Alexander pushed Vicky away when he finally came to his senses. For some reason, he couldn't look Vicky in the eyes. His eyes wandered around in awkwardness.
"Someone was pointing a gun at you," he says softly. "I was just protecting you," he finished.
"By getting yourself in the way?" Vicky asked, her tone pitched, "Your back could have been shot, and it would be your family who would blame me," she retorted. Alexander is confused; the woman sounds ungrateful.
"But when the shooter spotted that you protected me, he targeted your head; that's why I pulled you towards me. Don't get any ideas that I'm into you," Vicky says angrily now, and she doesn't know where those words flew out from. This further confuses Alexander. How can she hear a bullet passing through the air?
"Okay, we're good," he says, gets into his car, and drives off before Vicky can say anything. This was already awkward enough.
Vicky wandered back home helplessly; she had the money but no stock. Emily and Faith ran to her and embraced her. She feels a flicker of relief, but then she remembers someone is in hiding and trying to kill her. Is she putting her family in danger? A woman waves at her as she squats, kids in her embrace.
"Evening, Ms. Veena," Vicky says, smiling. She may have challenges here and there, but keeping a smile and showing everyone she's happy—that's the goal.
"So, Emily invited me to the sleepover," Faith says, and only then did Vicky remember the sleepover cupcakes she was supposed to buy. Emily informed her of her sleepover with Faith and some of her friends from the orphanage.
"So, did you buy the cupcakes?" Emily says. Vicky smiled, masking her sadness thickly. "I didn't; we will make them together. So, it's just normal that I join your sleepover. We will bake, cook and have more fun" she says
"You'll allow me to cook?" Emily says in excitement
"Yes...everyone," Vicky replies
"I love you," Emily says and hugs Vicky again.
"I love you too," Vicky replies, hugging her back while a tear drops from her eyes.
***
Elsewhere, a woman in a tight, revealing dress paired with towering heels found herself backed into a corner by two men. Their attention was intense—too close, too familiar—as they flirted and brushed against her neck, sending a conflicted thrill through her body.
Then, the distant sound of a car approaching cut through the moment. She stiffened, alert. Moving quickly to the window, she spotted a silver Bentley pulling up outside.
Panic replaced everything else. She hurried into a nearby room that looked like an office, cluttered with computers and stacks of books. With hurried, nervous motions, she wiped herself clean and sprayed on perfume, trying to reclaim some sense of composure.
Taking a steadying breath, she sat down at the desk and began typing, her expression now focused, as if nothing had happened.
Just then, Xavier steps in.
"Oh, hey handsome...was wondering when you'd stop by," the lady says, standing up and going to peck him on the cheek.
"Are the girls ready?" Xavier asked.
"Yeah, they are," she says, bending over her desk, her butt clearly visible for Xavier to see, but he walks on the other side of the desk, ignoring her flirtatious gesture.
"These are the escapees' tally. This time we would get big money, especially from this one. Mr. Simson already made a deposit of 50 million on her," she says
"Great." Xavier says, looking at some sheet with big figures of money, as a smirk pulled on his face. He rubs his hands together in anticipation.
Xavier, followed by the lady, walks deep downstairs. The building is old and dirty with rust and leaks of dust as you go down. The noise of men can be heard like hungry pigs in the field who've been starved for months. Xavier walks on stage, and the noise just increased.
"Gentlemen," he spoke, "we meet again tonight. We have 50 escapees. And our bids will start at a million dollars for each girl. I'm sorry, but we don't have bulks tonight." He finished and signaled some armed men on stage to pull down the curtain.
But to his surprise and shock beyond words, Blue stands there, a bright smile on her face. The crowd grows quiet as Xavier's face drains of blood. He looked towards the entrance and saw his security men lying on the floor. How did that happen? He had the best, most ruthless men; surely Blue can't take them down, right? He makes a call.
"Don't stress yourself; they are all dead," Blue says casually, walking towards the stage like a performer. Xavier feels his spine run cold.
The girls, just in bras and pants, shivered in fear and confusion as they hugged each other for support. Blue just appeared from nowhere to them and urged them to keep quiet, and immediately the curtains were pulled down.
"So, Xavier. You employ sex workers and pay them; that's a good touch, but when they want out, you refuse and sell them?" Blue says, questioning.
"Hey, who do you think you are? Get off; this is business. How did you even get in?" the lady that came in with Xavier says angrily. Her heels click on stage as she walks towards Blue.
"Lisa, right?" Blue says catching Xavier and the lady, Lisa, off guard. How did she know her name?
"I only came here to kill these pigs, not the hoes," Blue says and turns away.
But Lisa wasn't giving up; she grabbed Blue's arm, and the latter punched her hard across the face, sending her flying off the stage and falling into the crowd of men.
"Have fun," Blue says, but the men are frightened and confused. Lisa is protected by Xavier and his men, and she's not for sale; if it were someone else, they would have fun.
SHOOT!
Blue shot a warning shot in the ceiling, bringing back stones and dust.
"I said HAVE FUN," she commanded. Lisa is terrified; there are many men, and they can't have sex with her here in front of Xavier.
"Blue," Xavier speaks finally, but Blue pointed a gun at him while facing the men who looked at Xavier for confirmation.
"He's toast too. Anyways, no one is dying without riding that hole," Blue says deadpan.
Xavier can't believe what he's hearing. But why isn't he doing anything? The girls, who were set to be sold, giggled, and Blue looked at them. They shrank in fear, but Blue smiled warmly at them. Xavier saw it and looked at the girls too.
"Hey, you can't just come here and do whatever you see fit. You may have killed all my security, but..." Xavier says and stops for a second. She killed all his security men with weapons. How? Who is she working with?
"Cat got your tongue?" Blue says.
"These girls will leave like they wished to. This, all these men will die, but before that, they'll have sex with her," Blue says final, leaving no room for argument.
The men, seeing Xavier's helplessness, swallowed in terror.
"Now!" Blue commanded, and they all hurrying got to work, and Lisa's shriek could be heard while Blue and the girls laughed; Xavier was about to explode in anger.