chapter: six

A buzzing sound cut through the deafening silence. Tayden fishes his phone out of his pocket and stares at the bright screen, his jaw clenching.

"Don't think that you're getting away with this", he threatens before exiting the room with a slam.

Taara's body relaxes as she releases a sigh, a sigh that loosens up the tension in her shoulders and relaxes her clenched jaw.

"That was intense", Zeru's muttering breaks the silence.

Taara's eyes dart to the bookshelf, certain that someone is hiding behind it.

"I know you're there, come out", Taara announces.

A figure emerges from the shadows his hands in his pockets as he walks into the light,.

"So I guess you heard everything", Taara mutters, annoyed by how her master plan was exposed.

"What the hell was that?", he pushes his glasses up.

"So we're skipping the fact that you just heard how I'm planning to scam you?', Taara raises an eyebrow.

"Honestly, I couldn't care less, what I want to know is what happened between you two to have him talk to you like that?"

"That's none of your business Lucius", she replies with a glare.

"I mean that is true, but I wouldn't mind knowing", he mumbles in defeat.

Taara walks to where Zeru is and scoops him into her arms.

"So what now?", Lucius scratches his head.

"Simple, I'm going to get out of here and you're going to act as if all of 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵

didn't happen", she says nonchalantly.

"Wouldn't you love that?", Lucius smirks obviously not willing to stay silent.

Taara turns around to face Lucius, her eyebrows raised. "What do you want?"

"I mean, wouldn't it be very boring if we just act as if that impressive scene didn't just happen?"

Lucius steps closer.

"I'll help you with your plan if you-"

"Not interested", she dismisses Lucius with a hand wave.

"Wait, you didn't even hear what I have to say", Lucius remarks angrily. This wasn't what he expected. He went through all the possible scenarios in his head, but he didn't see this coming.

His plan was to have her listen to him, be ecstatic to join his plan, and applaud him for being a mastermind. But what is this?

"I don't need to hear it, Zeru let's go", and both of them disappear just like that, leaving a distraught Lucius behind.

____

As soon as Taara enters her apartment her feet start to ache.

"A warm bath sounds amazing right now", she mumbles softly as she takes off her clothes and wraps her tired body in a fluffy robe.

She examines her face in the bathroom mirror, her fingers tracing the red lipstick and bold eyeliner that hid her exhausted bare face. A mixture of sadness and anger fills her orbs as she recalls her encounter with her brother.

She sighs as she wipes away her makeup. Wouldn't it be convenient if emotions could be wiped off this easily?

"Anyways, my delicate body needs a warm bath full of rose petals to recover from today."

Her body tingles with excitement as she dips her toes into the water. It wasn't lukewarm nor too hot, exactly how she likes it.

A heavy knock on the door disturbs the peaceful setting she created.

Taara huffs annoyed as she drags her feet to the door, ready to punch whoever disturbed her precious time.

She bursts the door open and is greeted by two stoic police officers.

"How can I help you?", she asks.

"Taara Faiz?", one of them asks.

"Yes, that would be me."

"You're under arrest for trespassing private property."

"Trespassing?', she snorts "I'm the epitome of a law-abiding citizen."

ᴅɪɴɢ!

𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵? 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥'𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘸 - Lucius

Before Taara could comprehend the situation she is in, one of the police officers approaches her with handcuffs. "Anyways, you have the right to remain silent anything you say or do may be held against you-".

Taara's blood pounds in her ears overwhelmed in anger and unable to hear anything the officers say.

She takes a deep breath before announcing. "Lead the way gentlemen.", Taara struts behind the police officers, her head held high in effort of maintaining the last ounce of her dignity.