Luccas_: i think the name was Mary hotels and co.?
She remembered the night Brent called her and stripped her off took place in the same hotel. The card she took from Brent's coat was still somewhere out there, she had kept it incase she needed. As expected, this hotel had to do something with her father. It was just too suspicious.
" Hey," she called Brent who was still trying to peek their messages, he got startled by her voice, " have you been in that hotel?"
" hotel?" he asked confused.
" yeah, that one....the mary hotels or something?" she tried to act like she didnt know the name.
His face changed into shock and a little bit of shame. The incident of that hotel was still in both of their memories and Brent used to have regret thinking about it. " No, i havent. why would i?"
" Why would you?" Wish raised her brows like as if the man wasnt a womaniser a few months back. She started to get her clothes ready. Brent stared at her with confusion. " where are you going?"
She continued getting her clothes and replied without looking at him, " To meet Lucas."
" Now??" it was already pretty late and the sky was getting darker now. What were they gonna do now? " Isnt it pretty late though?" he didnt want to sound too obsessive.
" well yeah because we are going to have a dinner.." she finally entered the changing room, leaving him alone there.
After she had dressed, she started going through the drawers and pulled out the card. It wrote 'mary hotels and co'. the one which she had taken out from Brent's coat when he got food poisoned. Who knew she would still need it?
" I can drop you." Brent put his coat on, eyeing her.
She sighed at him, well wouldnt hurt to say yes right, " okay."
They reached outside the hotel and coming out of the car, she saw Lucas already standing by the entrance.
" Hey Lucas!" she waved at him.
" hey...oh-" he noticed Brent coming from behind.
" Brent only came to drop me off." she quickly said seeing Lucas' sour expression.
The two guys glared at each other not saying a word.
" Well, if you two arent going to greet each other then we will get going." Wish said turning to go inside.
" Wait!" Brent called making them stop and mainly looked at Lucas, " you, why did you come at the party?"
Wish sighed heavily, " stop it Brent-"
" I came to take Wish." Lucas answered with a straight face.
" What?" Brent scrunched his brows, upset by his answer.
" Just kidding." lucas said without a smile, " you seem to have some anger issues, dont you?"
" And what about it?"
Lucas raised his brows, " i think you would suit being a gang leader?"
Brent's expression loosened and became cautious. The time Lucas got kidnapped by a masked man was still in his head. Even though it wasnt confirmed, Lucas knew it was Brent who was behind the mask by his voice and hand movements. Brent also had a perfect reason to kidnap him.
" Think whatever you want." he turned to Wish, " ill be going now. If you need a lift back home, call me." he walked back to his car, driving away.
The two finally entered the restaurant. " what was that gang leader thing about like..." Wish laughed casually.
" Its a thing....between us." they got a table and ordered the foods.
For some time they talked about their normal lives and happenings.
" So, about the offer....my sister gave you." Wish opened the important topic.
Lucas sipped his drink and looked up, " oh yeah, seems like the hotel belonged to her friend and they were offering good pay...so i thought why not take the chance right?"
" Her friend?" she asked.
" The friend seemed to be busy so Lisa accompanied me."
Wish raised her brows, " Busy? that looks suspicious..."
" Suspicious? what are you thinking, Wish??"
" Shouldnt the friend be there too? i mean it might not be a big deal to rich people like them yet there could be a simple introduction?"
Lucas nodded along, realising that Lisa never really mentioned a name. It was a promotion for suite rooms which are not just normal rooms. But he couldnt understand what the motive could be.
Seeing Lucas' confused face, she decided to tell him, " Actually, i think Mary hotels and co. is related with my father and i could use that as a revenge."
" your father? and a hotel....how?" Too much information was making him lost than before. How did she even connect it with her father? wait....because of Lisa. Did she make a lie then, that the hotel belonged to her friend?
" You see," Wish started explaining to him in a serious manner, " Mary hotel keeps all the prostitutes of the city in there."
" But....werent all the prostitutes taken away a few months back or something?" he started to take the talk seriously.
" I know, that news made headlines for days." she continued, " but somehow the hotel has kept them inside and doing shady business secretly. Lisa just made it more obvious by saying it belonged to a friend because she is ashamed."
Everything made sense. When Lucas researched about Mary hotels, there were very few information about it. The booking was also not available. And about the friend, that could be true as well.
" The only thing thats confusing is why would she call you for photography when the hotel doesnt need any promotion. Why is she taking the risk?"
" It isnt confirmed...so it could be anything right?" Lucas stated still in a shock.
Wish understood it might have come off as a big surprise for him.The information was too big to handle. " Lucas, dont think about it too much. Instead i have a favour to ask you."
He looked up, surprised. " Favour....ok tell me."
" I want you to be close with Lisa and know more about the hotel."
Lucas was struck with her sudden favour so he continued staring at her. " W,what?"
" i know..." she gave a tight smile, " Its kinda difficult and also wrong but....this revenge is the only thing that i have left to complete in this life. its like the only goal thats driving me."
Lucas sighed listening to her. Indeed, everything she had done till now was to get her revenge. Even from her high school to college. She even decided to take business major so that she could understand her fathers company. This wasnt something she took lightly.
" Okay then, ill do it for you." he agreed to the favour. It wasnt that hard as they were pretty close already. Lisa seemed to be friendly type so she wouldnt notice hopefully.
" Thank you so much Lucas." she genuinely said.
" By the way , Wish..."
She nodded, gesturing him to continue.
" How did you know the hotel was keeping prostitutes?"
Wish stayed silent for sometime, before finally speaking, " i guess thats a topic which ill have to explain some other time."
---
" The competition is tomorrow," Aaron spoke to all the members, " all of you guys should be in the best shape and dont miss it even if you are dying..." he eyed Caleb while saying that. " We have to win this thing. hope you guys are already aware about that."
With that their practice was dismissed and he left the stage while Caleb packed his guitar.
" Aaron is being annoying again." Ryan came beside him, swinging his guitar on his shoulders.
" let the man be....this thing is stressful anyways." he said finishing packing the guitar.
The two of them walked out together, " I was thinking if we should go to that new musical store." Ryan said.
" Oh there is a new store in this area?"
" Yeah, just by that alley. It takes about 10 minutes i guess."
Caleb nodded listening to him, they were just outside the garage.
" I needed some new strings and....oh! and a new pick...." Ryan continued talking.
Suddenly, a female figure quickly passed the alley in front. Caleb saw the figure for a brief second. " Ryan....i, i need to go..." he waved at Ryan, staring at that alley and rushing, " Lets go there some other time.."
Ryan was surprised by his sudden act, " o-okay, if you are busy..."
Meanwhile, Caleb quickly went to the alley, the female had passed from. There was nobody in there. He continued looking through all the alleyways, not missing any corners but there was still no sign of 'her'. was it just his illusion? but it looked way too real and there was no mistaking. Yet, there was no possibility it was real too. Because she was dead.
Caleb stopped at a dead end, resting his hands on his knees, panting hard. He couldnt find 'her'.
" Was it really you, Julie?"
.