Silence…
The faint ticking of the clock echoed from the corner of the room. Laura lifted her glass from the table, only to find it empty. She let out a quiet sigh and rose from her chair, walking toward the small window and pulling back the curtain.
A gust of wind brushed against her face. The sky outside was dark, illuminated only by the dim glow of streetlights flickering in the distance. For a brief moment, her gaze drifted toward the Harrow Elite building—grand and radiant, as if it never slept.
Laura turned her attention back inside.
Her eyes landed on Calvin, sprawled out on the floor in deep slumber. He had fallen asleep in an uncomfortable position, his laptop still glowing beside him, and his formal jacket crumpled into a makeshift pillow. She had no idea when exhaustion finally took over him, but it was evident on his handsome face.
Setting her empty glass back on the table, Laura stepped into her small bedroom. She pulled a blanket and a pillow from the closet—thin, but enough to provide some comfort.
With careful steps, she returned to the living room and crouched beside Calvin. Gently, she slipped the pillow under his head, replacing the expensive, fragrant jacket. Then, she draped the blanket over him, ensuring he was covered.
"What are you really doing here, Mr. Calvin? What is all this for? Look at you now… Sleeping on the floor just to help trash that's already been thrown away like me..." she whispered, her gaze lingering on his peaceful expression.
After a few seconds, she stood up and reached for Calvin's glass. Just like hers, it was empty. With a quiet sigh, she took both glasses and carried them into the kitchen.
The moment she opened the pantry, she was met with an even more disheartening sight.
Empty.
Her food and drink supplies had nearly run out.
Stretching onto her toes, she reached deeper into the cupboard, where a small wallet was hidden. As she rummaged through it, her heart sank—only a few bills remained, nowhere near enough to sustain her.
"Last night…" she whispered, recalling her failed mission—because she had encountered Calvin.
"Do I have to sell Mom's house just to survive? But if I do, they'll find me in an instant."
Suddenly...
Cling! A soft notification tone chimed from one of her laptops.
Laura froze. Her head turned toward Calvin, still fast asleep. Thankful that he hadn't stirred, she moved cautiously, stepping lightly to avoid making a sound.
When she reached the laptop, the screen displayed a new message: "A customer."
Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the screen. A request for The Dark Game service had appeared, and a slow, knowing smile curved on her lips.
"This is it…" she murmured.
The client was completely new—no previous transaction records. She had to act fast.
Without hesitation, she shut the laptop and reached for a small tote bag beneath the table.
Inside it were chloroform and a red dress—her signature outfit for these kinds of jobs.
Rising to her feet, Laura cast one last glance at Calvin. He was still sound asleep, oblivious to everything.
Her steps were silent yet steady as she approached the door. She reached for the house keys on the shelf and took a deep breath.
The door creaked softly—Laura held it back, ensuring it didn't make too much noise.
"Sorry, Mr. Calvin," she whispered, glancing back one last time. "You may control many things… but life must go on."
And with that, Laura carefully slipped out, vanishing into the shadows of the night—leaving Calvin to sleep undisturbed in a living room far from comfortable.
. . .
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Silence suffocated the hotel lobby restroom, broken only by the faint trickle of running water.
Laura sat on the edge of the sink, her eyes fixed on the slightly ajar door, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Not long after, a stunning young woman entered, checking her makeup in the mirror. It was Brenda—the girl assigned to serve the new client of The Dark Game.
Laura moved swiftly, approaching Brenda from behind. In one smooth motion, she pressed a cloth soaked in chloroform over the girl's mouth. Brenda's struggle only lasted a few seconds before her body went limp, collapsing onto the floor.
Laura reached into Brenda's pocket and pulled out her smartphone, scrolling through the latest messages from The Dark Game contact.
[Go to Room 4003. Just wait there. The client will arrive soon.]
A small smirk curled on Laura's lips. This wasn't her first time pulling a stunt like this, yet something about this particular message felt… different. But she couldn't afford to hesitate. She needed tonight's earnings.
Slipping the phone into her bag, Laura swiftly left the restroom and headed for the elevator.
