Chapitre 16: Past Enemy

Ezra, fumed in anger looking straight into Ferdinand's eyes. "I have no idea how my CCTV footage got edited, this is a conspiracy against me!"

Ferdinand laughs at him, "I can't believe this; you keep denying the fact that you have any hand in behind this case but every single evidence is pointing towards you." He shifts in his seat pointing an accusing finger towards him, "you really got some guts to deny the fact about paying the guy who works in the attested camera company to edit the footage." He clicks his tongue showing disappointment through his face. "I really thought you were an honourable man but it turns out you are more vile than your father is."

Ezra's jaws clenched in anger. Comparing him to his father is something he doesn't like. Even today his mother gave him a hint about how reckless he has become to everyone's eyes. He opens his mouth to speak back to him when his eyes see her approaching.

Eyebrows creased in confusion when his eyes fell on the woman; Stella.

While wearing a mask on her face?

Stella met his gaze and gave him an assuring nod.

He never saw her wearing a mask before. Sure, she might have used it for dusting purposes to guard her nose and mouth but why would she wear something like a mask now?

Ferdinand notices Ezra's confused gaze, curiosity got him at what he could be seeing that's too behind them. He turns to see who's behind only to see a girl strutting her way towards them.

His lips curve into a wicked smirk upon seeing the girl's slender figure and appearance but what urges him to see is her face. That girl totally hid her face with the mask, what could be the reason?

Who is she? Another maid?

"Well, well, well… I see you have already replaced your dead employee with another one." Turning back to Ezra, he taunts, "you work really fast, don't you?"

Ezra, didn't reply to his mocking words instead put him in his place with just a hard glare.

Ferdinand's excitement died seeing his scowl but the curiosity of the girl's face behind the mask increased. Somehow that girl intrigued him.

Stella walks cautiously into the living room where all the men sat and discussed. She won't lie; she eavesdropped some of their conversation with extra caution of not getting caught but hell! Her breath almost choked her throat when she heard the man's voice.

She knows that voice very clearly. Even having been seeing him for the last five years.

Ricardo's informer and loyal dog; Ferdinand Rivera. He used to erase every illegal trace of Ricardo's dirty work and still does. He is the Deputy sheriff of NYPD and being in this reputed position he bends law easily for Ricardo.

The major problem is he knows her just as clearly as she knows him. Ricardo must have informed him about her disappearance by now and if she appears in front of him revealing her face then it will be an end game for her.

Ferdinand will inform Ricardo and his men will come for her. They will drag her from this heaven back to the hell she escaped from.

A shaky breath escapes her mouth and steps back from the wall which shields her figure from the men in the living room.

Think… think Scarlett, think!

After a few seconds of looking here and there an idea pops in her head.

A mask!

Yes, a mask will definitely help cover her seventy percent of face. But what reason will she give to Ezra? What will she say to him when he asks about her sudden use of a mask?

Letting out a frustrated sigh she decides she will handle Ezra later and focus on how to escape from Ferdinand's haunting gaze. Placing the tray of beverage on the kitchen counter back she makes a run for the room where she stays.

Rummaging through her suitcase she pauses when she looks at the stacks of dollars she stole from Ricardo's safe only because of surviving, not because she's greedy for money. Placing the stack at the bottom of the suitcase and placing back the clothes over it to hide, she got the face mask she was looking for.

Thank God I had it with me.

Quickly wrapping it around her face and tucking it behind her ears before running back to the kitchen and grabbing her tray. Checking the kettle's temperature to see if it's hot enough or not and made her way towards the living room again.

Taking a deep breath to calm her raging nerves behind the wall to face the monster and then walks further inside the room with newfound confidence. Just as she enters the room her gaze meets with Ezra's confused ones. She knew his reaction would be exactly this but what she didn't know was the predator's curious gaze would be on her too.

Instinctively her eyes met with Ferdinand's but she was quick to avert her eyes from his. Too much eye contact can put her into trouble. She just wants to get in, serve them and then get out; she hopes everything goes smoothly.

But hell, did she ask too much?

Ferdinand's remark on her to Ezra, made her skin crawl but she knew better to react to it. But she was glad that Ezra threw him a glare for saying that. Her heart flutters somehow seeing how he respects her even in front of others eyes because usually royalties don't even think of their maids and servants as human beings. She faced it so she knows it.

"Hello dear, what's your name?" Ferdinand being the asshole calls her out despite the earlier warning from Ezra.

Scarlett looks at Ezra asking through her eyes if she should say something or not. When he slowly blinks at her with sincerity, she knows it's ok to answer briefly.

She clears her throat and tries to talk in a mere screeching voice so that he doesn't get a hint of her real one. Extra would get suspicious about it but this needs to be done this way or else she can get herself into big trouble. "My name is Stella Robinson."

"That's quite a suitable name, where are you from originally?" He prys, trying to figure out the maid of Ezra's.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you but I don't disclose my personal information to anyone." She replies curtly before placing the tray on the coffee table and starts pouring them their tea in the cups.

Ferdinand chuckles in response, "girl, I'm a cop. Your details will always be safe with me."

Stella keeps on doing her job of not meeting his gaze even while serving him his tea, "safe or not, I only provide my personal information where it's required and here I don't see any need."

He says back, "I was just doing some small talk, young lady."

Scarlett nods affirmatively at him, "Too bad Sir, I'm really weak at doing small talks so, please don't hold back any grudges against me."

Turning towards Ezra, to ignore the slight scowl on Ferdinand's face "anything you would like to have Sir?"

Ezra couldn't hide the amusement from his face but he did shake his head in denial to respond to her. "Okay then, I'll take my leave."

Scarlett immediately walks away taking away the tray with her. Once out of their sight she gasps out her shaky breath to calm down.

The way she controlled her shaky arms and sweaty palms in front of Ferdinand was unexpectable but she's glad she could pull it off.

"Stella!"

Her heart thumped in her chest when she heard Jones calling her out. Turning from the voice came from she saw him standing right beside her but with two arms distance between them. "What happened Jones?"

She whispered and yelled at him to not get further attention from the men in the living room.

Jones walks close to her with a scrutinizing gaze, making her worried. "Why are you wearing a mask to go in front of the police?"

She almost gasped at getting caught… almost.

"What are you trying to imply about Jones?" She averts her eyes from meeting him.

"Look at me… I saw you eavesdropping on them and then running back to your room to get your mask." He steps closer pointing a finger at her, "I sense something fishy about you. Tell me what is going on?"

Scarlett tries to come up with excuses but nothing forms inside her brain. Instead sweat beads starts to form on her forehead and throat gets dry.

She tries to open her mouth to say something when the doorbell rang again. Indicating another guest or employee's arrival.

"This must be the lawyer." She heard Jones mutter under his breath. He fixed his eyes on her again saying, "this isn't over, I'll tell the boss about this then he will see to it." He spats at her before walking away from her sight.

Just when she thought the night was over, it just kept on getting bigger.

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