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Now in Shitty's office, I thumb through file after file quickly as Jordan tries to log into the laptop on the desk. After a second papercut, which yes heals almost instantly, I huff loudly. Wait-- why am I the one searching through all the files?!

Jordan lets out a loud sigh, clearly having no luck with logging in before they decide to give up and look through the desk drawers. I narrow my eyes as I push the folders around in the drawer on the opposite side of the desk noticing a flap. Of course. I lift up the false bottom of the drawer to reveal a blue folder.

"Well, well." I hum, waving the blue folder in my hand before taking a seat in the office chair to open it up.

"What'd you find?" Jordan looks up, their feminine wavy hair falling over their forehead.

"Let's find out." I open it up. "Found it in her drawer, hidden."

Jordan leans over my shoulder to look and the hairs on my arm stand up. Focus, Iliana!

Reports about about a plane crash...

"Transoceanic Flight 37." I read. Why does that sound familiar. I pull through my brain that's been absolutely fried over the past few days and immediately give up as soon as Jordan speaks.

"I remember that." Thank God. "It was terrorists, right?" They reach over my arm, brushing the bare skin as they flip through the pages, brows furrowing together.

"Yes?" I think back to a few years ago when this took place. "I think so... hmm." I hum, pursing my lips as I lift up the paper to the one underneath, scanning quickly, clicking my tongue when my eyes fall upon two names.

SHETTY/LILY

SHETTY/PAUL

"Oh my, God." I mutter. My finger grazes over the paper as Jordan leans further into me, their scent overwhelming my senses reminding me of how much it enveloped me merely an hour ago.

"Shetty, Lily, age 11." Jordan reads off. "Shetty, Paul, age 46." Their eyes meet mine as I look up at them slowly. Oh, shit. "Her family was on the plane." Jordan concludes. Wish I fucking gave shit. Mmm, maybe I'd have a littleee more fucking sympathy if she wasn't the reason my twin is dead.

I reach out to grab another page when suddenly the door beeps. Joran snaps their head up while I quickly place my hand over Jordan's, turning us invisible, as we drop to under her desk.

"Oh, Shetty, Shetty, Shetty." A man sighs, entering the room. Why does that voice sound familiar. Jordan's breath tickles my neck as I keep my grip firmly on their hand. "You want me to increase the viral infection rate. Right." Something slams down. "Kill them all, she says." Jordan and I glance at each other. "And sign my own death certificate."

The man grunts, closer to the desk than before, as he sets something down with a light thud and picks up what I believe is one of her drinks. After another sigh he slams it down again and I hear a zipper before... pissing.

'What the fuck?' I mouth to Jordan. When I hear what I hope is the lid or someone's getting disintegrated, I lean forward to find that Doctor. My jaw locks.

"How about... you take a long drink of that, Indira." Suddenly he slams something down on her desk. "You fucking cunt." He spits out and I swallow the urge to laugh or snort as his footsteps descend my hold on Jordan lingers as does their gaze on me before I let go, making us visible once again.

"Increase infection rate?" I pull my brows together, replaying his words over in my head, trying to drown out his pissing and my disgust...

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"Have you heard from Cate, or Andre?" I slip my phone back in my pocket, irritation bubbling in my chest.

"Nope." Jordan pops the p.

"Mmm." I nod.

"Not surprising." They echo my thoughts. I sigh. I just hope she hasn't killed him yet, but I think she enjoys toying with him too much to ever do that. And he's yet another person I need to talk to and have so much to say... just not enough time to fucking say it.

But will I? Will world and throat feel like they're closing around me to the point they're both gonna crush me, and swallow me whole before I can have the chance to have probably two of the most important conversations of my life with two of the only people I have left?

I can't help but have this crushing feeling of... impending doom? Circling my brain and squeezing my neck- that... that I'm terrified. There. I'll admit it.

I'm fucking terrified what happened with Luke is going to happen again before I get the chance to say what I really want to say- need to say.

