de

elishing my accomplishments. My focus shifted to th

ecurity officer said,

sked, curiosity e

ere, requesting your presence,"

me. Police officers?

" I assured him, wat

headed downstairs to meet the office

, a group of policemen awai

r. Arden?"

you?" I replied, hidi

tern. "You're under arrest, sir,

u have the right to remain silent. Anything you sa

rn of events. The scene unfolded before our staff, w

n real officers?" I stammered, panic r

eir IDs and the arresting officer h

," I protested, memories flooding back.

evidence of the previous night's al

"My advice, sir, is to remain silent. A

nce reaches far. Tracking me down and ar

m. It all makes sense now - his ar

ave mistake – assu

e in," I vow

o their vehicle, and we he

s

ming with joy. With lectures

ister Ana chimed, as

ed, unable to hide

ow. "Why are you so

talking about," I said, attempting to play it cool, bu

d you've been humming nonstop all morning." S

vation with a shrug.

t mine, her smile mischievous. "Who's the

ing, walking away. "Anna, leave me

mockingly, "Isla's in love,

laughing. "You

rkling. "Oh, I do. It's w

is irritation palpable. "I can't aff

atever. Let's go." She grabbed her ba

ly grin. "Get ready to spill the beans when I

heard Anna call out

and loving. Despite being five years my

kid, he had retreated into himself after our parents' passing. I had tri

liveliness and Julian's reserve made them an interesti

for my evening shift. As I arrived, I sensed an unusual atmosphere – the staff wer

d me. "Mr. Stanton wants to see

had never met him since starting work at Vintage Club. Even interactions

al my growing anxiety, an

h questions. What could he wan

Stanton, a man likely in his fifties, w

sir," the mess

," I greeted,

ead to my feet and back up, making me shift

said finally, his tone

ed, irritation cree

efore delivering the blow: "Your

the sudden termination and the proprietor's per

.. What... I don't und

miss. Your actions nearly destroyed my establish

ir, what do you mean?" I man

ow, listen carefully: do not mention what happened last night to any

hat was he insinuating? Wh

esterda

undered, his face reddening. "

seethed with anger, my instincts screaming to re

esterday, and now I'm being silenced and fir

eyes locked in defiance. He waited for

ave to fire me?" I dem

audacity. "Your services are no l

leave, I felt tears prick at the corners o

g words stopped me: "Heed my warning, Isla. Yo

Vintage Club, and who are the Normans, anyway? The name echoed i

e office, I seethe

e. Beatrice, my colleague, called out, "He

after me outside, her voic

ce, please, I'm not up for talking

atrice said, "but

you out? No one hears me out! T

xpression stricken. I immed

ed, my tone softening. "I'm still tr

d quietly, her concern ev

brawl," Beatrice said. "I heard one of the peopl

. Rex instead. I remembered the proprietor's word

ns?" I found mysel

and wariness. "The Normans? They're big time shots,

rious. "Hold up, you mes

trying to process. "Wha

Duty calls, sorry. You'll be fine, Isla." With a

eatrice was right, I'd unwittingly

lts stunned me. Their family photo exuded elegance, with desi

n, a self-made billionaire. His mother was the daughter of a lat

Nicole Kensington. My jaw dropped. The Nicole Kensington– m

er engagement to Rex solidified their stat

and influence, make advances towards

ons: shock, confusion

through my bag, relieved to find his card there. I qu

swer!" I muttered,

n, each failed attempt

's fine," I whispered