"Who would have thought I'd do something like this?" Maya's laugh echoed through the dimly lit room, sharp and dangerous. A glass of red wine swirled in her left hand, the crimson liquid glinting under the casino's red-tinted lights. In her right hand, she held a set of playing cards, their edges crisp and foreboding.
Across the table, Jai sat stiffly, his expression taut with unease. "We can't take the risk," he said, his voice low but firm. "Sayra is sharp—too sharp. If she even *suspects* us, it's over."
Maya smirked, placing a king card on the table with the confidence of a victor. "She's just an emotional woman," she said, leaning back into her chair. "She'd never imagine I'd go this far. Don't worry, Jai. This game? It's mine."
A knock at the door interrupted them. A waiter dressed in a red suit and black pants entered, keeping his eyes fixed on the ground. "Miss Maya," he said respectfully, "we've informed all the reporters and influencers. They're ready to spread the news implicating Sayra in the murder."
Maya waved him off without a glance, and the waiter exited as swiftly as he had entered.
She turned back to Jai, her lips curling into a grin that didn't reach her eyes. "You overthink, Jai. Sit back and watch. I'll ruin her life piece by piece."
Jai, however, wasn't convinced. Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead as he leaned forward, his voice trembling slightly. "What if one of her secretaries escapes? What then?"
For a moment, silence enveloped the private casino. The red lights seemed to pulse in sync with the tension hanging in the air. The heavy scent of wine and cigarettes lingered, making the atmosphere oppressive.
Maya rose slowly from her chair, her wine glass glinting ominously as she crossed to the window. She stood there, staring into the dark cityscape, her voice softer but layered with an edge. "What she did to me… it's unforgettable. Unforgivable."
Her grip on the glass tightened, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "This is do or die, Jai."
The room fell quiet, save for the faint hum of the casino in the distance. The cards on the table remained untouched as the night swallowed them whole.
And the darkness deepened.