“Record 1#, Profit”

The TV in the corner of the room buzzed with its usual upbeat tone, a cheerful reporter recapping the latest Ladybug and Cat Noir victory. "Ladybug and Cat Noir, defeat The Mime!" she announced with exaggerated enthusiasm. Her voice filled the space, but I barely heard it. Juleka sat beside me, her bass guitar perched in her lap, her fingers absentmindedly plucking the strings while she half-watched the screen. I was far more interested in the details of my notebook—the plans I'd been piecing together for weeks. The weight of my financial situation still hung over me, pressing against my chest. It had become a constant companion, like a shadow I couldn't escape.

But today? Today was different.

I had a plan.

The notebook in my lap was full of scribbled thoughts, calculations, and strategies. Every word I wrote felt like one more piece of a puzzle I was about to solve. It was all coming together. And in my hands was the key to changing everything.

Chloe's voice.

When I had first created the 'accidental voicemail from her, my initial thoughts had been of simple blackmail. Her desperate plea for money to her father seemed like an easy target. But as I thought more closely to what i'd had her say, I'd be as though I had caught her at a weak moment, talking to her stuffed bear, admitting her fears and insecurities. The kind of things Chloe would never, ever let anyone else hear. In that moment, she was exposed the cracks in her persona starting to show. 

I smiled to myself, fingers tapping rhythmically on the notebook as the plan unfolded in my mind.

"Hey, Juleka," I said, glancing over at her as I closed the notebook. "I'm stepping out for a bit. You're good, right?"

She looked up, blinking lazily. "Yeah, I'm fine. Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

I smiled faintly. "You'll be the first to know if I do."

I slipped my phone into my pocket, the weight of Chloe's voice a constant reminder of what I could accomplish. This was the beginning.

But now? Now I had a plan far better than blackmailing her for a quick payday. I could control her—her family, their wealth—through a grip of iron. I wasn't going to demand just money. No, with her at my side—or rather, with her under my control—I could have access to everything she had, everything her father could offer. The city would bend to my will.

As I turned the page in my notebook, I jotted down my next idea. I needed more dirt on her. More. I wasn't just going to play the game—I was going to win it.

I hovered my fingers over the phone in my pocket, and for a moment, I hesitated. This next part of my plan would be delicate. Chloe wasn't going to like this, not at all. But it was necessary.

The streets of Paris were as busy as usual, but my destination was clear. Chloe's house. It felt strange walking toward it. I'd seen it plenty of times, but now, it wasn't just a house—it was the key to my future.

As I reached the gates, I saw the security guards casually watching the surroundings. No one suspected me. No one would ever guess what I had planned. I didn't need to sneak in. I wasn't here for a break-in. I had something more powerful than stealth. I had leverage.

The doorbell chimed, and I waited as footsteps approached from inside. The door swung open to reveal Chloe, her expression skeptical as always, but something about the way she stood—slightly tense—told me she was already on edge. likely due to something else during the day.

"What do you want, Luka?" she asked, her voice dripping with that usual superiority.

"I need a chat," I said, giving her a small, disarming smile. "Just a quick one. I promise I'm not here to cause trouble."

Her eyes narrowed, and I saw her stand a little taller, trying to regain her composure. "Fine, make it quick. I don't have time for whatever you're trying to pull today."

"I'm sure you've been wondering what this is about," I said, breaking the silence. My fingers slipped into my pocket, pulling out my phone. Chloe's eyes flickered to the device, but she didn't say anything, her expression unreadable.

I smirked slightly, knowing the real power was in my hands. "You don't know what's on this, do you?"

Her eyebrows furrowed, but her mask of superiority stayed intact. "What are you talking about?"

"Let me refresh your memory." I tapped the screen, and suddenly, Chloe's own voice filled the room, soft and vulnerable. "I can't believe I'm doing this… please, just one more time," she begged her stuffed bear, the words shaking with desperation. "Dad won't know. He won't know I'm asking for more. I can't lose everything…"

Chloe's eyes widened, and I saw the shock on her face before she could mask it. For a split second, she looked like she was about to crumble. I watched her carefully—this was her breaking point, and I was in control.

She snapped her gaze to the phone in my hand, her voice growing sharp. "Turn it off! Turn it off, Luka!"

But I didn't. I let it play for a few more seconds. Her voice, pleading and vulnerable, filled the space between us, echoing off the walls of her pristine home. It was like a crack in her perfect image—an image I now held in my palm, ready to shatter with a word.

"That's not the Chloe everyone knows, is it?" I asked, my voice quiet but heavy with meaning.

Her gaze darted to the phone again, her face pale. Her lips trembled, but she quickly forced a sneer. "You can't blackmail me with this. You really think this changes anything?"

I smiled softly. "It does, Chloe. This changes everything."

She backed up a step, trying to regain some composure. Her pride, her arrogance—this was her armor, and I could see it starting to crack. "You think this is the worst thing you've got on me?" Her voice was trembling slightly now, though she tried to hide it. "You think I'll just bow down to you because you recorded me talking to a stuffed bear? You're pathetic."

I let out a soft chuckle. "You're wrong. It's not just the bear I have on you, Chloe. I know exactly who you really are behind that mask."

I watched her carefully, letting the tension build. Chloe wanted to fight it, to hold onto her power, but the longer she stared at the phone, the more defeated she seemed. She didn't know what else I had on her. She didn't know the extent of my leverage.

"Tell me, Chloe," I said, taking a slow step forward. "How long do you think you can keep pretending that this doesn't matter?"

She hesitated. I could see the wheels turning in her head, but there was something else there too—fear. Real, raw fear.

I took a breath. "You can either give me what I want, or I can send this to your father, and everyone else in the school. To the press. You don't think it'll ruin your reputation? That it'll bring down everything you've worked so hard to hide?"

She clenched her fists, her jaw tightening as she tried to hold her composure. But I could see the weakness as clear as day now. The fear, the hesitation. I had her right where I wanted her.

She swallowed hard, the words coming out quieter than I expected. "What do you want from me?"

I smiled, my plan unfolding perfectly. "Everything. And in return, I'll keep your little secret safe."

Her shoulders sagged, her defiance flickering out. "Fine," she muttered, barely loud enough for me to hear. "What now?"

Now? Now, I had her. The city was mine. And no one could stop me.