"Oh my Blue! You look so beautiful today," Daisy gushed, clapping her hands excitedly.
"Thank you, Daisy," Blue replied with a soft smile, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Did you later submit a painting for the auction?" Daisy leaned closer, her eyes wide with curiosity.
"Sure I did!" Blue grinned proudly.
"How did you manage to make another one within a few days?" Daisy asked, her mouth hanging open in shock.
"I already made it ahead," Blue shrugged casually.
"So you made two paintings?" Daisy blinked in amazement.
"Yeah, kinda! The original work I wanted was inside my room. I just brought the trash that I first did to the class," Blue said, laughing lightly.
"Wow! Did you know that Angel would mess with your painting? What if the professor finds out? She would be mad!" Daisy said, her face scrunching up in worry.
"I couldn't risk getting my work wasted. She had to understand. Moreover, my painting was chosen for the auction," Blue said, her tone calm but firm.
"Wow, mine too!" Daisy squealed, bouncing a little on her toes.
Just then, someone called out, "Daisy!"
She looked back—and gasped.
"Why are you here?" Daisy asked, her voice trembling slightly.
"What? I can't be here?" the man said, arching an eyebrow.
"I didn't say that," Daisy mumbled, fidgeting.
"Why didn't you reach out when you got back from your vacation? You left without telling me either," he said, stepping closer, his voice hurt.
"Our contract was over. I'm not allowed to keep in touch with you anymore. It's against the rules," Daisy said, lowering her gaze.
"Did you find someone else?" he asked quietly.
"I didn't! What are you talking about?" Daisy said, hurt flashing across her face.
"Daisy, you were not there when I needed you the most," he said, his voice heavy with emotion.
"What do you mean? I did everything to help you out in your company and the assembly," Daisy protested, her hands clenching.
"You know I lost my wife, right?" His voice
cracked.
"What the hell! How would I know that? Was it because of me?" Daisy's voice trembled in horror.
"Not at all! She was never mad because of you. She knew I needed you," he said, giving a small, sad smile.
"Then what happened to her? Oh my goodness, that nice woman…" Daisy's voice broke.
"It just happened that way," he said quietly.
"Why are you at the auction then? Do you have a business at the Shield Hotel?" Daisy asked, still trying to catch her breath.
"I came for you, sure!" he said with a smile.
"Me?" Daisy whispered, stunned.
"I asked Fransisca to renew our contract so you can move back to the noble's hall. I heard the other courtesans were treating you badly," he said gently.
"Oh my God, you did?" Daisy's eyes welled up.
"Yes, baby," he said.
"Oh Ken!" Daisy cried out and threw her arms around him, hugging him tight. "I can't believe it! I was already okay living in the regular courtesan hall."
"Lies! You were not!" Ken chuckled and ruffled her hair.
"Thank you so much, boo!" Daisy said, wiping tears from her cheeks.
"Done crying, my lady? I got you," Ken said, laughing softly as he cleaned the tears rolling down her face with his thumb.
"Hm, I guess you are back to being a noble courtesan now, Daisy!" Harper said, walking over and smiling warmly at them.
"And this is?" Ken asked, eyeing Harper.
"Oh, this is Blue. She is the new noble courtesan," Daisy explained proudly.
"Really? Never heard of her," Ken said, squinting.
"Her name was Harper," Daisy added.
"Harper? That sounds familiar," Ken said thoughtfully.
"You don't remember her?!" Daisy asked.
"Or him? The Harper you used to talk about was a boy," Ken said, chuckling.
"Oh yes, she used to be!" Daisy giggled.
"Oh, it was you that made my girl cry every now and then," Ken said, teasing.
"No, no! I didn't!" Harper quickly defended herself, laughing.
"So you were a girl!" Ken exclaimed.
"Yes, sir," Harper nodded, cheeks flushed.
"Good for me!" Ken said, and they all burst into laughter.
"She is Quincy's courtesan, Ken," Daisy said.
"Quincy? The Dylan son?!" Ken said, eyes widening.
"Yes," Daisy said, smiling.
"Oh, nice meeting you, Blue! I'm a close associate of Quincy. The Dylan family has been saving lives for a decade," Ken said warmly.
"Oh, I'm glad to hear that," Harper said shyly.
"You are such a lucky one, girl! Be good to Quincy," Ken said, giving her a playful wink.
"I will!" Harper promised.
"The auction is starting now. We gotta go!" Daisy said, grabbing Ken's hand.
"Yes, let's go!" Ken grinned.
"Sorry I'm late!" a familiar voice called out. Harper turned—and saw Quincy sitting down with a bright smile spread across his face.
"I thought you wouldn't make it," she said, heart pounding.
"Why wouldn't I? Should I allow someone else to purchase the painting you worked on?" Quincy said, smirking.
"So you came for my painting?" Harper said in surprise.
"Definitely," Quincy said, leaning back casually.
"What if it looks bad?" Harper said nervously.
