Chapter 5
Mateo had never seen anyone this brazen. He was about to lose it when the guy chuckled, “Y’all know it?”
The bodyguards shook their heads. “Nope,” they said in unison.
‘What the hell?! This is way too much–straight–up humiliating!‘ Mateo fumed to himself.
He cursed and charged. “Time to learn about Hickum Construction, punk!”
Meanwhile, Mateo’s rented presidential suite was a full–on party, music thumping, drinks flowing.
Suddenly, someone burst in, snatched the mic, and shouted, “Yo, trouble! Mateo’s out there scrapping!”
The room froze. All eyes locked on the guy.
Someone snorted. “Bet that dude’s getting wrecked, right?”
“Yeah, probably begging at Mateo’s feet!” another laughed.
The mic guy’s voice shook. “Uh… Mateo’s the one down.”
59%
Laughter exploded.
Then someone blinked, confused. “Wait–who’s down?”
Before anyone could respond, security from the Perce Hotel marched in.
The head guard, face cold as ice, said, “Mateo’s VIP status is gone. He’s banned. You’ve got five minutes to clear out, or we’ll toss you.”
+38
Right then, Solana lounged on a plush bed, grinning as her phone buzzed with Mateo’s desperate calls, texts, and WhatsApp pings.
She chuckled, picturing him fuming, ready to punch something.
But she wasn’t scared one bit.
Her fingers grazed her pale ankle, and she called Hana, mentioning a twisted foot.
Hana’s voice crackled with worry. “Oh, Miss webb, hold tight! I’ll grab some medicated oil. It’ll be good by morning.”
Hana showed up fast. As she opened the door, Solana sat cross–legged, hands on cheeks, staring like she’d timed Hana’s
entrance.
Hana laughed, clutching her chest. “Miss webb, you scared the crap outta me! Uh… we’re out of ointment, but I’ll run and get some.”
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14:36 Wed, 30 Jul & O
Chapter S
Just then, rain pounded the windows, drops smacking hard.
59%
In her old life, Solana had pitied Hana, an older woman braving the rain, especially when Hana hesitated. She’d let it go, saying tomorrow was fine. But then Averie arrived, and everyone forgot Solana’s swollen ankle, which ached for weeks.
Hana eyed the storm, wavering, but Solana cut in with a smile. “Hana, grab the umbrella by the door. Don’t catch a cold, alright?”
Hana nodded quick, hiding any annoyance. “Got it, Miss Webb. Hang on.” Then she left.
Solana’s smile turned cold. Every single thing Hana failed to do in that old life? Those debts were getting paid, one by one.
Solana knew Hana was in for a rough trip. She’d trashed Hana’s umbrella on purpose before she left. With the storm raging outside, that thing was done for. So, Solana locked the door, hit the sack, and slept like a log.
Next morning, she stepped out and saw an ointment hanging on the doorknob, a sappy note from Hana tucked inside. Solana wasn’t impressed. She balled up the note, tossed it in the trash, and chucked the oil onto her nightstand.
Downstairs, Hana was in the kitchen, cooking up a storm and sneezing her head off. Spotting Solana, she perked up. “Hi, Miss Webb! Got back late last night–didn’t wanna wake you. Left the ointment on your door. Foot’s good now?”
“Yep, all good,” Solana said, sliding into a chair to eat. “Thanks, Hana.”
“Oh, this is my duty.” Hana grinned, grabbing a plate and fork. “Mr. Webb dipped out early–said we’ve got company today.” She couldn’t smell the ointment on Solana, which was weird, but she wasn’t about to stir the pot.
Solana caught Hana sneaking off to the kitchen to blow her nose, probably popping meds. She looked like she was battling a cold and maybe a fever.
Robert paid well–real well–so plenty of folks were dying to take Hana’s gig at the Webb house.
Solana remembered Hana never got sick, never took a day off. She was grinding hard to keep her job.
Solana didn’t feel a twinge of guilt.
In her old life, when guests were coming, Solana would sit there, starving, waiting for Robert. Not anymore.
Hana’s cooking? Absolute fire. In a great mood, Solana wolfed down two buttermilk biscuits and a big bowl of oatmeal.
Full and happy, she kicked back in the living room, watching the clock. As expected, a car engine growled outside.
“What are you doing down here, Mrs. Webb?” Hana poked her head out, seeing Gloria shuffle downstairs, one hand on her forehead, the other gripping the banister.
Before, Solana would’ve rushed to help Gloria, who was too busy obsessing over Averie to notice Solana’s sprained foot.
