"Maybe I should have just given up on these stupid tasks when I had the chance and married Orion or something!" Evangeline exclaimed in frustration.
"Why are you freaking out already? Its a little too early for that, don't you think?"
She flinched at Hadley's voice, spinning around to find her cute small frame floating casually above the bed. Lavender smoke swirled faintly around her.
Evangeline's fists clenched. "What the hell, Hadley? Someone died! You didn't tell me people could die in this! What kind of twisted game even is this?"
Hadley's lips curved into that mischievous smile. "Oh, calm down, darling. It's not that serious. You just need to stay safe, you know, keep your head down."
"Not that serious?" Evangeline's voice rose, now shaking with anger. "You're sending me to steal from the fucking mafia! Do you know what they do to people? With their guns and knives?" She could feel her breathing getting faster, her chest heaving as panic clawed at her.
Hadley shrugged, completely unbothered as she inspected her perfectly manicured nails. "You're being dramatic. Giovanni's just a man, Evangeline. All you have to do is… work your charm."
"Work my charm?" Evangeline's voice cracked as she stared at Hadley, wide-eyed. "He's not some lovesick CEO like Orion! He's a murderous monster! Do you even care if I die?"
Hadley tilted her head, studying Evangeline like she was an interesting puzzle. "Of course I care. You're my favorite player, and I trust your potential."
Evangeline groaned, dragging her hands down her face. She wanted to scream. Of course Hadley would find this entertaining.
Hadley sighed and leaned closer, her tone softening slightly. "Look, sweetheart. You'll be fine. You're smart and resilient. And besides, Giovanni won't hurt you if you play your cards right."
Evangeline glared at her. "And how exactly am I supposed to do that?"
Hadley's smile widened, and Evangeline's stomach dropped.
"You're going to enroll as a stripper at a club he frequents," Hadley said sweetly. "Specifically, the Obsidian, a VVIP club in central city. You'll need to dance for him, seduce him, and get close enough to infiltrate his inner circle. Once you're in, you'll figure out where he's hiding the Red Scepter gemstone."
Evangeline's jaw fell open. "You can't be serious."
Hadley leaned in, brushing a strand of Evangeline's hair back behind her ear with her small fingers. "I'm always serious, darling." Her voice was soft and it betrayed her cruel words.
"You're insane. This is insane."
Hadley ignored her.
"The reward for this one is very exciting," she said, her voice light with childish excitement. "You'll get a boost in your beauty stats, teleportation abilities, and enhanced physical strength and skills. Think of it as a little upgrade package."
Evangeline glared at her, her hands trembling. "That's just proof this task is going to be a nightmare."
Hadley grinned, clearly enjoying every second of her distress. "Nightmare? Or adventure? You decide how you want to see it."
Evangeline clenched her teeth, trying to keep herself from snapping. Talking to Hadley was pointless. She wasn't here to help—she was here for the thrill.
"Fine," Evangeline muttered finally, crossing her arms. "What's the plan?"
The next morning, Evangeline stood in front of her closet, staring at the luxurious clothes Rivera had left behind. She grabbed a soft black hoodie and paired it with oversized sunglasses and jeans.
She couldn't risk being recognized, not if Orion's men were already looking for her.
At the airport, Evangeline kept her head down, her heart raced with panic every time she passed a man in a suit. She clutched her ticket tightly, her palms damp with sweat.
When she finally boarded the plane and settled into her seat, she exhaled shakily, her body tense.
The flight to Central City felt like an eternity. Her nerves wouldn't let her rest, and her stomach churned with dread as she imagined what was waiting for her on the other side.
Hadley's voice echoed in her head. "Soon enough, Giovanni and Orion would be the least of your worries."
Yeah, Evangeline was not looking forward to that at all and she couldn't shake off the feeling that she was absolutely not cut out for all this.
She wondered if she would ever catch a break.
When the plane landed, Evangeline pulled her hood up and her sunglasses hid most of her face. She stepped off the plane and into the bustling terminal where the chaos of Central City swallowed her immediately.
She pulled out her phone and glanced briefly at the address Hadley had given her. The Obsidian was just a few miles away.
Evangeline swallowed hard as she clenched her hand into fists as she ordered a ride.
Soon enough, she was standing in a Que at the entrance of The Obsidian.
"Here goes nothing," she muttered under her breath.