Louis Grant sat in his office, the weight of his worry etched across his sharp features. The sleek space was silent except for the faint sound of tapping fingers against the desk as he combed through reports his team had gathered. Yet, no matter how much information they pulled up about Daisy’s activities, nothing could explain her recent moments of unease.
His phone buzzed, breaking his focus. He picked it up and saw the name he had least expected: Ezekiel Chen.
“What do you want?” Louis answered curtly.
“I want the same thing you do,” Ezekiel’s calm, almost cold voice replied. “Answers about Daisy.”
Louis leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowed. “Why would you care? I don’t trust you, Chen.”
Ezekiel’s chuckle was low and laced with something Louis couldn’t place-perhaps a hint of rivalry or something darker. “Your trust means nothing to me, Grant. Daisy is important to me, and whether you like it or not, our goals align right now. If you’re smart, you’ll use that to your advantage.”
Louis clenched his jaw. The thought of working with Ezekiel grated on him, but the urgency of Daisy’s safety outweighed his pride.
“Fine,” Louis said after a long pause. “But I’m watching you.”
Ezekiel’s smirk was practically audible. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
—
On Set
Natalie stood in the shadows, her eyes sharp and calculating as she watched Daisy laugh with Veronica and Clara. Jealousy burned within her like a slow, smoldering flame. Her carefully painted facade of sweetness masked the venom that bubbled underneath.
She turned to a man standing beside her-a member of the production crew she had bribed earlier.
“Everything is in place?” she whispered, her voice low and cold.
“Yes, ma’am,” the man replied, avoiding her gaze.
“Good,” Natalie said, her lips curling into a sinister smile. “Make sure it looks like an accident.”
The man nodded and disappeared into the crowd. Natalie’s heart raced with anticipation, her mind filled with thoughts of Daisy falling from grace-both literally and figuratively.
—
Later that day, as the production team set up for a scene involving light stunts, the cast gathered around to receive instructions. Daisy, Veronica, and Clara were chatting when a sudden commotion erupted near the equipment area.
“Careful!” a crew member shouted as a heavy set piece wobbled dangerously, its supports loosened. It tilted toward Daisy, threatening to crash down on her.
“Daisy, move!” Veronica screamed, shoving Daisy out of the way just as the piece came crashing down, missing them both by mere inches.
The crew rushed to secure the area, and Daisy looked up at Veronica with wide, grateful eyes.
“Are you okay?” Veronica asked, her voice trembling.
Daisy nodded, though her heart was racing. “Thanks to you. That was way too close.”
Clara ran over, her face pale with worry. “What happened?”
“A ‘loose’ set piece,” Veronica said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Loose my foot. Someone tampered with it.”
Daisy’s stomach churned as she processed what had just happened. It wasn’t hard for her to guess who might be behind it.
—
Nighttime: Shadows of the Past
That night, Daisy lay in bed, her body exhausted but her mind racing. Sleep eventually overtook her, but it wasn’t the restful escape she had hoped for.
The flames were everywhere, licking at her skin, suffocating her. She was trapped, surrounded by the searing heat and the deafening roar of the fire. She screamed, but no one came. The pain was unbearable, her skin burning, her lungs screaming for air.
“Help me!” she cried, her voice raw with desperation.
She jolted awake, her chest heaving and her skin clammy with sweat.
“Daisy!” Veronica was at her side in an instant, shaking her gently. Clara hovered nearby, her eyes wide with concern.
“I’m fine,” Daisy muttered, though her trembling hands betrayed her.
“You’re not fine,” Veronica said firmly. “You were screaming in your sleep. What happened?”
“It was just a nightmare,” Daisy said, brushing them off. But her voice cracked, and she couldn’t stop the tears from slipping down her cheeks.
Veronica and Clara exchanged a glance before sitting on either side of her.
“Nightmares don’t just happen,” Clara said softly. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Daisy shook her head. “No. It’s… it’s nothing.”
Veronica huffed. “Nothing doesn’t make you cry like this.”
Despite her reluctance, Daisy found herself opening up a little. “It’s just… some bad memories. It’s hard to explain, but sometimes they feel too real.”
Veronica wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Well, you’re safe now. And you have us.”
Clara nodded, her voice gentle. “We’re here for you, Daisy. Whatever it is, you don’t have to face it alone.”
For the rest of the night, the three of them stayed up, talking and laughing to lighten the mood. They shared silly stories and played games, doing everything they could to take Daisy’s mind off the lingering shadows of her nightmare.
—
Elsewhere
Ezekiel sat in his dimly lit office, his eyes glued to the monitor showing the footage from the set. He had seen the close call with the set piece and had already given orders to his men to investigate.
“That was too deliberate,” he muttered to himself, his fist clenching.
On another screen, a live feed showed Daisy sleeping in her room, flanked by Veronica and Clara. He watched her stir, her face contorted in distress as she woke from her nightmare.
Ezekiel leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. “Whoever is behind this… I will destroy them.”
Meanwhile, Louis sat in his study, replaying the day’s events in his mind. His instincts told him Daisy was still in danger, and his frustration at being unable to protect her gnawed at him.
Both men, though worlds apart in demeanor, shared one unspoken thought: Daisy would be protected at all costs, no matter who or what stood in the way.