Liam looked at her, a warm look in his eyes. "Ayla... can I share something with you?"

She swallowed hard. "What’s up?"

"I really look forward to seeing you every day, even if it’s only for a few minutes."

Her heart raced in her chest.

She quietly said, "Same here."

He smiled, relief washing over him. "Great! So... maybe one day, when you’re feeling good about it... I’d like to take you out. A real date. No pressure, just... us hanging out."

Ayla glanced down at her tray and then back at him. Her voice was small but firm.

"I’d like that."

Liam let out a deep breath, his shoulders finally dropping as if he’d just let go of a heavy backpack.

Outside, the afternoon sun streamed through the windows, filling the Cafeteria with warmth, while two students sat across from each other, grinning ear to ear. The vibe in the room felt lighter, almost like it was swinging their way, and they didn’t have a clue about the twists and turns that lay ahead.

Maybe, just maybe, things were finally starting to look up for them.

******

Present

MK was lounging in the massage room, totally at ease in his chair. The dim lighting created a chill vibe, and the smell of essential oils filled the air. A girl behind him was giving his shoulders a seductive massage, while another girl took care of his arms, her hands moving smoothly over his skin. On the floor, a third girl worked on his feet and legs, her fingers applying just the right amount of pressure to ease away tension.

With his head tipped back against the chair, MK closed his eyes and soaked up the relaxing sensations, letting all his stress slip away.

Then, a knock on the door broke the calm. MK opened his eyes and said, "Come in." The door swung open, and a guard stepped inside, looking noticeably tense. He cleared his throat, struggling to find the right words. MK shot him a look and said, "Just spill it, whatever it is. Don’t keep me hanging." The atmosphere shifted as MK braced himself for whatever news the guard had to share.

The guard noticed the girls in the room, and MK waved for them to step out. Once they left, the guard locked the door and took a deep breath. "So, here’s the deal," he finally said. "AD hasn’t checked in with us. Our informant said the two guys he sent after the girl came back injured and without the two devices and the wire you gave them. They also have no clue where the girl is right now."

MK’s anger boiled over. He clenched his fists, stood up, and grabbed a vase from a nearby table, smashing it against the floor. It shattered into pieces, and a few shards hit the guard in the face, making him back up. MK fumed, "That was just two devices and one wire! And they totally lost them? AD is useless. He can’t even catch that little girl. And don’t get me started on how his men came back all banged up!"

After a tense pause, he barked out orders to his guards, "Get the car ready; we’re heading out to meet AD in thirty minutes. Make sure he doesn’t see this coming. We’ll go in without a heads-up."

The guard nodded quickly and left to carry out the orders.

*******

In the hidden basement of a warehouse, workers were hustling to wrap up bags of a mysterious white powder. This stuff was no joke; it was way more dangerous than any drug you could think of and could kill someone with just one wrong dose.

In a corner of the basement, there was a fancy office, guarded by two guys keeping watch at the door. Inside, a man was kicked back in a big chair, and a woman was leaning against the table, chatting him up in a teasing way. She was lightly running her fingers along his arms and getting a little closer, playfully messing with his hair. He had a mischievous smile on his face, clearly enjoying the moment. Then, he took her hand and pulled her down to sit on his lap, and you could feel the spark between them in the air.

After a moment, the guards knocked on the door, breaking the tension. The woman glanced over, but when she tried to stand up from the man’s lap, he shot her a warning look, making her stay put. She leaned in and kissed him softly, choosing to stay close for the moment. "Come in," he said, his tone firm but a bit anxious.

When the guard stepped inside and caught sight of their position, he immediately looked down, clearly surprised. The woman gave a shy smile and wrapped her arms around the man’s neck, trying to lighten the mood. He turned to the guard and ordered, "Say it."

The guard, visibly nervous, replied, "MK... MK is here."

That name sent a shock through the man. He quickly stood up, pushing the woman off his lap. She wasn’t expecting that sudden move and felt a flicker of uncertainty. But seeing the urgency and fear in his eyes, she moved closer and asked, "What’s going on, love? Why is MK here without warning?"

His expression shifted from fear to anger in the blink of an eye as he glared at her. He waved the guard away, signaling him to leave, and the guard hurried out, sensing the tension. The man turned back to her, gripping her hair with his hand and pulling her closer, demanding, "What did I tell you?"

Caught off guard, she tried to smile and reach for his hand, attempting to soften his grip. But his glare intensified, and he pressed on, "I’m asking you something. What did I tell you?"

With tears welling in her eyes, she replied, "You said I shouldn’t use ’love’ or ’honey’ or anything like that in front of anyone." Her heart raced as she recalled the rules they lived by, knowing how serious the moment really was.