The doors slid open with a distinct ding as she arrived on the fourth floor. She stepped out cautiously, her mind sharp and focused on the mission—until something abruptly halted her steps.
A strong hand clamped over her mouth from behind.
Laura's eyes widened in shock as her body instinctively fought back. A buried trauma surfaced instantly, flashing painful memories of a night she wished to forget. She knew—this grip could only mean something terrible was about to happen.
Her throat tightened. She couldn't scream. She felt herself being dragged toward the end of the hallway, her back pressing against the cold wall. Her breath hitched, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Shhh, stay quiet," a familiar voice whispered near her ear.
Laura's eyes grew even wider. The tears that had pooled finally spilled over as she recognized the voice.
"M-Mr. Calvin…?" she stammered weakly.
But before she could say another word, the man pressed his hand over her lips again.
"Shhh." Calvin's sharp gaze flicked around them, staying alert.
Moments later, the elevator doors chimed again. Two familiar figures stepped out—Mrs. Marni and Mr. Wirya.
Laura stiffened, peering over Calvin's shoulder as he shielded her body from view. He glanced back briefly, stealing a look at the two individuals.
Mrs. Marni and Mr. Wirya strode toward Room 4003, their hushed conversation barely audible.
"This is a trap…" Calvin murmured, his voice a whisper in the wind, yet powerful enough to send chills down Laura's spine.
Just as Mrs. Marni reached for the door handle, she suddenly paused. Slowly, she turned her head toward the far end of the hallway, squinting.
From her vantage point, she saw two figures… seemingly locked in a kiss.
Without a second thought, Calvin leaned down and captured Laura's lips in a deep kiss.
Laura froze, her eyes widening to their limit. Her soul nearly jumped out of her body.
"Ugh, young people these days," Mrs. Marni muttered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Already at a hotel, yet they can't even wait until they're inside a room."
Shaking her head, she continued walking with Mr. Wirya, completely oblivious to the true identities of the two figures at the end of the hallway.
Calvin finally pulled away, inhaling deeply as he turned back to check their surroundings. Mrs. Marni and Mr. Wirya had disappeared.
Meanwhile, Laura remained frozen, her face burning crimson. Her mind short-circuited, struggling to process what had just happened.
"Don't look at me like that," Calvin whispered. "I had to do it."
Still stunned, Laura couldn't respond. It took several seconds for her brain to start functioning again, piecing together the situation.
"Come on, we need to get out of here. Now." Calvin's voice was firm, brimming with authority.
Without waiting, he grabbed Laura's wrist and pulled her toward the emergency stairwell.
Laura had no choice but to follow, her breath uneven as they descended rapidly. There was no time for doubt. The shadows of danger loomed behind them, creeping closer with every second.
Their hurried footsteps echoed against the stairwell walls, each step a countdown to disaster. Calvin's grip on her wrist never loosened.
As soon as they reached the basement, Calvin beelined for a parked car, yanking open the door with urgency. Laura barely had time to slip inside before he circled around, got in, and slammed the door shut.
The engine roared to life—an animal's snarl, ready to fight.
Without hesitation, the car tore through the night, speeding away at an almost reckless pace. Streetlights blurred past the windows, but inside the vehicle, silence pressed down heavily.
Then, at last—Calvin snapped.
"Are you stupid, Laura?!" His voice slashed through the suffocating quiet, his fury finally breaking free.
Laura flinched at his sharp tone.
"What the hell were you doing there, huh?!" Calvin shot her a fiery glance, his jaw clenched tight. His grip on the steering wheel was so fierce that his knuckles turned white.
Laura remained silent, lowering her head. Calvin's words stung, but she knew he was right.
"If I hadn't woken up and checked your laptop, do you have any idea what would've happened?!" His voice rose, trembling with a mixture of rage and fear.
Laura still didn't reply, but her hands trembled slightly in her lap.
The car surged forward, the speedometer needle inching dangerously high. The engine's growl mirrored Calvin's seething anger—deep, wild, and nowhere near subsiding.
.
.
To be continued.