Danielle Hayes

"What?"

"It's about the student visa." She murmured, looking down into her lap. "I couldn't go back to Austria too."

"Statue of limitations has passed. You blackmailed me to forge dean signature on that. What happened?"

"I never asked anyone else. You didn't sign it then. My visa got expired and I dropped out."

"So, you aren't here legally." I breathed.

God! She was in trouble. I couldn't ever forge a sign of someone like that. Especially when she blackmailed me into doing it.

Why was I feeling sorry? Should I had done it?

"Please Danielle. Please, keep it a secret. I don't think I can trust anyone else. If Noah's family gets to know, it would cause trouble. He don't know too. Please." She pleaded, taking my hands into hers. "Please Danielle." She cried. "I'll tell Noah my way. When I feel he's ready."

"Shh! Calm down Crystal. I won't tell anyone. I promise. I know, Noah's my client but I promise." I nodded, as she hugged me all of a sudden and pulled back awkwardly.

"Are we back again?" I shot my eyebrow up. That made her smile. "Will call me a bitch like you used to call me?"

"Nah!" She laughed, tugging her loose tendril back. "I won't. I won't do it again. I am sorry for the way I treated tou back then. I wish I could tell August and Devon too. Can you tell Devon that I am feeling sorry for whatever I had done?"

"I will. Don't worry." I hugged her again. "Can you help me out?"

"Sure! What do you need?" She wiped her tears off, turning to me.

"What did you see from here? The poolside."

"The yoga class was over but Noah and I stayed back. We were doing this great drug, Shim. Have you done it?"

"Nope! They aren't for me. I just studied them, that's it."

"Is it illegal? Are we in trouble?"

"Possession is illegal in North Carolina, it's legal in Cali but here... It's not classified." I shrugged.

"Noah and I were blissing out. We were kinda high and together. Then, I looked by the pool side. Couple of women were sitting out. A colourful haired lady moved a bottle between the bar and the pool."

"Have you seen her before?"

"I don't know. My glasses were off. She's in the yoga class, I suppose. Later, we heard the yells, the police and the pool boy. We didn't pay much attention. We were kind you know, into our own thing." She blushed a darker shade of red. "Then the cops came. I told Noah to head home."

We sat in silence. Just then, I heard foot steps approaching.

"Someone's coming. You need to hide. Is there another way out?" I asked hurriedly.

"Yes, there's a back door at the other side of the pool."

"Okay then, take care. I'll see you again." I side hugged her again before I slipped through the glass door.

Just then, Philip entered. It being dark, he couldn't see me.

Good thing, I found her first.

•°•°•°•°•°• 💙

Anastasia took me to the DJ booth, with an arm around me.

"When this is over, come back to me. I like you. Alot." She whispered, as her lips touched my ear.

My heart beat rose up. It was beating faster. Was it because of the music or was it because of her words?

I quickly shrugged it off.

"I need to check something with you. We came to know that someone moved the bottles at the pool." She raised her eyebrow, waiting for my next sentence. "They saw a colourful haired lady. The police will go after her."

"That wasn't me. I ordered a drink but that arrived late. I was gone by the time it arrived."

"Can anyone confirm your alibi?"

"Atlas. Atlas can confirm it. He was at the bar, I don't know. You can ask him. Let's call him here." She immediately took on a call. "I thought he was here. I didn't know he was on leave."

"While we wait, tell us about the drinks."

"Leah and I, like to stay pool side. We ordered the drinks but Atlas was taking way too long. Then I told her that it was ridiculous and I was gone. Leah agreed and that she would cancel both our orders."

"What took him so long?"

"I don't know. I don't wait for anyone. And then, I had gone to shower. I was... Half dressed when a female officer entered and told me that there had been an accident."

"Alright! Thanks. I'll ask Atlas and confirm your Alibi."

"What do you think? How close are you in solving the case?"

"We are checking everything."

"What do you say, Logan?" She asked, as someone approached me, from behind making me jump. However his strong, masuline yet fresh cologne invaded my nostrils.

