After gathering her belongings, Alla was escorted by Billie's assistant, Danny. She climbed into a Maybach, assuming she would be taken directly to Billie's residence. To her surprise, however, they ended up at a shopping mall.
Several stylists and makeup artists surrounded her, transforming her look from her waist-length curls to a refined makeup application. A luxurious evening gown that seemed custom-tailored for her adorned her body flawlessly. A diamond necklace worth millions graced her neck, further enhancing her aura of nobility and sophistication.
As she gazed at her radiant reflection, she felt a sense of alienation. The image was more reminiscent of Ella than herself. If Casiano saw her now, he might even think she was deliberately imitating Ella. She laughed at the absurdity of the thought, the smile tinged with bitterness.
Once her transformation was complete, Danny swiftly escorted her to Nightfall. This place was the largest gold mine in A City, frequented by the rich and powerful. Its main appeal was the extreme privacy it offered; with virtually no surveillance, even if there were, it would be difficult to access. Many wealthy individuals relished conducting their nefarious deeds here. Billie's choice of location made it clear that he intended to toy with her till the end.
As she contemplated her impending violation, her heart pounded in her chest like an ascending elevator. As the elevator approached the top floor, she steadied her nerves, clutched her bag tightly, and followed Danny out of the elevator to the entrance of the private suite.
Danny swiped a VIP card, triggering the opulent automatic doors to slide open. As the doors parted, a warm, ambient light filled the area, accompanied by soothing Western music that played softly in the background.
Alla was taken aback. Billie typically preferred the nightclub atmosphere, yet this place was elegantly decorated and refreshingly sophisticated. Even the music was not the deafening kind typically found in clubs but was rather quite soothing.
While Alla took in her surroundings, a strong hand suddenly encircled her waist. Billie drew her into his arms, pressing a kiss to her cheek, "Darling, you look stunning today."
She felt a wave of nausea at his touch, and turned her head to avoid him, inadvertently catching sight of a man seated in the lounge area. He was dressed in a white shirt, the collar slightly open revealing a tantalising collarbone. His rolled-up sleeves exposed strong arms and defined fingers that cradled a wine glass. The red wine inside glowed blood-red under the dim lights, much like the way he watched her, his gaze alarmingly intense.
Much to her surprise, Casiano was also present. She had assumed that Casiano and Billie ran in different circles. After all, the Davies Corporation was a family-owned conglomerate in G country, controlling its economic lifeline, whereas the Roman Corporation was merely a titan in A City, insignificant in comparison. Yet, here were these two polar opposites, socializing in this entertainment centre.
Alla suddenly felt relieved that she hadn't called Casiano. Not only would she have lost face, but she would also have been cruelly rejected. After all, why would Casiano offend his friend for her sake?
However... why was he looking at her in that way? Was it because he was angry to see her being kissed by another man?
As Alla was lost in her thoughts, the man withdrew his gaze, so indifferent that it seemed he had merely glanced at her out of passing interest. Alla felt a tremor in her heart, knowing that a cold-hearted man like Casiano wouldn't care whether she was kissed by another man or not.
She also shifted her gaze, focusing on dealing with Billie: "Mr. Roman, why have you brought me to such a place?"
Billie playfully pinched her cheek, "First, I want you to meet some friends, then we'll go have some exciting fun."
Alla's face paled slightly at his words, realizing she needed to devise a plan to escape as soon as possible. Just as she was pondering how to deal with Billie, he suddenly pushed her in front of Casiano.