"I'm sure it wouldn't!" Quincy reassured her.
Meanwhile, at the regular hall:
"Ahhh!" Angel screamed angrily, throwing everything off the table.
"Angel, please calm down," one of the girls said nervously.
"So everyone is at the auction except me?" Angel yelled, glaring at everyone.
"Yes," the girl whispered.
"What do they take me for?" Angel hissed.
"I'm sure after this one, they will allow you to go for others," the girl tried to pacify her.
"Others?! I'm permanently banned from the auctions! What the fuck! Even that trash Blue can attend and I can't? Where the hell is Celine?" Angel shouted.
"She is not allowed in the noble's hall till further notice," the girl said.
"They took my escort and also held me back from attending the auction! Logan is not in the country, what the hell am I supposed to be doing now?" Angel ranted.
"Maybe you should travel down to meet him," the girl suggested meekly.
"I have to stay here and report everything to him. If I travel down to meet him, he will be mad at me. I can't risk getting him angry for now. He is already pissed off that I couldn't get Quincy killed. Now Blue is his courtesan again—such a devilish duo," Angel muttered under her breath.
Meanwhile, back at the auction:
"Thanks for buying my regular painting for such an exorbitant amount," Harper said shyly.
"It's no regular at all. I like it," Quincy said sincerely.
"Lies!" Harper teased.
"I definitely do," Quincy chuckled.
"All right, if you say so," Harper said with a soft smile.
"I'm gonna take you into our business soon, Harper," Quincy said suddenly.
"Your business?" Harper asked, blinking.
"That is what you were trained for. I need to let you do something you are good at—not just be a courtesan. I will bring you into the mafia," Quincy said seriously.
"Are you sure about that?" Harper asked cautiously.
"I need your help, Harper. I'm regulating the mafia, and I need you there," Quincy said firmly.
"Do I have to help you sell drugs and all that?" Harper asked, wrinkling her nose.
"What? We don't sell drugs! That was before. Our family doesn't do it anymore. We created the mafia in this city, then it got out of control since my father's rule, so we decided to quit," Quincy explained.
"But it still existed!" Harper said, frowning.
"Yes, it does! We have a lot of people under us who still pay us respect, but the drug businessmen are being brutal with it. There's a lot of trafficking going on here and there. Everything is in chaos. The business was supposed to be mutual, but so many people are being forced into it—and they're mostly teenagers," Quincy said, his voice tight.
"Why don't you need the mafia business anymore? I thought you can't quit once you start it," Harper asked, leaning in.
"Listen, Harper! The Dylan family has been running illegal businesses for whole decades. Every generation makes more money even though they meet a lot at home. Our family wealth can't even be recorded. This city—we own half of it based on real estate. We own lands and businesses. We built tech companies, hospitals, hotels, oil companies—everything you could ever imagine. If someone hijacked one of our companies suddenly, it would take a whole while before we would even know—that's how big the business is," Quincy said passionately.
"Only one thing gives respect and power—it's money! We own a lot of it! Even more than every mafia leader here will ever own. That's why no one can go against us even if we are not into the business anymore."
"When I grew up, I saw how things were going in the city. I was almost kidnapped by the traffickers someday. It's one of the reasons I got into the family business early—to keep tracking these people. But you can't get them all! Logan secretly knows what Ross is doing behind him, but he keeps quiet about it because he's benefiting the most. All the young peddlers are much easier to control than regular people."
"A business shouldn't be that way. It was already an illegal thing—why force people into it? The kidnapping and trafficking rate is too high for the last ten years. It was pissing me off. I just had this mindset that I'm gonna clear everything someday even though it will take a while. I have to do it all. I will get Logan and Ross myself—and many others who have been into this," Quincy said with fire in his eyes.
"The world lives off crime, Quincy," Harper said softly.
"We do everything we can to make it minimal," Quincy said.
"Ross will come back soon, I guess! Logan has left the business for quite a while. He was trying to do Ross's job by himself, and I'm very sure it will be hard for him. Ross always goes from family to family to buy kids. I'm sure Logan can't do that," Harper said, thinking aloud.
"Yes, he can't! So he went the extreme route—using force. From the information I gathered, he has abducted so many kids from outta city, and he will bring them in soon," Quincy said.
"He doesn't know how Ross has been doing the trafficking, so this will definitely be the last time he will go to outta city to take kids. He will bring Ross back in town."
"Before Ross gets back, let's deal with Logan. His ships arrive in some days. We should go there," Quincy said, gripping her hand.
"To rescue the kids?" Harper asked, heart pounding.
"Yes, sure! We can't allow him to take them to the fields. Moreover, we don't know if he already caught on the organs business. If he already did, he will execute the girls right at the warehouse and sell them off," Quincy said grimly.
"That is true! He is also crazy about money the way Ross was," Harper said.
"Definitely!" Quincy said.
