Chapter 98

Maya slowly opened her eyes, the bright light of the hotel room streaming in through the window. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, her mind still foggy from the lack of restful sleep. Her phone rang, shrill and insistent, piercing through the morning calm.

She lazily reached for the phone, answering without checking the caller ID. "Hello?" she said, her voice husky from sleep.

"Maya!!! Where are you? The shoot is in thirty minutes," Amanda's voice boomed through the phone, jolting Maya into wakefulness.

Maya's mind began to clear, and she glanced at the clock on her nightstand. "I'll be there in fifteen minutes," she replied, trying to sound more alert than she felt.

As she ended the call, Maya's thoughts drifted back to the events of the previous night. She pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand. She needed to get to the modeling shoot, and then she could worry about everything else.

Maya got out of bed, stretching her limbs and trying to shake off the lingering fatigue. She began to get ready, her mind preoccupied with the shoot and what she needed to do.

After a quick shower and a hasty makeup job, Maya arrived at the modeling company, her nerves starting to fray. She was greeted by Amanda, who was pacing back and forth, looking anxious.

"Finally, you're here," Amanda said, her voice tight with tension.

“where were you?“ Amanda asked.

“At a hotel.“ maya responded flatly.

“Hotel!!“Amanda asked puzzled. “Weren't you suppose to be at Marcus mansion?“

“We will talk about it later.“Maya replied

"Miss Maya you're here, let's get started." The director said as he approached them.

The shoot began, and Maya put on a professional smile, trying to focus on the task at hand. But just as they were capturing her image, a commotion outside caught her attention...

The studio door burst open, and a police officer walked in, his eyes scanning the room. Maya's heart skipped a beat as their eyes met, and she felt a wave of panic wash over her.

"Excuse me," the officer said, his voice firm. "I'm looking for Maya."

Maya's instincts told her to run, but her legs felt like lead. She tried to compose herself, but her voice trembled slightly. "That's me."

The officer's expression was unreadable. "Maya, you're under investigation for the poisoning of Antonio. Please come with me."

The room fell silent, and all eyes were on Maya. Amanda's jaw dropped, and the photographers exchanged shocked glances. Maya's world began to spin, and she felt like she was going to collapse.

"No, this can't be happening," Maya whispered, her eyes wide with fear.

The officer stepped closer, his hand on his handcuffs. "Maya, please cooperate. We need to ask you some questions." He said as he handcuffed her hands.

Maya's face contorted in rage and fear as she realized her life was about to unravel in ways she never thought possible.

The room erupted into a flurry of whispers and gasps as the reality of the situation sank in. Amanda's eyes were wide with shock, and then a girl whispered to one of the photographers, "Is this real? Did she really try to poison someone?"

The photographer nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. " Apparently, she's been accused of poisoning a child."

Maya's eyes darted around the room, her face reddening with anger and humiliation. She felt like she was going to lose control, like her whole world was crashing down around her.

The officer's voice was firm and detached. "Maya, please come with me. We need to ask you some questions."

As the officer led Maya out of the studio, the whispers and gasps grew louder, and the room was filled with speculation and gossip. The photographers and assistants were all talking at once, trying to process what had just happened.

One of the assistants whispered to another, "I knew she was trouble. I mean, have you seen the way she treats people?"

Another photographer chimed in, "I've worked with her before, and she's always been really demanding. But I never thought she was capable of something like this."

The scene was chaotic, with everyone talking and speculating about Maya's arrest. The officer's calm and professional demeanor was a stark contrast to the drama unfolding around him.

As Maya was led away, she caught Amanda's eye, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. Amanda's expression was a mix of shock and worry, and Maya knew she had lost everything.

Maya's eyes locked onto Amanda's, and for a moment, they seemed to freeze in time. Amanda's expression was a mix of shock, worry, and a hint of fear. Maya's gaze was defiant, but beneath the surface, a glimmer of desperation flickered.

The officer's firm grip on Maya's arm broke the spell, and she was led out of the studio, leaving behind a room full of stunned onlookers.

As the door closed behind them, The photographer let out a deep breath. "Well, that was unexpected," he said, turning to the other model who was also part of the shoot. "I had no idea she was capable of something like that."

The photographer nodded in agreement. "You never really know people, do you?"

The room erupted into a flurry of whispers and speculation, with everyone trying to piece together the events that had just unfolded.

Meanwhile, outside the studio, Maya had let in the police car. Maya's world was rapidly unraveling. The officer's words echoed in her mind: "poisoning a child." She knew she had to think fast, to come up with a plan to get out of this mess.

But as she looked around at the unfamiliar streets, Maya realized she was in trouble. The police officer's grip on her arm was firm, and she knew she wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

"Maya, you're going to have to come with me," the officer repeated, his voice firm but polite.

Maya's defiance faltered, and for a moment, she looked vulnerable. But then her mask slipped back into place, and she smiled sweetly at the officer. "Of course, officer. I'm happy to cooperate."

But beneath the surface, Maya's mind was racing. She knew she had to find a way out of this situation, and fast.