"Will this really work?" Zaria nervously asked as she entered the club with her friend, Ryan.

The man smiled with a slight wink. "Trust me, it will. You just have to follow my lead and do as I say."

"Okay…" she nodded even though she doubted that it would work. Shrugging, she decided that she may as well go with the flow. The worst that could happen is losing time—which wouldn't be a first or a second. She already tried so many plans, and all of them had failed, or she wouldn't have resorted to seeking Ryan's help.

Ryan led her towards a VIP room she knew all too well, making her frown. "Wait, am I not supposed to keep my distance from him?"

He smiled mischievously. "Of course you are." As though reading the next question on her mind, he added, "Don't worry, I have access."

She wondered how that was possible. Wasn't it reserved solely for Desmond and his friends? Ryan was not one of that asshole's friends, right?

As he pushed the door open, she wondered whether or not he would be there. Reminding herself to keep calm, she followed his lead into the room.

…

They sat at the furthest corner from the door and ordered drinks, then minded their business and ignored everyone else in the room.

She knew that Desmond was in the room. She could feel his hateful eyes glaring at her. Heaven knew she would turn and glare back at him if this went on for much longer.

"What are we doing, exactly?" She asked the man opposite her. He didn't seem to plan anything since they got in and curiosity was getting the better of her.

He snuck a peek in Desmond's direction and was pleased when he saw how tightly the latter was gripping his glass. "What else would we be doing here? We are making Desmond jealous."

"What?!" She almost slammed the bar counter in shock.

"It works every time, trust me. No man would stand the woman they are interested in being with someone else. He will run back to you within…"

She shook her head and was speechless. "Were you even listening to me when I explained the situation?" She bet he didn't. Or he wouldn't think Desmond could get jealous because of her. And to think she had expected Ryan's so-called golden idea to help her!

"Why do you look upset? It's working, believe me. The guy's been glaring at me for about thirty minutes!" Ryan laughed, and Zaria was speechless.

He was not glaring at you because he was glaring at me.

"Never mind. I'll take a breather and be back shortly." She took her bag and exited the room onto the balcony, where she would be free from those evil eyes.

Alas, the peace only lasted a moment before she heard a voice that was like a curse to her ears. She turned, and when she saw its owner, she felt a headache coming on. Just great.

…

A few minutes ago.

Desmond got a call, so he excused himself to answer it. He made his way to the balcony and was puzzled to see a familiar female figure leaning against the railing.

She looked so gorgeous in her sequin dress and high-heeled shoes that he had the urge to get close to her—and he did. Before he could stop himself, he closed in on her.

He was going to compliment her beauty, but when she turned, her condensing gaze met his own. What actually left his mouth was, "Why on earth are you following me?"

Her mouth went wide in shock as her eyebrows furrowed. Shaking her head, she wordlessly reached into her silver purse and fished out her phone. Tapping on the screen furiously, she showed it to him. "Here."

He looked down at the screen then back at her in confusion.

She rolled her eyes at his actions scornfully. "Oh, you can't read?"

She held her phone, so he could see it clearly as she read from the dictionary definition of the word she had just searched.

"Follow.

/ˈfɒləʊ/

Verb

1.To go or come after (a person or thing proceeding ahead); move behind."

"What nonsense is this?" He frowned.

She looked up from her phone seriously. "It seems to me like your language teacher forgot to teach you the meaning of the word "follow," so I helped you look it up in my dictionary app. You're welcome!"

"Don't you play dumb with me." He grabbed her hand, making her phone drop to the floor. His eyes looked into hers threateningly. "Leave. Right now."

"And what if I don't?" She looked right into his eyes daringly.

"Then I don't mind getting security to show you out." He smiled evilly.

She scoffed like she had heard the most ridiculous thing. "Who the hell do you think you are, Desmond? Do you think the world revolves around you?"

Seeing her angered and on the verge of losing it, a smile escaped his lips. "I am not the sun, so naturally, the world doesn't revolve around me, but F$P Media does." Before she could react to his threat, he added, "Do you know what else revolves around me? This place does."

Zaria's hand itched to slap someone, but thinking about where she was, she held back. She had a feeling that this club belonged to him or one of his friends, and it would create another headline for her father if she was thrown out.

Besides, she might just cause trouble for Ryan while at it.

Hence, she could only retreat for now.

But before she did, she mouthed "watch your back" and sliced her thumb across her neck.