Chapter 2: A VILLAIN
"Vier, I can't meet you... Not now..."
Arianna paused. She was about to knock on Yago's slightly open door to announce her presence when she suddenly heard Yago's voice. It looks like he's talking to someone on the phone. "I'm not angry. Why would I be? No matter what happened before, I still care about you. I'm not avoiding you at all, it's just that... I can't leave Rian alone here. She needs me."
Arianna closed her eyes. What she's doing now is hateful, but she just can't turn around and ignore this juicy gossip! Her brother never had a girlfriend so who was he consoling just now?
"... Vier, Vier, Vier! Listen to me! I'll find a chance alright? I also wants to meet your parents." After a while, Yago chuckled. " What? They're my parents too? When did that happen? Stop saying nonsense and just take care of yourself. I really can't accompany you now. But I'll find some time next week or next month."
Arianna shook her head. Was Yago flirting on the phone? For some reason, it didn't sit well with her. Was she developing some kind of brother complex now?
Knock! Knock!
When Yago finished his conversation on the phone, Arianna decided to probe and pushed the door open wide after a couple of knocks. She was met with the sight of her brother's troubled face. He was sitting on the bed looking dazed.
"What's with the long face, Yago? Having a love problem?" She said smiling, which caught his attention. He turned to her and stared into her face.
" Yeah." He answered while staring at her.
"I didn't know you have a girlfriend." She said it in a voice like she was sulking. She feels a bit disappointed that Yago was keeping things from her.
Yago snapped back to reality. What did Arianna say just now?
"Who said I had a girlfriend? I don't have any."
"But you have someone you like?", she guessed.
" Yeah... but she doesn't like me. So forget about it. You came here because you need something, right?"
Yago was obviously trying to change topic and divert her attention so she won't probe further on his private matters. She doesn't want to let go but she realized Yago won't spill anything at the moment. Maybe nextime...
"I'm going to Grande Hotel tonight. Can you accompany me during this small mission?".
Yago sighed. This girl seemed to be planning some mischief again. This is the reason why he just can't leave her alone. She always do worrying things.
"Do you need more people?"
Arianna smiled but shook her head.
"The police would be enough. There's no need for hunters tonight."
....
In the Bates residence, a young girl was watching her young master while he was works in his laptop in the living room. After a while of taking deep breathes, she slowly approached him from behind and greeted the handsome man, trying to hide her nervousness.
"Sir, Master Bates calls for you... he... said he needs to talk to you."she said with her head bowed.
Jayden didn't say anything and just stood up to see his father.
The young maid sighed. She threw a glance at the smartphone on the table. She took it and tried opening it. Thankfully, the phone was not locked. She searched for a number and typed a message. 'Grande Hotel. tonight. 8pm. Room 406. Wait for me there.'
After sending the message, she erased any evidence, wiped the phone to remove fingerprints and then placed it back on the table. She then turned around and took her own phone from her pocket. She dialled a string of numbers and then placed it near her right ear.
"Miss, it's done."
Inside the study, Jayden found his father working on some documents. He didn't even lift his head to look at him when he came. He has this troubled look on his face and it made Jayden's heart ache.
"Dad..." he called.
"Jayden, why didn't you tell me the company is now in this much trouble?" the old man immediately asked."Have you already made a call to the bank?"
Jayden bowed his head down. He didn't want to trouble his father about the company matters. His father wasn't in good health this past few months. That's the reason why he had to take over the position of the company president. He was his parents only child and he wanted to prove his worth, but he screwed up big time! Now, the company his father built with his blood and sweat was about to collapse in his hands. He's been trying to find ways to save it, but there wasn't any good result.
Jayden clenched her fists and gritted his teeth.
"Dad, don't worry about it. I promise you I'll resolve this soon..."
Meanwhile, in Grande hotel, a girl was making a phone call in the lobby. A tall and handsome man with bronze skin was sitting beside her. This is the 9th call she made tonight. When she put down the mobile phone, she glanced at the man staring at her and smiled at him.
"Are you getting bored? There's only one phonecall left." she said laughing.
Arianna was really beautiful. She's so mesmerizing specially when she smiles. Yago really wished she could remain like this- happy and worry-free.
"Belle's coming, while Roy is already at the restaurant." she said. "Come! Let's see if the room is all set."
Arianna stood up and Yago followed behind her. They entered the elevator and went up to the prepared room 406. There was a woman in there arranging things.
"Is that the special incense?"
Arianna asked when she saw her lit up some incense.
The woman in uniform bowed her head before replying." Yes Miss. This is the item you asked."
Arianna nodded and then turned to Yago. "Let's go! We'll stay in the opposite room to observe."
The incense actually contains aphrodisiac. If they stay longer, it might affect them, too.
After they enter the opposite room, Yago turned to Arianna with curious eyes. "Are you planning to drug Belle?" His tone was mixed with disapproval. "Are you planning on ruining her?"
Arianna raised her brows.
"Nonsense! I plan to ruin Roy, not Belle!" she denied. " Although I would love to see Belle totally ruined, but Jayden would hate me if I do that."
Yago's eyes darkened.
" Do you really like that bastard that much? He doesn't deserve you."
Arianna stared at him before taking her phone from her bag again. She refused to answer his question. She's always been stubborn so Yago realized he just made her upset. He should've known better than contradict his little princess.
"The fisher sent a message. They are already at the elevator." she announced.
Arianna arranged for a woman to meet Roy at the restaurant. Roy thought he was meeting with a client. But the woman was actually a fisher she hired to help her execute the plan. The woman secretly spiked his drink and the drug could be taking effect now. A hotel stuff is supposed to escort Roy to the arranged room. He'll stay there until the drug fully takes effect. There's nothing much for them to do but observe.
Arianna walked towards the table in a corner and opened a laptop there. She key in a string of letters and the laptop screen showed a footage. In a white room, a man was lying on the bed, seemingly in pain. His hand was on his left chest, as if suffocating.
Arianna silently glowered. She has nothing against Roy. Him stalking her sister and harassing her has nothing to do with her. But she still dared do something evil for Jayden. She herself doubt if he was all worth it. Her watching a man in agony because of her beloved's caprice.... would all this be rewarded in the end? What if she's just helping Belle in the process?
Arianna leaned on the chair's backrest. She closed her eyes, looking tired. It's almost 8pm now. Her sister could be here any minute now...
"Yago, they say villains never get a happy ending. Do you think I'll end up alone and miserable?"she said while her eyes were still closed.
Yago looked away from her.
"No. You'll be loved because you're not a villain."
Arianna smiled bitterly. Only Yago thinks good of her. Everyone sees her as the evil step-sister to poor Cinderella. She's a cold person and not very sociable, so people's first impression of her is like that of an arrogant evil queen. Oh well, she's proud and straightforward too, and not many people like those qualities of her. She's fearless: saying what she wants and doing what she desires no matter what the consequences are. She's smart and clever, which makes people feel threatened and wary....
Come to think of it, it really sounds like there's nothing likable in her. This made her laugh at herself mockingly.
Yes. Maybe in this life, she's destined to live as the villain. Then who's the protagonist? Was it Belle? Would she be getting the good karma in the end and then throw her in hell?
Arianna's phone blinked and vibrated. There was an incoming message:
"Subject B now entering the elevator."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone