Chapter 27 Chapter 27.

Chapter 27 Chapter 27.
The dimly lit room reeked of smoke and desperation. Francesca stepped inside, her eyes adjusting hslowly to the hazy atmosphere. The air was thick with the smell of whiskey and worn leather. She scanned the room, her gaze lingering on the figures shrouded in shadows.

In the corner, a four figures sat on a worn velvet couch, the dim lighting casting eerie shadows on their faces. As Francesca approached, she locked eyes on one of the figures. His scarred cheekbone seemed to gleam in the faint light, and his eyes, like cold, calculating stones, but they didn't scare her.

The room was small, with dark wood paneling on the walls and a single, flickering light bulb hanging from the ceiling. The only sound was the soft hum of a jazz tune playing in the background, adding to the sense of unease.

Francesca's heels clicked on the worn wooden floor as she made her way to the figures. She stopped in front of him, "gentlemen, can we re-talk the deal?" She asked with a smile.

One of the men took a sip of his drink, his eyes running through her. "Have a seat," he spoke.

"Your boss killed the deal, so what are you doing here?" Another asked.

"To bring the deal back to life," she responded with a smile.

The men burst into a low laughter filled more of mockery than amusement. "What can a minion like you possibly do?" The last man mocked.

"This minion can get you the thing you want so desperately to kick the deal forward," Francesca replied calmly.

"And that is?" One of them raised an eyebrow.

"Aria," Francesca answered, and the men's expression turned serious.

Seeing she's gotten their attention, she continued, "I heard you requested for her for a night. But unfortunately my boss turned down the request and even ended the deal. 

"I can get her for you," she added and the men burst into mock laughter.

"You? Get us something Lucien locked access to?" One of the men spoke, his tone filled with mockery as the others burst into laughter.

"We appreciate your help, little girl, but you can do nothing." Another said.

Francesca although pissed, managed to force out a smile. "Have you ever wondered why I am his right-hand man?" She said and their laughter seized for a moment.

"It's because I make the impossible possible," she added. 

With that she stood up and began walking out of the room.

"Wait." One of them called and she paused in her steps, turning to face them again.

"How sure are you to get us the woman?" He asked, taking in a huge drag of his cigarette.

"How badly do you want her?" Francesca asked in return.

The men exchanged a glance among themselves, then turned to her.

"What do you want in return?" The first man asked.

With a smile, she returned to seat. "Don't worry, I won't be greedy. The offer for me still stands on what we initially agreed when starting this deal."

"When will you get her?" Another asked.

"When do you want her?" Francesca replied.

"We'll..." the third man said, exchanging looks with his friends. "...get back to you."

"Yeah but..." The second man adjusted in his seat. "What happens when Lucien finds out about this?"

"I mean because there's no way Lucien wouldn't discover this if we should really be true to ourselves," he continued.

"That brat is...is something," he added.

"Of course he'll discover. But who he discovers it to be depends on you three," she said.

"You're saying?" The first man said, twirling his drink in the glass as he gave her an intent look.

"There will be a culprit. There should be one, but you determine who the culprit is," she replied.

"When a mess is made, a cleaner cleans up the mess. Find your cleaner," she added.

The men's eyes narrowed, their expressions turning calculating as they exchanged glances among each other. "You are very intelligent." The first man said, impressed by her skills. "You should have been his bride and not Aria."

Francesca gave a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I'm the real bride," she said firmly. "She...she is just a pawn in I and Lucien's game."

"A pawn he cares so jealously about, interesting!" The fourth man finally spoke after a long while of silence.

His words pricked Francesca but she tried to force a smile.

"A wise businessman fancies his most monetizing asset," she concluded, rising to her feet. 

"I await your call," she added before walking away.

The moment the door clicked short behind her, the fourth man spoke to the others. "I'd be a fool if I believe in that girl and trust her."

"What I think is drinking to a successful deal..." the second man said as he poured himself a drink. "...and finding ourselves the perfect cleaner to take care of the mess if the need arises," he completed, raising his wine glass.

"Cheers!" The others toasted alongside him merrily. 

Outside the room as Francesca made her way back, she paused in her steps and looked back. "Foolish men," she hissed. "You're the perfect cleaners for my mess," she smirked.



Jenna went into Aria's ward, a file in hand. Her mind raced with Francesca's words. "Nice name... I'll make sure to remember it."
"Pray...pray that she truly is fine as you've claimed." Lucien's words also played in her head.

She was torn between saving Aria's life or saving hers.

As she watched Aria's peaceful form, contemplating what to do, she noticed Aria's fingers twitched.

She narrowed her eyes closely to make sure she saw correctly, but then Aria's eyes fluttered open. 

A gasp escaped Jenna's lips as she rushed forward to Aria, quickly carrying out the necessary clinical procedures. Seeing she was really fine, Jenna heaved a sigh of relief. "Oh thank goodness, you're alright." 

But then dread filled her once more as Francesca's words played in her head. Her throat ran dry and her skin turned cold. 

Aria looked around the ward as her brain registered her surrounding. "Hospital?" She muttered in shock but her voice was lost as a result of not speaking for a while. 

Her mind raced with confusion as to why she was in the hospital, connected to machines and all, then the memories came flooding back in. Her fight with Francesca, the stab, and then darkness. "Francesca," she pronounced. Although her voice was low, it was audible enough to pull Jenna from her thoughts. 

Jenna walked closer to Aria, her voice low as she spoke. "Someone wants you dead." Aria's brows creaked in confusion as she tried to make sense of what Jenna was trying to say. Was it Francesca or someone else? 

"Make sure you stay away from her as much as possible, and be very careful," Jenna continued.

"Who's this woman?" Aria asked and as Jenna was about answering, a familiar voice from behind jolted her.

"Yes, I'll also like to know. Who's this woman?" 

Jenna turned slowly, only to come face-to-face with Francesca who wore a deadly smirk on her face. 

Jenna swallowed hard as a shiver ran down her spine. This was the end for her. 

"Francesca." Aria called, her voice tight with both fury, and pain.

"Oh, sweetie, you're awake!" Francesca flashed a wide smile at Aria that only made her stomach twist.

"You'll pay for what you did to me." Aria said, raw pain glittering in her voice.

"What I did to you?" Francesca chuckled. She stepped closer to Aria, and leaning in to her, she spoke, "little girl, I've done nothing to you. That was just warm-up." 

"I swear I'll make you pay for this," Aria threatened.

Francesca laughed, straightening herself. "How? By reporting me to Mr Moretti?"

"Go on, let's see who he'd believe. A stranger who just waltz into his life, or someone who's been with him for years?" Francesca challenged.

Aria's eyes burned, her fists clenching in anger.

Sensing the exchange between the two women, Jenna decided to scurry out of there. 

Just as the door clicked shut, Francesca took out her phone and sent a text: "finish her."