The apartment complex stood tall like a monument —its top glowing like a tint with the elegant cursive logo of Alexia Atelier. I stood at its entrance, clutching the black card edged with rose gold with her name_ Elias Vore that had arrived in a silk-lined box as a prize from 2025 lottery Winner.
I only participated in this lottery hoping for ease from my trauma .
Then, I got a job offered from one of the most elite styling studios in the city—no, the world. I held that card like a lifeline and before I flee my sister saw me in my room holding a black card.
I clicked past the doorman, who didn't even glance at me, and entered the building that reeked of money and soft floral perfume.
"I've heard of Alexia," she muttered catching her breath as she stepped inside. "The high-end stylist who turns anything she touches into something... eternal."
The elevator gleamed before me. Grey shiney with black stripes, crystal-lit, and silent like a secret. I pressed the glittering button, watching the lights blink down toward me.
"They say she's magic. Ethereal. Dangerous."
The truth? I never cared about her. Or the billion-dollar world of beauty she ruled.
As I was born in a middle-class home where beauty didn't pay the bill for living, study and care. Where I was adopted only to earn money for their bastard child. I was alone at home, school and work and the only thing stuck to me for keep moving was to earn money.
"Styling, fashion, glitz… I always thought it was stupid," I said in my head, the elevator humming as it rose.
"All this money just to look pretty for five seconds on someone else's screen?"
Baka !
She looked at her card_
They deposited my first month's salary before I'd even signed the contract. Enough to move my so-called family into a new home.
_and glides her finger across her name ...
That's why I showed up early. A week early to pay up the bill to prevent problem.
..swiftly as if she stored her emotion.
I didn't trust people. And I definitely didn't trust rich people like Alexia.
The rumors and the news circulating about her is crazy and ridiculous.
She stops
HFFFF! releasing some faint air from mouth and shakes her head to stop her overthinking .
"It doesn't matter if she is good or bad but the only thing I know is to repay them."
The elevator doors slid open with a sound like a sigh.
I walked through the corridor and saw a multiple doors and hallway but I know where to head in as there was a double door made of polished gold plate showing her place to others .
And she opens the door holding the knobs ...
"I stepped out into a world that didn't belong to me."
The room was a dream painted in rose and cream. Fluffy beany bags were scattered like petals, surrounding three massive Rosa 'Sue Ryder' roses blooming at the corners making the whole room rising the appealing to breathtaking. The modern lights with movable directional lamp makes the room more of trustworthy. The staff member glide by in a blush-toned jumpsuit with chiffon dolman sleeve wide, loose, and flowing from the shoulder to the waist, giving a soft, elegant drape with a seamless, sculpted waist, it was like watching a butterfly step out of a dream—elegant, serene, and unmistakably part of Alexia's magic. Every corner of the space breathed elegance and restraint. A double door stood proudly at the side, where troller of beautiful clothes came throw along with handsome man pulling out for choices. Across the room, the grand hall opened wide—five luxurious chairs, clients lounging with their 1000$ casual clothes each item, waiting to be reborn by a one hand professional.
… her.
Alexia.
She didn't look at me. Not even once. She stood, poised and untouchable, young billionaire at her same age with dyed grey hair styled like a cascade with a silk ribbon, eyes cold and calculating as she examined fabric swatches under a beam of natural light. Staff moved around her like she was a planet and they, helpless moons. They greeted her softly, reverently.
"And I hated her for it.
I hated her presence. Her silence. Her perfection.
So, I just minded my business until_
One day, she walked into my house —unannounced, sued every member of my family silently for child labour and breaking adoption rules and hand me a Poodle puppy."
Consider him as a friend for your birthday, Alexia says me with her usual tone and give me air to breathe for first time after this 18 years .
And now it's been 3 years.
Elias carrying her poodle dog, with a name tag Stew goes to the local market and stops at spicy pork to buy for whole studio for Good Friday party still dressed in her uniform.
"Uncle, 3 packs of Spicy Pork, Please!" smiling brightly than ever.
"Coming" Shopowner says and packs the freshly fried juice pork with some hot sauce and hand at the counter.
Alone ! expecting someone. Where is he? checking the bill from Elias black card.
Uhh! Elias says," He is busy with other things and Alexia doesn't allow him so_ Yeahh!"and "I came along with Stew, so I am not alone" taking her black card and turned back in shy and nervousness.
"I hope he comes up to visit as_" Elias says feeling hopeful reaching Alexia Apartment Complex.
"'Studio doesn't have enough staff as it is difficult to get one and sit alongside with Alexia as her working style is not easy for anyone to handle. But I ocassionally slack off a bit to make other staff happy by small treats ."
Elias got into the elevator and _suddenly she got into an emergency and push the button in a hurry. Once the elevator opened she hurried towards the washroom and leave the leash tied outside along with the bag of food outside the rack and went inside. The screen gets black with white noise and shifts_to the scene where she sees a unknown dead man at the washroom.
What on earth is this?
Her body grovels taking the support at the door but thinking about Alexia and her staff friends, she forces her body to stand up and her adrenaline rises up urging her to run to the studio taking her dog along.
I need to inform Alexia and others about the danger..
and calls 911 heading towards the studio at the hallway.
She opens the door abruptly finding lifeless body of Alexia heavily wounded soaked with her own blood at the ground and Stew starts barking.
Her legs gave up on her right at the moment and falls on her knees.
She couldn't control herself despite the situation" as a mysterious man blending with darkness of room.
The mysterious man starts to wave his hand and was getting up.
When suddenly a phone rang from Alexia phone with flashes shining _
And Elias sees the face shining brightly from flashes revealing him and got stunned
and and left completely speechless_
.....
Elias moves forward in total disbelief and slowly walks off to the killer as he is close to her. Before she could utter something from behind, another person comes .The gun gets aimed at her head .
After a few steps, person pulls a trigger and
BANG.________