The apartment complex stood tall like a monument —its top glowing like a tint with the elegant cursive logo of Alexia Atelier. I stood at its entrance, clutching the black card edged with rose gold with her name_ Elias vore that had arrived in a silk-lined box as a prize from 2025 lottery Winner.
I only participated in this lottery hoping for ease from my trauma .
Then, I got a job offered from one of the most elite styling studios in the city—no, the world. I held that card like a lifeline and before I flee my sister saw me in my room holding a black card.
I clicked past the doorman, who didn't even glance at me, and entered the building that reeked of money and soft floral perfume.
"I've heard of Alexia," she muttered catching her breath as she stepped inside. "The high-end stylist who turns anything she touches into something... eternal."
The elevator gleamed before me. Grey shiney with black stripes, crystal-lit, and silent like a secret. I pressed the glittering button, watching the lights blink down toward me.
"They say she's magic. Ethereal. Dangerous."
The truth? I never cared about her. Or the billion-dollar world of beauty she ruled.
As I was born in a middle-class home where beauty didn't pay the bill for living, study and care. Where I was adopted only to earn money for their bastard child. I was alone at home, school and work and the only thing stuck to me for keep moving was to earn money.
"Styling, fashion, glitz… I always thought it was stupid," I said in my head, the elevator humming as it rose.
"All this money just to look pretty for five seconds on someone else's screen?"
Baka !
She looked at her card
They deposited my first month's salary before I'd even signed the contract. Enough to move my so-called family into a new home.
and glides her finger across her name ...
That's why I showed up early. A week early to pay up the bill to prevent problem.
..swiftly as if she stored her emotion.
I didn't trust people. And I definitely didn't trust rich people like Alexia.
The rumors and the news circulating about her is crazy and ridiculous. It doesn't matter if she is good or bad but the only thing I know is to repay them.
The elevator doors slid open with a sound like a sigh.
I stepped out into a world that didn't belong to me.
The room was a dream painted in rose and cream. Fluffy beany bags were scattered like petals, surrounding three massive Rosa 'Sue Ryder' roses blooming at the corners making the whole room rising the appealing to breathtaking. The modern lights with movable directional lamp makes the room more of trustworthy. Every corner of the space breathed elegance and restraint. A double door stood proudly at the side, where troller of beautiful clothes came throw along with handsome man pulling out for choices. Across the room, the grand hall opened wide—five luxurious chairs, clients lounging with their 1000$ casual clothes each item, waiting to be reborn by a one hand professional.
… her.
Alexia.
She didn't look at me. Not even once. She stood, poised and untouchable, young billionaire with dyed grey hair styled like a cascade with a silk ribbon, eyes cold and calculating as she examined fabric swatches under a beam of natural light. Staff moved around her like she was a planet and they, helpless moons. They greeted her softly, reverently.
And I hated her for it.
I hated her presence. Her silence. Her perfection.
But that was before.
Until she walked into my house one day—unannounced. She sued every member of my family silently for child labour and breaking adoption rules. She gave me_ freedom, air to breathe for first time after this 18 years and my first ever friend a Poodle puppy with a red ribbon around its neck at that time as a gift
and said,"From now on, you're not alone."
And now it's been 3 years,
Elias along with her poodle dog goes to the local market and stops at spicy pork to buy for whole studio for Good Friday party still dressed in her uniform.
"Uncle, 3 packs of Spicy Pork, Please!" smiling brightly than ever.
"Coming, Shopowner", says and packs the freshly fried juice pork with some hot sauce.
Studio doesn't have enough staff as it is difficult to get one and sit alongside with Alexia as her behaviour is not easy to handle.
Only 5 staffs are there including Alexia, so considering health advice even though it's already enough.
and went inside the apartment complex telling
"Alexia isn't same as she is in work but worse than that."
So for that ( remembering how Alexia saved her touching her dog leash)
"I donn't hate her anymore and I hope to stay with her in every part of my life."
Suddenly she got into an emergency and hurried to washroom leaving the leash tied made for her poodle dog only and left the bag of food outside the rack and went inside. The screen gets black and shifts to the scene where she sees a unknown dead man at the washroom.
What on the earth is this?
Her body grovels and she forces her body to stand up and her adrenaline rises up urging her to run to the studio taking her dog along.
I need to inform Alexia and others about the danger..
and calls 911 heading towards the studio at the hallway.
She opens the door abruptly only to find heavily wounded Alexia soaked with her own blood in the ground.
"My heart stopped and sink as I see her dead..
and in a moment
...saw the killer waving her hands at me in silent.
My dog remained barked at the killer and in one position as gripped tight by leash..
As the moonlight shined at his eyes, I know the person who he was ..
That bastard...
as her tears dripped_
she grasped her hand tightly with anger.
He looked at me with a psycho filthy eyes with a piece of glass wrapped with cloth dripped with blood pointing at Alexia.
Then continued to stab her.. in front of my eyes.
As, my body became prepared, I moved forward to stop him and from behind, another person points the gun aiming at my head .
After few steps,
BANG________