THE ENTRANCELisa stood in front of the mirror, still and quiet. For a moment, she didn’t move, she kept looking at herself.The room was calm with the curtains slightly open, letting in the last bit of evening sun. It touched her face gently, making everything look softer than it really was.She heaved as her fingers moved to the dress.The same dress, the one she had wanted so badly. The one Ivana took from her that day like it belonged to her, now it was hers and it fit perfectly.The gown hugged her body in all the right places. She chuckled, smiling at her reflection in the mirror.She turned slightly, first to the left, then to the right, her eyes never leaving the mirror. She watched every movement, every detail.Her hand moved to her waist, brushing the side of the dress slowly, then she lifted her chin and studied her face.Her makeup was light and her lips had a soft shade. She leaned a littl

YOU WANT RICHES? THIS IS IT“Are you okay, Ms. Lisa?”Orlando’s question hung in the air for a moment, his voice soft.Lisa blinked slowly, her lashes heavy as she tried to focus on him. His face kept shifting in and out of clarity, like a picture that refused to stay still.“I… I’m a bit dizzy,” she managed to say, her voice wasn’t steady. It broke slightly in the middle, like even speaking was becoming harder than it should have been.She inhaled, trying to straighten herself, trying to stand properly the way she had been standing all night, but her body didn’t agree anymore.It lagged behind her will.Orlando noticed and he stepped closer, closing the space between them properly.“I told you not to drink too fast,” he said. There was a faint smile on his lips.His hand moved behind her again, resting at her lower back, but Lisa felt the difference immediately and something in her chest tightened.She shifted slightly, trying to create space between them, but her leg dragged, like i

THEY LIED Lisa woke up slowly and her head felt heavy, like something had been sitting on it for a long time. Her body didn’t feel like hers. It was weak, slow, like it had been drained of strength.Suddenly, she felt a strange tightness in her chest and for a moment, she didn’t open her eyes.She stayed still, her head bent over the bed, trying to remember what happened last night.She didn't know where she was yet. Everything in her mind was blurred, then slowly, her eyes opened.At first, everything was unclear, until her vision struggled to focus.She blinked, then the blur started to clear and the ceiling came into view. It was familiar.Her brows pulled together slightly, but she didn’t move yet. She just stared at it for a while, as though she didn't recognize where she was.Then her eyes shifted slightly to the side.She saw the curtains, her lamp, the frame on the wall and the small table beside her bed.Everything slowly came together. She was in her own room. Lisa’s breat

WE DON'T NEED FOREVER Mira walked in fully and closed the door behind her with her leg.She moved toward the small table beside the bed and placed the tray down carefully as the smell of the food filled the room.But Lisa didn’t feel anything, not even the aroma of her favorite food moved her.“You need to eat,” Mira said, adjusting the plate slightly. “You’ve been out for hours.”Lisa walked back slowly and sat on the edge of the bed, but her eyes didn’t leave Mira.“Hours?” Lisa asked quietly.Mira nodded without looking at her directly.“Yes.”It was just a short answer, without explanation of any sort.Lisa looked at her and noticed the way she avoided her eyes, the way she moved quickly after speaking, like she was avoiding her and trying to stay away. What's wrong with them? Lisa thought, rolling her eyes.Lisa shifted a bit and looked at the food, then back at Mira. “What time did I faint?” she asked.Mira paused for a second, she wasn't expecting the question. She thought th

THE CONFRONTATION ORLANDO’S ESTATEMrs. Stone stepped down from her car as the door shut behind her with a low sound.Her heels touched the ground firmly, her face tight and cold. The kind of anger she was holding in, wasn't fully expressed, but it was there, clear in the way she walked.She moved straight toward the house, like she had been waiting for this moment for long.The guards at the gate noticed her immediately and one of them straightened up like he wanted to say something, but the look on her face stopped him.He stepped aside and no one spoke, nor questioned her.The front door opened before she even reached it.A maid stood there, already nervous.“Ma’am..” She greeted, but Mrs. Stone didn’t stop to acknowledge her.She walked right past. Inside of the house was quiet when she got in fully.Mrs. Stone’s heels clicked against the floor as she moved deeper inside, not slowing down.She already knew exactly where she was going. She knew where she might likely find Orlando,