"After the whole thing, Harper, we will dispatch the mafia, and I will take you away from the courtesan house," Quincy said softly.
"You can't do that anymore," Harper said doubtfully.
"Of course I can!" Quincy grinned.
"Who do you think you are?" Harper teased.
"I am Dylan Quincy," he said proudly.
"The courtesan house rules can't be broken. The owners will be mad," Harper said.
"I'm the owner, idiot!" he said and tilted her head back playfully.
"What? What the hell! You don't mean that!" Harper gasped.
"Have I ever lied to you?" Quincy said, laughing.
"No! But…" Harper stammered.
"It's unbelievable, right?" he teased.
"Who would believe that nonsense?" Harper muttered.
"I told you—we own half of this city. Do you think anyone can build a business as big as this aside from us? We own the Shield Hotels as a whole! It was built a very long time ago and we maintain it."
"Wow! So you own the Shield Hotels currently?" Harper said, stunned.
"Yes! My father already transferred the family wealth to me when I turned eighteen," Quincy said proudly.
"That's crazy! I can't believe that!" Harper said.
"Do you want me to prove it then?" Quincy asked.
"Prove it!" Harper challenged.
"What do you want?" he asked with a grin.
"Hmmm! Give me the penthouse then," Harper said boldly.
"What? The penthouse?" Quincy laughed.
"You can't?" Harper teased, raising an eyebrow.
"Harper!" he said and pulled her into a tight hug. "The penthouse is the life of the Dylan. I can't just give it out."
"What is in there?" Harper asked curiously.
"Something huge!" Quincy said mysteriously.
"I don't deserve it?" Harper pouted.
"You do, baby! I'm gonna give it to you! After Logan returns, I will give it to you," he promised.
"Thank you!" Harper beamed.
"You dream big, Harper! You wanna own the place to oppress the courtesans, right?" Quincy teased.
"Definitely! What else do I need it for?" Harper laughed.
"If you own the penthouse, you won, Harper!" Quincy said cryptically.
"Won what?" Harper asked, confused.
"Never mind! You will find out later," Quincy said with a wink.
"Okay! Cool! I'm going back to my room now!" Harper said and got down from the car, waving at him as she left.
"Boss! Ain't you telling Harper too much? What if she betrays you?" Paige said the moment Harper climbed down from the car, glancing at her like she was a ticking bomb.
Quincy didn't hesitate. His voice was low but certain. "She wouldn't."
He didn't even spare Paige a glance, his sharp eyes locked onto Harper like she was the only thing in the world that mattered.
Paige snorted under his breath. "You have too much trust in her."
"I do," Quincy said, a rare softness threading through his rough voice.
Paige stepped closer, lowering his tone as if it were dangerous to even say it out loud. "She is just a girl who will save herself first if any issues arise."
Quincy's mouth twisted into a dark smile. "I would be mad if she doesn't save herself first," he murmured, his gaze distant for a second, imagining something only he could see. "She will be the future Mrs. Dylan."
Paige sucked in a sharp breath. His eyes flicked toward Harper, then back to his boss. "Boss! How about your wife?"
Quincy finally turned to look at him, his expression carved from stone. "Well, if my wife doesn't kill me before then, I would definitely marry Harper."
Paige hesitated, weighing his next words carefully. "But she is from the Rivers family. You can't divorce her that easily… and I heard she found out about Harper already. What if she hurts her?"
Quincy's smile vanished, replaced by an icy, lethal calm. His voice dropped low, filled with quiet menace. "It will be hard for Gianna to hurt Harper unless she is foolish. Why do you think I made her a courtesan instead of getting her out of the house directly?" His fists clenched at his sides. "If I wanted to take her out and give her a normal life, it would be very easy for me to do. But being a courtesan holds so much weight—Gianna wouldn't dare make any rash decisions that will cost her life." He took a slow, deliberate step forward. "Hurting a courtesan means she wants to sacrifice her whole family along with herself. The courtesan house has the obligation to protect its own. If Gianna touches Harper, not only will she suffer but everyone around her will."
Paige stood frozen, feeling the heavy weight of Quincy's words settle in the air.
"This will hold her back no matter what," Quincy said, his voice cold and final.
"Definitely," Paige said quickly, nodding. He rubbed his palms together nervously. "She is being cool right now, but… she didn't come into the family just to become your wife and the glamorous Mrs. Dylan. She wants the whole Dylan as a whole. And I'm waiting for her to show her hand."
"She will agree to the divorce?" Paige asked, almost whispering.
"Never." Quincy's laugh was hollow, bitter. His eyes flashed with something darker—resentment, maybe even regret. "I'm gonna leave that to the person who wants to be the next wife."
Paige blinked, stunned. "Harper?"
"Who else, idiot!" Quincy snapped, but there was no real anger in his voice, only a grim inevitability.
"Yes, boss," Paige muttered, lowering his head.
"Home," Quincy commanded, climbing into the car like he was already planning his next move.