But I did have about five text messages from Marie asking what our plan was and if we found anything. Well, no time for that...

"Okay, we got to find Neuman, tell her what we know." Jordan's voice brings me back to, grounding me to shake off whatever the fuck.

I sigh. I can't worry about Andre right now, or even us. My wild card, bright idea is in fact Victoria Neuman. I had the absolute joy of meeting her last year, mostly for a photo op as a way for her to gain press, numbers, and exposure with God U students and Supes. She's here on campus for a rally and we're desperate, so... why not? Why the hell not?

Our eyes fall upon the two security guards at the entrance.

"How are you going to get in?" Jordan asks.

I chuckle, turning to them. "I can bend light to become invisible to the naked eye. Or did you forget from five seconds ago?" I muse.

"Mmm, well you better go quick then." They hum, looking around.

"Is that Golden Girl?" I hear a faint whisper. Oh, fuck.

"Not sure how long Golden Girl can be out in the open without being seen." They mock.

I scrunch my nose at them with a tight lipped smile. "Mmm, cute." They know I hate that name more than anyone. "So are you going to be helpful, or be an ass?" I tilt my head with a humph.

"I can cause a distraction." They offer, a little smirk appearing on their face. Oh, they're distracting all right. Got that covered!

"What kind of distraction?" I ask, following their eyes over to two girls, knowing their idea's already been made in their head.

"Oh my gosh! It is! It's Golden Girl!" A girl whisper-shouts to exclaim.

"Don't be seen." They caution.

"Never am." I say.

They chuckle lowly. "Then good luck." And with that they take off, elegantly storming over and I can't help but watch, tearing my eyes off Jordan Li has never been my strong suit.

"Hey." They call out to the girl they had their sight set on. The girl looks up and I can't help but think she looks familiar... well no fucking shit, Iliana, you ARE on campus. "You're the girl who fucking tortured Emma, right?" And it clicks.

That's the girls videos Andre showed me after we met Emma for the first time... Ah. I start slowly moving towards the doors when suddenly Jordan swings on the girl, sending her flying to the ground and I can't help but giggle. Deserved.

Cause I may not have given a flying fuck about Emma at first... but she helped Sam. He trusts her, she's keeping him safe right now...

Needless to say, she's moved up on my list, shocking. Who would've thought? I shake my head at the irony. No, who actually would have thought. I know where my baby brother is and he's safe, alive, I'm working together with Jordan, and I like Emma more than Cate... What the fuck?

Explain all that to me one week ago, and I would have laughed in your face. But here we are. And I'm sneaking inside to talk to Victoria Neuman as a final hail mary. Cause apparently life CAN get funnier...

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𝟶ʙᴜᴛᴛᴇʀʙɪsᴄᴜɪᴛ𝟽 sᴘᴇᴀᴋs!

Merry Chistmas bitchesss!! And welcome back to Golden Facade!! Ilordan working together as a team... who would've thought??? Of course had to throw in some snippy sarcastic banter in there... cause y'all know they can't go that long being around each other & not... right?! Hahaha.

I was going to update for Golden Facade Sunday & I'm gonna be real... fell asleep haha. BUTTT, I finished up some things Monday & was gonna update then, but it got to after midnight & I was torn between a decision, so I was like at this point lemme just give them a Christmas & update Wednesday for Christmas haha.

Soo excited for the next chapterrrr!! Because I cannot wait for Iliana & Victoriaaa power duo!! Okay listen... I originally was just going to have Iliana sneak Marie in & keep the conversation between her & Victoria cause I think it's an important one... but then I was like wait a conversation between Iliana & Victoria would be so cool & I started planing it out in my head.

I hope y'all enjoyed this chapterrr!! And had a great holiday!! Merry Christmas & until next time... mwah!! <333

AND THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR 24K READSSS!! THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT I MUST SAY!! OMG!!