Valerie’s Plan

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Valerie's idea was a most brilliant one, the nun walked majestically down the corridor that led to the girl's room. Her spirits soared as she hummed a tune, strutting her way to the room and deftly entering the pin code to unlock the door. She couldn't help but imagine Mr. Machi's delight if he were to learn of this intriguing new development. A suppressed giggle escaped her as she observed Niki, in her usual awkward posture, absorbed in playing with her hair. 

Could they trust Niki to get the girl out or should they send the men instead? No, Mr.Machi had instructed her to specifically use Niki and she was the only one who could get into Cross's home without alerting unnecessary attention. Getting her in would be no problem since Valerie and Marc stayed in the same building. It was up to them to find out how to smuggle her in and get the job done.

"Niki… you finally get to play today!" She announced and a dark smile marred the face of the vicious girl.

"Just don't touch her face or leave any lasting marks. She will be taking her sister's place"

"Who?" 

"M's sister, you remember M, don't you? It's time to pay her home a visit"

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At the party, Merdith couldn't have a moment of peace. Her mind kept going back to Zarah being all alone in that massive mansion while she was still unable to tell Cross that her sister was in their home. 

"Are you having a splendid night?" He inquired, stroking her bare thighs as they sat at the elegant dinner table surrounded by his wealthy friends. 

Meredith smiled but she wasn't happy there.No, she couldn't be happy here! Because she knew deep down that she didn't belong here. Nevertheless she put on a smile, chatted with a few people who spoke to her and acted like the high-end wife of a billionaire. This would have been perfect if their marriage was a conventional one. If her mother knew where she was and if Cross would be okay with learning that her sister was right in their home. 

————-

Niki applied her black lipstick and put on a pitch-black wig, the reflection she saw in the mirror made her happy. However, her eyes turned dark when she remembered she wasn't to hurt her victim. This will take all the fun away but she would do whatever she wanted as long as there was no one there to stop her. A wicked laughter bubbled up within her as she awaited Marc to accompany her – she was the ideal candidate for this task. Sneaking in and out without detection was her specialty. 

It had been a long time since she had some fun. She drew her knife out of her pleated skirt and it shone to her delight. 

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Her sister had asked her to stay hidden in a corner but she was getting tired and her legs hurt from staying in a corner for long. It had been more than three hours since her sister left and she was itching to explore the big mansion. 

With caution, she pushed the door open, her footsteps echoing down the extended corridor as her eyes marveled at the house's exquisite splendor. The corridor was bathed in the warm glow of elegant lighting, and she couldn't suppress a gasp at the captivating paintings and ornate decor adorning the surroundings.

All around her, every room was bathed in light, except for the dimly lit sitting room. As she descended the staircase, an unsettling feeling suddenly washed over her. It was as if an instinctive voice urged her to return to her hiding spot, where her sister had instructed her to stay. Just as she made up her mind to retreat, she turned around and came face to face with a terrifying figure blocking her path. A scream of sheer terror escaped her lips, and she bolted into the sitting room, stumbling over chairs in her frantic haste.

The light flickered on and there was a girl dressed in a pleated skirt and white shirt like a schoolgirl and her makeup was horrible. She had a knife in her hands which she held playfully and Zarah wondered what she wanted with it. 

"Wanna play?" She asked in an ominous voice, suddenly heading really fast towards Zarah. 

Zarah scrambled up and tried to run from where she had come from but the murderous girl was already on her heels. She ran up the stairs but the knife cut through her leg, sending a searing pain through her body and she fell screaming. The girl gave her another vicious cut and Zarah knew she wanted to kill her. 

She was about to cut her face when a beeping noise stopped her. She grunted before plunging a syringe into Zarah's skin and she blacked out. 

—————-

Meredith was still in deep thought about her situation while at the party while her sister was in danger. 

What if one of Cross's guests asked how they met or who she was. She took a long sip of her drink hoping no one would ask her such a question and that was when she noticed one of the men staring at her. It was Mr. Mangold the very first man who had bought her. 

She knew it! She shouldn't have come here… now everyone would know of her past! But why was she so afraid? If people knew where she was, wouldn't it help find her freedom? Despite her mixed feelings about her identity being revealed, she touched Cross and whispered into his ears. He turned towards the man and pinned an intimidation glare at him. 

"You have a lovely wife!" The man dared to say before moving towards his seat. 

"Are you okay? Should we leave?" Cross asked, sounding concerned. The last thing he wanted was for Meredith to feel uncomfortable. 

"Yes" she said in a small voice and he bade his farewell to his clients and acquaintances, informing them that his wife was feeling unaware. 

They left that very instant. But inside the car, Meredith still had an unsteady breathing. Cross held her little palms and said 

"I am really sorry… I wish things were different between us and the issue of your past isn't a barrier to having a happier relationship. I won't let anyone upset you again"

Meredith nodded while Cross gave her a vulnerable look. That would have been the perfect moment to tell him about her sister but instead he confessed that he was in love with her and she just froze at that moment. She was touched and he wouldn't just stop looking at her. 

But even though she knew she cared about him, she couldn't say she was in love with him. 

"You don't have to say anything now. You don't have to! Let's just go home!" He sounded hurt as he turned on the ignition of the car. Yet she couldn't say a word to him about Zarah nor could she say she loved him back. The words formed in her throat but she didn't say it. They drove silently while her mind was solely focused on Zarah being okay. 

They got home and as they both stepped out of the car Meredith had a strange feeling that something was amiss. Trying to compose herself, she walked beside a quiet Cross into their home. The house looked pretty normal when they walked into it and Meredith hoped her sister was still in good shape. 

She was going to tell Cross about her once she checked if she wa okay. While Cross went upstairs to undress, she walked into the room to find it completely empty. She searched frantically for her sister, opening doors after doors and checking every corner and there was no sign of her. 

Panic rose in her throat but she refused to tell Cross about her sister yet. The mysterious disappearance of her sister left her baffled and anxious. Valerie! The name flashed in her mind like a warning sign. If something had befallen her sister, Valerie had to be involved somehow. She had been keeping a close eye on them, and Valerie was the sole person aware of her sister's presence, even though she'd claimed Zarah was their maid.

Filled with a seething anger, she rushed out the door, determined to confront Valerie, who was currently with Marc. They could do whatever they pleased to her, but her sister remained strictly off-limits. Fury burned within her, mingling with the pain of not knowing her sister's fate.