conversation of a different nature was underway. A young lady, her rage apparent and presence commanding and her gaze sharp, turned to a middle-aged woman with a visible dark round mole under her bottom lip standing right beside her, seemingly her acquaintance. "Do you know who that girl was?" she asked, her voice a blend of curiosity and a hint of something more intense.

The middle-aged woman, who seemed just as formidable, shook her head. "I've never seen her before tonight. She must have been from one of the little branches"

They exchanged a knowing look, two influential figures caught in the web of a mystery. Just then, the entrance doors swung open, and in walked Mr. Grayson, drenched from the rain outside. His demeanor was far from pleasant. "That damned girl thinks she can get away from me, let's get back home to Amsterdam. I'll remind her who's really her boss." He mumbled under his breath, seemingly unaware of the presence of the two women.

Their gazes met, and the young lady's eyes narrowed. "Isn't that the manager who caused a scene earlier?" Her voice dripped with a blend of disdain and curiosity.

As if hearing her thoughts, her middle-aged companion responded, "Yes, it is. Something seems amiss."

Their attention was drawn to the man as he muttered threats, an unsettling display that only piqued their interest further. And then, it clicked. The young lady's eyes widened in realization. "He was involved with that girl earlier."

The middle-aged woman's brows furrowed. "Do you think he knows something about her and why she was with Lucas?"

With determination flashing in her eyes, the young lady turned her attention back to Mr. Grayson, her lips curving into a dangerous smile. "Let's find out."

Approaching him with an air of authority, they cornered him, their presence alone enough to make him uneasy. The conversation that followed was intense and laced with veiled threats. It was clear they held power beyond their mere titles; one was the daughter of the head of the Sean Group, while the other was the Chief Advisor of Blackwood Inc. Their combined influence was enough to unsettle even the most composed of men.

"You there!!" the older woman called at him. "The drenched manager, come here at once"she ordered whilst gesturing for two able-bodied men to seize him.

He is presented in front of her and her condescending gaze was more than enough to petrify the already scared Mr. Grayson. "Is there a problem ma'am? Ha-Have I offended her Excellency in anywa-way." He stammered uncontrollably before her trying to sort his thoughts to find out how he may have upset such a figure.

"What do you know about that girl you just chased into the rain? Give me answers now." the other young lady had stepped in to interrogate him.

Under the weight of their pressure, Mr. Grayson hesitated before finally relenting, sharing all that he knew about the mysterious girl named Rose. As he revealed the details, the young lady's anger seemed to intensify, and her grip on her wine glass tightened. With a sudden movement, she slammed the glass onto the table, the sound reverberating through the room.

After taking any five seconds to digest the information she had just received, her next declaration was cold, her voice seizing the attention of everyone present. "Is that so? We'll just see about that"

The room fell into a hushed silence, the weight of her words lingering in the air, casting a shadow over the party's elegant atmosphere. As the rain outside continued to pour, an undercurrent of tension and rivalry brewed. 

"Ah, come to think of it, Mr.Grayson. I'll be assigning some tasks to you after now so I'm looking forward to your cooperation" Isabella snorted with a nonchalant smile towards the now petrified and confused Grayson. The rest of the staff scurried around trying to exit the scene as fast as possible to avoid any unnecessary involvement.

"You!--" The older lady exclaimed while pointing at a maid, "Have you cleaned up this area yet? Do you intend to continue watching me standing amongst filth until my nose clogs? What sort of incompetent help do they hire these days,," She angrily screamed at the young maid who clumsily made her way to the older woman. As she cheerily skipped over to their presence, the rage of the dramatically rose right up till the girl arrived and stood with the most cunning smile besides Isabella and in front of the older woman, Mona.

At that point, Mona had given up herself to rage and raised her hand swiftly, "You ungrateful wench-" Mona screamed through her gritted teeth while bringing down her palm to smite the maid and then it happened.

Her hand was met by the cold and hard feeling of rounded metal on it's way to the Maid's face. Her eyes widened and her hand quickly withdrew out of fear- The maid had blocked her strike with a pistol pointing to the exact position Mona's hand had come from.

"Anna, Don't scare her like that. You're the one who chose to come as a maid so you shouldn't get mad when you're treated like one" Isabella said while tapping the maid, Anna on the shoulder. "Alright alright, I just got a little excited, but she really should learn to be more polite" Anna sighed as she put the gun back into her dress and smiled at Mona who gives off a little shriek. Grayson just sits obediently as he observes the spectacle.

"Also on that note, I've got a job for you, A really interesting one at that" Isabella whispered with a devious smile into the ears of the elite Mafia hunter, Anna.