Now? She didn’t budge, eyes locked pn
the front door.
Robert’s voice cut through. “Come on in.”
A slim figure followed him into the Webb villa. It was Averie–Solana’s first glimpse from her old life.
213
14:36 Wed, 30 Jul GO
Chapter S
Just then, rain pounded the windows, drops smacking hard.
59%
In her old life, Solana had pitied Hana, an older woman braving the rain, especially when Hana hesitated. She’d let it go, saying tomorrow was fine. But then Averie arrived, and everyone forgot Solana’s swollen ankle, which ached for weeks.
Hana eyed the storm, wavering, but Solana cut in with a smile. “Hana, grab the umbrella by the door. Don’t catch a cold, alright?”
Hana nodded quick, hiding any annoyance. “Got it, Miss Webb. Hang on.“Then she left.
Solana’s smile turned cold. Every single thing Hana failed to do in that old life? Those debts were getting paid, one by one.
Solana knew Hana was in for a rough trip. She’d trashed Hana’s umbrella on purpose before she left. With the storm raging outside, that thing was done for. So, Solana locked the door, hit the sack, and slept like a log.
Next morning, she stepped out and saw an ointment hanging on the doorknob, a sappy note from Hana tucked inside. Solana wasn’t impressed. She balled up the note, tossed it in the trash, and chucked the oil onto her nightstand.
Downstairs, Hana was in the kitchen, cooking up a storm and sneezing her head off. Spotting Solana, she perked up. “Hi, Miss Webb! Got back late last night–didn’t wanna wake you. Left the ointment on your door. Foot’s good now?”
“Yep, all good,” Solana said, sliding into a chair to eat. “Thanks, Hana.”
“Oh, this is my duty.” Hana grinned, grabbing a plate and fork. “Mr. Webb dipped out early–said we’ve got company today.” She couldn’t smell the ointment on Solana, which was weird, but she wasn’t about to stir the pot.
caught Hana sneaking off to the kitchen to blow her nose, probably popping meds. She looked like she was
a cold and maybe a fever.
ert paid well–real well–so plenty of folks were dying to take Hana’s gig at the Webb house.
Solana remembered Hana never got sick, never took a day off. She was grinding hard to keep her job.
Solana didn’t feel a twinge of guilt.
In her old life, when guests were coming, Solana would sit there, starving, waiting for Robert. Not anymore.
Hana’s cooking? Absolute fire. In a great mood, Solana wolfed down two buttermilk biscuits and a big bowl of oatmeal.
Full and happy, she kicked back in the living room, watching the clock. As expected, a car engine growled outside.
“What are you doing down here, Mrs. Webb?” Hana poked her head out, seeing Gloria shuffle downstairs, one hand on her forehead, the other gripping the banister.
Before, Solana would’ve rushed to help Gloria, who was too busy obsessing over Averie to notice Solana’s sprained foot.
Now? She didn’t budge, eyes locked on the front door.
Robert’s voice cut through. “Come on in.”
A slim figure followed him into the Webb villa. It was Averie–Solana’s first glimpse from her old life.
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14.30
wed, 30 Jul G
59%
Chapter 5
In a plain white tee, jeans, and a ponytail, she looked nervous, scoping out the place like a scared mouse.
“There you are!” Gloria lit up, hurrying over to grab Averie’s hands, eyeing her like she was pure gold. “Tired? Carsick? Eat yet?”
Averie, totally thrown, shook her head. Then her stomach growled–loud. Her face went tomato–red.
Robert jumped in. “Hana, grab another plate.”
Gloria finally remembered Solana. “Solana, get over here!”
Solana sauntered over, cool as a cucumber.
Averie turned and saw her–rocking a trendy puff–sleeve top, a sleek A–line skirt, and sparkly flats. Solana screamed money and style. Averie’s outfit? Probably cost less than a coffee. She felt like nothing.
But knowing all this should’ve been hers? She hated this princess with every bone in her body.
Solana, unbothered, stepped up. Gotta admit, Averie was pretty–her eyes and brows were Robert’s spitting image, her oval face all Gloria.
The resemblance was so obvious, Solana nearly laughed. No one would buy that she was Robert and Gloria’s kid.
Robert and Gloria were sizing up the two girls. Solana felt it but didn’t care one bit.
Gloria flashed a grin. “Solana, this is… your dad’s business friend’s kid. She’s staying a few days. Same age as you, so take care of her, ‘kay?”
Averie forced a smile and stuck out her hand. “Hey, I’m Averie.”
“Hi, I’m Solana,” Solana said, shaking her hand like it was nothing.
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