The atmosphere inside Jay's Group headquarters was as pristine and calculated as ever—every movement measured, every conversation purposeful. On the executive floor, nothing happened without intention.
Except, perhaps, what was happening in Cherry Vaughn's office at that moment.
She had just settled into her chair when her desk phone rang.
Cherry picked it up without looking. "Yes?"
"Ma'am," the voice on the other end said, "Miss Nyla has just exited the building."
Cherry paused.
A slow smile crept onto her lips.
"Already?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Cherry leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs.
"Thank you."
She ended the call, tapping her fingers lightly against the desk.
So.
It was already getting to her.
The structure. The pressure. The discipline required to sit through hours of corporate discussions and decision-making.
Cherry let out a quiet, satisfied breath.
Of course it would.
Nyla had never been built for this kind of life.
"She lasted… what? A few hours?" she murmured to herself, amused.
Without wasting time, she picked up her phone and dialed another number.
It rang twice before being answered.
"Hello, Mom."
"Veena," Cherry said, her tone instantly softening—but only slightly. "Have you seen anything from Nyla today?"
There was a brief pause on the other end.
"No," Veena replied. "Nothing at all."
Cherry frowned.
"What do you mean nothing?"
"I mean exactly that," Veena said. "No posts. No stories. No event teasers. No brand tags. She's been completely quiet."
Cherry sat up straighter.
That wasn't normal.
Not for Nyla.
"She always posts something," Cherry muttered. "Even if it's meaningless."
"Exactly," Veena replied. "That's why I noticed."
The line went quiet for a second.
Then Cherry ended the call abruptly.
Now, that… was interesting.
Very interesting.
Her fingers moved quickly as she dialed another number.
"Security," she said when the line connected. "I want the footage of Miss Nyla leaving the building. Immediately."
The thing is VALE and JAYS GROUP has always shared the same security unit even though they aren't in same building.
According to Jay, that's the only way he can make sure that his younger brother and his company were completely safe.
Therefore they are all answered to him because he is there employer
Minutes later, Cherry stood in front of a screen in the security room, her arms folded as the footage played.
There she was.
Nyla.
Walking out like she had not a single concern in the world.
Cherry's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Pause it."
The footage froze.
Her gaze sharpened.
"Rewind. Just before she exited."
The video rolled back.
And then—
There it was.
A security guard approaching Nyla.
Handing her something.
An envelope.
Cherry stepped closer to the screen.
"Zoom in."
The image sharpened.
Plain envelope.
No official marking.
Delivered… at the gate.
Cherry's brows drew together slowly.
"That's odd," she murmured.
Why deliver it there?
Why not send it through official channels?
Why not to her office?
Her mind began connecting dots.
Not conclusions.
Just… possibilities.
"Alright," she said finally, turning away. "That's enough."
Moments later, Cherry was already walking briskly toward Jay's office.
Her heels clicked sharply against the polished floors, each step echoing her growing irritation.
She didn't knock.
She pushed the door open.
And stopped.
For a brief second, her expression hardened.
Jay stood near his desk, adjusting his shirt, completely unfazed.
A woman—clearly not staff—hurriedly gathered her things, avoiding Cherry's gaze entirely as she made her way out of the office.
The door shut behind her.
Silence.
Cherry's lips pressed into a thin line.
"Seriously?" she said, her voice laced with disdain.
Jay didn't even look embarrassed.
"It's not serious," he replied casually. "Just a way to release tension."
Cherry scoffed, turning away slightly.
She had always despised this about him.
The lack of restraint.
The constant indulgence.
But she didn't come here for that.
"I don't have time for this," she said sharply, refocusing. "Something happened."
That got his attention.
Jay adjusted his cuff, finally looking at her properly.
"What is it?"
Cherry stepped closer.
"Nyla received a letter at the gate," she said. "Not through the office. Not through any formal channel."
Jay's expression shifted—just slightly.
"A letter?"
"Yes," Cherry replied. "Hand-delivered. And she left immediately after."
Jay leaned back against his desk.
"Could be nothing," he said.
Cherry shook her head.
"No," she said firmly. "It's not normal. And what's worse—she hasn't posted anything today. No activity. Nothing."
That made Jay pause.
Now that…
That was unusual.
"Did you check?" he asked.
"I saw the footage myself," Cherry replied. "She received it directly."
Jay's gaze darkened slightly.
There was only one person who could clarify this quickly.
He reached for his phone.
⸻
Malik answered on the second ring.
"Yes, sir?"
"Nyla," Jay said. "What has she been up to today?"
There was a brief pause.
Then Malik responded smoothly.
"She left the office early, sir. Received an invite."
Cherry leaned in slightly, listening.
"An invite?" Jay repeated.
"Yes, sir," Malik continued. "Another influencer event. She seemed excited about it."
Cherry's eyes narrowed.
Jay glanced at her briefly before continuing.
"That's all?"
"Yes, sir."
Jay ended the call slowly.
Cherry folded her arms.
"I don't believe that."
Jay sighed lightly.
"You're being paranoid."
Cherry stepped closer.
"No," she said. "Influencer events don't come like that. They come with PR packages. Branding. Visibility."
She gestured slightly.
"That was just a letter."
Jay studied her for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Fine," he said. "Let's confirm it properly."
⸻
Minutes later, they were both seated, listening.
The car audio.
Clear.
Undisturbed.
Nyla's voice came through—light, careless, completely unbothered.
"Another party…"
Cherry didn't move.
They listened as Malik questioned her.
As Nyla responded lazily.
As she complained about work.
About routine.
About not being built for a nine-to-five life.
By the time the recording ended, silence filled the room.
Cherry leaned back slowly.
Jay looked at her.
"Well?"
Cherry exhaled.
Her shoulders relaxed—just slightly.
"She sounds the same," she admitted.
Jay gave a small nod.
"Exactly."
Cherry didn't respond immediately.
Because even though the words made sense…
Something still didn't.
But it was faint now.
Drowned by what she had just heard.
"She's not ready," Cherry said finally. "Not for this."
Jay's lips curved faintly.
"She never was."
Cherry stood.
"Still," she added, her tone quieter now, "I'll keep watching."
Jay didn't argue.
Because watching cost nothing.
⸻
Downstairs, on one of the quieter floors, a secretary sat behind her desk, typing steadily.
Calm.
Focused.
Invisible.
Her phone buzzed softly beside her.
She didn't look at it immediately.
Only after a few seconds did she pick it up, glancing at the message.
"Status?"
Her fingers moved quickly.
"She received it."
Send.
Delete.
She placed the phone back down and continued working as though nothing had happened.
⸻
Back in her office, Cherry sat alone now.
The earlier confidence had returned—but not completely.
She stared out the window, her reflection staring back at her.
"She's not ready…" she murmured again.
But this time—
It didn't sound as convincing.
Her fingers tapped lightly against the desk.
A habit.
A sign.
Cherry Vaughn was not at peace.
Because deep down—
She still felt it.
That quiet, persistent instinct.
Something was off.
And she intended to find out exactly what it was.