-JOANNE-
Two days before my celebratory party. Theodore and I are seated with Hardy in one of the mansion’s empty rooms, talking about the twentieth.
For some reasons. I felt enlightenment.
Because Hardy was always fond of disdaining me whenever it came to sharing his plans. He would only let Theodore in on it, but tonight he was making me part of it.
And it made sense because I was aware of it all.
We were trying to fix the crazy puzzle together and rearrange ours.
Trinity had walked in and out of the room every now and then, getting us water and all sorts of food.
We’ve spent a good six hours in the room trying to come up with different alternatives and routes to take if plans A or B don’t align and manage to collide.
We’ve managed to come to the conclusion that Lisa’s killer could be anyone. But the source we needed to pick from was from the White Ale-o house.
Hardy looked unfazed, mentioning Lisa’s name a few times, and I tried to fight the urge to scream the truth out loud.
How pretty did Lisa look for him to just dive his entire world right into her pod?
Theodore’s voice was calm as he started to speak.
“During Lisa’s autopsy, The fingertips around her neck indicated those of a man. But simply, he could have been paid to do that.”
“I know that. Or it could have been a man all along.”
I wanted to break their conversation and ask if they knew or if Lisa had shared with them that she felt like someone was stalking her. But Trinity had told her, out of remorse, not to share with them.
But if I don’t share that with them, their entire plan might be at fault for a slight miscommunication. And if I went on to share it with them, they never knew. It would become a big problem even if it had been ages since Lisa died.
Hardy might grab her neck and tell her it was entirely her fault that Lisa had died for not sharing the information that someone had been stalking her.
I started to speak.
“And all rights of suspicion will always lead towards the women of the Ale-o house. Because they have every right to pick every other day. Because it’s not like the parade has a fixed date like Christmas or Valentine’s Day. But it is a date close to whenever the campaign had taken place-
Hardy was nodding attentively to what I was saying, and I tried not to gulp. Because his eyes were charming, and I didn’t know they could also get alluring if they stared at one another attentively for too long.
“And it’s be-
I choked on my words immediately, thanks to Hardy’s eyes.
Fuck.
Theodore immediately picked me back up from where I stopped.
“I understand what Joanne’s trying to say. The fact that the culprit set the date to exactly the twentieth. The day the city’s busiest, the day even cops might be on their toes lighting up fireworks with their families instead of trying to focus on their jobs, proves that the culprit is deeply connected with Lisa’s death and is someone among the women of the Ale-o house, and that young maid had warned Joanne to be wary of the women there.”
Hardy let out a bitter chuckle as he shoved his phone gently into his pocket.
“I can’t believe this,” he echoed. “It’s like I am trying to face a child. Death threat letters and trying to repeat the same murder scene with my fiance or wife make me just…
Hardy stopped speaking and shook his head.
He was fed up.
It was clear as day. He couldn’t wait to bury the killer alive if he saw them.
***
It was the day of my party.
It felt weird knowing a party would be thrown for me. All for the sake of being pregnant.
It wasn’t like I was carrying their child. Or maybe they just have too much money and are finding the quickest and perfect ways to spend it all.
That evening was the most long. Because ever since I have gotten under Hardy’s custody. It had taken more than four hours to get me ready for a simple occasion or gathering.
But tonight was worse. I have been getting ready since 2 p. m. in the afternoon, and it is currently around 7 p. m., and the party is starting at 8 p. m.
Today, I had been pampered and polished to perfection. My nails were shaped and groomed, my face exfoliated and revitalized, and even my pores had been given the hot steam treatment. The whole experience was a bizarre collection of beauty rituals that I had never dared to venture into before.
It felt strange, sitting in the plush chair, getting fussed over by expert hands. But the results were undeniable. My skin glowed like a golden moonbeam, and my nails gleamed like jewels on a queen’s hand.
The maids had done a great deal for me, taking their time.
And every now and then, it frightened me a bit because it felt like they were preparing me for my death.
Sometimes my heart would race. Sometimes it wouldn’t, because I knew deep down that Hardy wouldn’t let history repeat itself.