He was quick to catch me. He had his grip on my waist. I shook his hand off.

"Oh! I have already solved it. I am just waiting for my assistant to catch up."

I laughed dryly as I looked onto the dance floor. Lights coiled around the bodies in the dark.

Right! Well played Mr. Prescott.

I quietly slipped out of lounge, through the crowd. Thinking Mr. Prescott was right behind me, I moved fast.

"Danielle?" I heard his voice.

It was raining, accompanied by lightning and thunder. Dark grey clouds amsjed the night sky. I became soaking wet.

Our office was twenty minutes away, from Bennet towers. It was possible that it might take longer as I was going there on foot and, it was raining.

"Danielle! I know you can hear me goddamnit. Stop right there." And I did. I did stop.

I listened to him. I always listen to him.

"What Mr. Prescott? Tell me! You want to scold me now? Do it." I yelled as he approached me. I stood my ground, matching his stare, until we were inches apart. "Do it Mr. Prescott! What are you waiting for?"

His hand moved to the back of my neck, fingers through my hair as he pulled me into him. His soft lips met mine.

It wasn't exactly a kiss, as his lips just brushed mine. Like a feather. It was just a peck. He pulled apart as he slowly opened his eyes.

"I did." He spoke grumpily and marched off.

My heart skipped a beat.

•°•°•°•°• 💙

"Fuck!!" I groaned, sitting in my office. "What was happening to me?"

My elbows propped on my lap as I rested my head on my hands.

"God! It was just a peck for god's sake. Get your shit together Danielle." I leaned back onto my chair.

Why was it messing with my mind?

The light from the lightning entered my dark cabin. Soon a thunder was heard.

Just then, I heard the glass shatter. My senses immediately perked up, alarming me of the possible attack.

I saw two masked men, in their black overalls enter my office. With a flower vase in my hand, I stood in the dark.

My heart beat faster, my breathing was erratic. Yet I maintained my calm posture.

They slipped in. One of them dug their hands into the pocket and took out a piece of paper. A note.

"Why do we need to do all this?" One of them groaned. "Why can't we kill her? That bitch's weak and pathetic, man."

It took me every ounce of my energy, to not beat the shit out of him. I focussed on them again.

His sleeves were pulled up, giving me a perfect view of his toned arm. But one thing that caught my eye, was the tattoo.

I was far away from them to actually understand the tattoo but quite near to see what it looked like.

There were three symbols on their wrists, side by side. It was in an unknown language. Almost like a code.

How closer could I get to them without getting caught?

"Nah! Boss wouldn't like that. Nope!" The other one spoke quietly. He scribbled something on the note and glued to the desktop screen. "Don't call her that. If boss hears it, it wouldn't end well for you."

Who were they working for? They were from a gang or something.

Maybe they were caught in the surveillance. No! It being dark, could make it hard.

I wish, there was another way. But, there was this one idea I had and I had every right to do something stupid.

I snaked my free hand along the wall for the switches near by. Once I found them, taking a deep breath in, I turned them on.

They stood, dumbfounded.

"Surprise surprise bitches!! Got something for me?" I smirked.

"You don't know who you are messing with." He seethed, as I took slow steps towards them.

One of them left and the other one stood there, motionless.

"Enlighten me."

He moved forward to punch me but I was quick to snatch the pocket blade from the table. Grabbing him by his neck, pinning him to the wall, I pressed the blade against his neck.

His hands were trying to push mine away but my grip being tight, my nails dug deep into his neck.

"I said, Enlighten me. Who am I messing with? Who sent you?"

"Danielle!!"

I heard a familiar voice. I turned to him only to get hit by something hard. My grip on his collar loosened as I lost my balance.

"You bloody asshole!" I screamed at them.

I felt a liquid drip down my fore head as I fell to the floor, and was succumbed into darkness.

*****

Hey guys!!! Thank you for reading! I am forever grateful for that.

Did you get butterflies when he pecked her?
I don't know why, but I got them 😅😘

Your favourite dessert 😉

Mine's an ice cream or butterscotch cake

Love 💕

Mikaelson