"So, Masked Girl, huh? Let me guess, you're so... ugly you're doing the world a favor by hiding your face," Bianca sneered as she walked slowly towards Mia at the bar, but Mia ignored her, her eyes fixed on something else - the tattoo on the side of Bianca's neck, the one Jonathan's men had, a black python with wings on both sides. Mia wondered why Bianca had it as she scanned the guests, each with different tattoos.
Mia's gaze wandered across the room, taking in the various tattoos on display. There was some with a skull drawn on the neck. some with a bold black "viper", some with a snake coiled around the arm, its mouth open in a menacing hiss, some with snake eating it's own tail - an ouroboros- wrapped around the wrist a sign of loyalty to the criminal world. Each tattoo seemed more ominous than the last, and Mia's mind raced with questions. What did they mean? Were they some sort of symbol or identifier?.
As Bianca drew closer, her eyes never leaving Mia's face, Mia's heart began to race. She could feel a confrontation brewing, and she wasn't sure if she was ready. But she refused to back down, her eyes locked on Bianca's.
As Bianca's face inches from hers, Mia's heart raced with anticipation. Bianca's warm breath caressed her ear, sending shivers down her spine. Bianca's voice was low and menacing, her words dripping with malice.
"I don't care who you are or what you think you're doing with Jonathan," Bianca whispered with anger and jealousy, her lips almost touching Mia's ear. "But let me make one thing crystal clear: he belongs to me. He's mine, and mine alone. So, know your place, puttana-"
"Bianca," Tyga's voice sounded, as Bianca glared at him, bumping him while walking away. He smirked, "Well, you've met Bianca. Lovely, isn't she?"
"Who is she?" Mia asked.
"Nah, don't bother knowing her. She's a confused person," Tyga said, expecting her response. But Mia was lost, staring at his tattoo hidden in his shirt collar - a sight she hadn't seen before as always wear high neck clothings. "What's with the tattoos? I've been seeing so many kinds of tats lately," Mia asked, as Tyga's jaw clenched.
"You look good in a mask," he said, changing the topic.
"Oh, please, I feel so uncomfortable in this. It isn't even a mask party. I feel hidden, and it's so annoying," Mia said, as Tyga chuckled.
Tyga's chuckle was low and smooth "Ah, come on, it's just a little fun. You have to admit, you look stunning in that dress and mask."
Mia rolled her eyes "Stunning or not, I'd rather be myself, not some masked stranger. And where's Jonathan, anyway? He brought me to this hell of boredom and decided not to be seen." Mia asked, as Tyga stared at her, surprised by her dramatic words. "No, for real, seriously, where's Jonathan?"
"He's around," Tyga said, his tone nonchalant.
"Around where?"
Tyga shrugged, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Around, you know, mingling. He'll turn up when he's ready."
Mia huffed, her frustration evident. "I swear, he's so annoying sometimes. Well, I refuse to just sit here." Mia said, getting up from the high stool.
Tyga caught her arm, his grip gentle but firm. "Where are you going?".
Mia raised an eyebrow, her gaze skeptical. "To the restroom, where else can I go? It's not as if I can run away... actually, I can if I want to, but I don't." Mia said, ending with a sinister smirk on her face.
Tyga's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. "I'll follow you, just in case you decide to make a break for it."
Mia's smirk grew wider. "You think you can keep up with me, Tyga?.
Tyga's smile never wavered. "I'm willing to try. Besides, I need to make sure you don't get into any trouble."
Mia snorted. "Me? Trouble? Never."
Tyga chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "That's exactly what I'm afraid of."
Mia laughed, a throaty sound, and pulled her arm free. "Fine, come on then. But don't say I didn't warn you." With that, she sauntered off towards the restroom, Tyga following closely behind.
As they navigated through the crowded room, a man spoke through a comm device, "keep a close pace with her, I think she's alone". Tyga's eyes flickered to the side, his gaze locking onto a figure lurking in the shadows. He subtly adjusted his course, keeping Mia in his sights while also tracking the mysterious observer.
Mia pushed open the restroom door, and her eyes widened in surprise as Tyga followed her into the restroom, his gaze never leaving hers. She had expected him to wait outside, not trail her into the most private of spaces. "Whoa, okay, boundary issues much?" Mia said, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Personal space, Tyga? Ever heard of it?"
Tyga's expression remained unyielding, his eyes locked onto hers. "I'm not leaving your side, Miss, Not until I know you're safe."
"Safe from what, the loo monster?" she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Wait outside, Tyga."
Tyga hesitated, his eyes never leaving hers, before finally nodding and walking out of the restroom. Mia strode over to the door, slamming it shut behind him. She let out a deep breath, her heart still racing from the unexpected encounter.
As she turned to the mirror, staring at her masked self as she slowly took it off, smiling slightly as the toilet flushed indicating that she was not alone.
"Emilia," Clara spoke, her voice laced with shock and malice, as she emerged from the stall, her eyes fixed on Mia's unmasked face. "What the hell, so you're the masked bitch?"
Mia's heart skipped a beat as she tried to cover her face, but what's the point, Clara had already seen her. "What are you doing here, Clara?" she asked, trying to sound calm despite her racing pulse.
Clara smirked, her eyes glinting with jealousy. "What am I doing here? What are you doing here, Emilia? I thought Father said he sold you out..." Her voice trailed off as she realises - did her dad sell mia out to blacksmith, if that was it. she would never forgive her father she thought as she yelled out in frustration, "Why are you always one step ahead of me? Why do you keep taking everything from me? Why can't you just die like your parents did?"
With that, Mia landed a resounding slap on Clara's face, the sound echoing through the restroom. Tyga burst in due to the screams he heard.
Clara's eyes blazed with anger, her hand rising to her red-stained cheek. "You'll regret that, Emilia," she hissed, her voice venomous.
Tyga stormed towards them, his eyes fixed on Clara. "Don't you ever talk that way to her again," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "Apologize, now."
Clara's eyes flashed with defiance, but Tyga's gaze left her no room for argument. She muttered a reluctant apology, her eyes never leaving Mia's face.
Mia's chest heaved with anger, her heart still racing from the confrontation. "Stay away from me, Clara," she warned, her voice firm. "Or next time, you'd be sorry".
With that, she turned and walked out of the restroom, as Tyga following closely behind.
****
Meanwhile at the VIP Hall a heated argument was going on there, seems like the Charity event night was just a ruse, a clever facade for this underworld meeting of criminal minds.
Jonathan's voice rose, his eyes flashing with annoyance. "You're telling me our extortion rackets are down 20%?! You're kidding me, right?! You're telling me the operation is that disorganized?!"
A huge chubby man spoke with thick italian accent, "N-no, boss, it's just that... the competition is getting tougher... and we're having some issues with-"
Jonathan cut him off, his anger boiling over "Issues?! You call that an issue?! I call it a death sentence! You're all dead men walking if you can't get me my money! Do you understand?! Dead! Men! Walking!"
The Russian syndicate boss tried to intervene, "B-boss, please... we're trying our best... it's just—"
But his sentence was cut off as Jonathan's gun fired, hitting him in the arm. "You're all useless! Worthless! I should put a bullet in each of your heads right now!"
As the man walked into the hall, his piercing gaze swept the room, his eyes locking onto Jonathan's gun still trained on the cowering Russian syndicate boss. His voice was laced with an air of authority, a hint of disappointment, and a dash of menace. "That should not be the matter at hand, Thane. Fernandez's running around loose like a crazy maniac, and there's no reason as to why that happened." A man said as he walked into the hall, his piercing gaze swept the room, his eyes locking onto Jonathan's gun still trained on the cowering Russian syndicate boss. His voice was laced with an air of authority, a hint of disappointment, and menace
Jonathan's grip on his gun lessen as he turned to face the newcomer, a hint of surprise creeping into his voice. "Father?"