And I was sure of myself too; I wasn’t going to wait around and let someone tie a rope around my neck.
I didn’t know how much of a fight Lisa had to put up with. But it wouldn’t be the same for me. I was heavily sure.
–
The silvery-blue dress I wore clung to my curves, dancing with every step I took. The dress had beautiful slits.
And each opening teased my legs, allowing them to breathe and run free, primed for whatever journey I might embark on.
I peered into the mirror, my face adorned with the delicate glow of shimmery makeup, the sparkle in my eyes mirroring the stars in the night sky. My hair was swept up in a graceful bun, framing my features as the delicate earrings and pearl necklace kissed my skin with their delicate touch.
And I loved how different, yet the same, it made me look.
Theodore was of course to drive me to the white Aleo house, and before I had stepped into the car,.
Hardy surprisingly wished me good luck.
“Do not drink anything offered to you. No matter how pressured you are to take it,” he continued. Standing tall, with his hand behind me.
He was right.
“I will. Thank you.” I looked him in the eye and let my smile grow wider.
“And.” He sucked in another breath.
I was waiting for another warning when he let out the shocking words.
“And you look. Beautiful”
The words he uttered were like a match igniting a furnace within me.
For a moment, my body felt suspended in flight, my nerves ablaze with a fiery frenzy before I was able to steady my racing heart and regain control. The frigid air of the night pressed against my flustered cheeks, sending a shiver through my frame as the heat within me raged on.
His words echoed in my mind, setting off a chain reaction within me that left me breathless and reeling.
Shit.
I should really get a grip.
“Th-Thank you,”
I coughed.
A subtle nod from Theodore beckoned me to the waiting car, his hand extended to open the door in a gesture of utmost courtesy.
My body still humming with residual heat, I glided into the car, stealing a moment to place my palms against my flushed cheeks in a vain attempt to temper their warmth.
Hardy, with his effortless charm and seemingly innate ability to inspire such a riotous reaction, was indeed a man of allure. His presence was like a spell, casting a subtle, all-consuming enchantment over me.
–
As we cruised through the midnight streets, the city began to stir with the boisterous revelry of joyful voices, the giggling of playful kids, and the booming of heavy drums.
The rhythm of the drums pulsated through the air, a mesmerizing beat that seemed to sync perfectly with my heart’s steady cadence. The music’s catchy rhythm couldn’t help but make me tap my foot as Theo drove me toward my destination.
All the noises rounded up into one to distract the quiet night into a noisy and filled one. It sounded like extreme happiness; for some people, it might. But to me, I knew it was a perfect day for murder.
I tried not to act panicky and clutched the silvery sugar-rush purse in my hand.
My mind was blank, but yet it held so many thoughts.
Theodore had assured me it would be okay.
I knew that. But anyone in my shoes would act the same way too.
–
The moment we got to my destination. The gazebo, and my eyes met the decorated tiny bright lights that formed my name, ‘Joanne’. The parade from afar started to let out their darn fireworks.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” I gagged, staring at the way my name was written boldly with those darn lights.
Theo pulled over and turned to me.
“It looks welcoming.” He nods.
“It looks like a damn ritual. Was Lisa’s name written this way too? When these women threw this stupid party for her, Theo listened to the panic in my voice and shook his head slightly.
“Shit. It’s like they’re making it clear that I die tonight. It might not even be any of them that could be the culprit, but they’re giving the damn killer more information than I can give myself.”.
“Joanne.” Theo called. “It’s going to be okay. You’re not the only one fighting this.”
“Well, I never signed up for this. Bailey did” I slammed, and Theo sighed.
I was on the edge. I wanted to stop talking, but I couldn’t.
“Here,” Theo handed me a phone.
“You’ll need this; the emergency line is holding number one, and you’ll reach us. You’ll be fine. I promise”
“Okay then,” I nodded as I grabbed the phone.
I walked out of the car, and Theo escorted me to the door.
“Don’t forget, I’ll be out here.” He pointed towards the car.
“Thanks,” I nodded before turning to the glass doors.
I was ready for this.
–
*