“Well, well, well this is an unexpected surprise,” The man at the door crooned with a thick southern accent. He ran a finger over one of the tables as if looking for dust “We were wondering where you had runoff to Adriana. To think you would be in such an, establishment.” He was an older man, around his late 40s, with a slickness to him which reminded Peyton of actors in 50’s movies.   

“Mr. Grey what a coincidence. I was just visiting a friend here when I noticed some brutes were antagonizing Miss. Beauchamp.” Adriana motioned at Peyton. “I was still feeling charitable after the gala, so naturally I had to offer my assistance.”   

“That is interesting. However, I regret to inform you that she has been claimed so if you would be so kind as to hand her over to one of my associates outside...” with a serpentine smile he motioned from Peyton to the door.   

“Oh, this is a little bit awkward. You see I had no idea that those men were associates of yours otherwise I would never have stepped in and well as I said before I was so taken by Miss, Beauchamp’s plight that I officially accepted her into my organization.”  

“My claim would supersede any such arrangements, surely you know that.” His words were still calm, but Peyton could see a small shift in the man's eye.  

Adriana elegantly shifted her dress as she sat down on her stool at the counter, a small smirk on her lips. “Really? It was my understanding that you needed to do some ritual with a knife for that to stand and thanks to the obvious incompetence of your man,” she casually motioned to outside, “That never happened, and besides do you really believe that your actions would really have more sway than my own?”  

“Forgive me if I don’t take you at your word, but how am I to know that she truly is one of your wards?”  

“I don’t appreciate being called a liar Mr. Grey,” her tone seemed pleasant enough yet the way she said it sent a chill down Peyton’s back, “But if you must know, Lysander here is witness to the deal and my driver is just bringing the paperwork now. In fact, that’s him pulling up now.” Both Mr. Grey and Peyton looked out the window to see an expensive-looking car park outside the diner.  

“Ah, I see. You must forgive me, it never hurts to be diligent in situations such as these. Well, I suppose we will be on our way out. Once again please forgive my impertinence.” he turned to address Peyton for the first time since entering. “I look forward to seeing you around Miss. Beauchamp.” he gave a small nod before turning on his heel leaving the diner as smoothly as he had entered it.   

Peyton sagged into a stool with relief as she watched him speak to the gathered men in the parking lot, who quickly got into the van. The one with the knife seemed to argue but ultimately got in. Then as quickly as it had arrived the van was leaving. Once it turned the corner Adriana’s driver exited the car and approached the diner. He was an effortlessly attractive man dressed in a smart black suit, the type that you would see corporate workers wearing.   

“Did I miss something important?” he asked crossing the threshold.  

“Not at all, we’re done here. Miss. Beauchamp, please come with us we will drop you off at, I’m going to assume, your university accommodation.” She started to pack away her laptop. “Lysander I will come back sometime during the week to finish what we started.” she was already out the door before Peyton realized that she had been given an instruction.  

“Wait what’s happening now?” she looked to Lysander who smiled and gave a little “off you go” motion with his huge hands.  

“I guess we’re taking you home?” the driver said sounding equally confused, “I missed something big didn’t I.”  

“You have no idea. All I wanted to do this evening was deliver a package to make a couple of dollars” she stayed sat on the stool staring out the window. She could see Adriana standing at the car looking into the diner impatiently.   

The man followed her gaze and swore under his breath. “We need to leave, Beauchampwasn’t it? After you,” He held the door open and stared pointedly at her. “A bit of advice, it is better for everyone if you don’t keep her waiting.”  

Giving one last look at Lysander she left the diner. Standing at the door she rubbed her arms against the chill in the air, the rain had at least stopped but she only just realized how thoroughly soaked she must have been from her run in the downpour. Giving a small look around the parking lot to make sure that the men had left, she cautiously walked to the car.  

“I was beginning to think that you wanted to stay here.” Adriana opened the car door, making Peyton pause. “What you think this is some kind of trap? It’s late and I am honestly happy to leave you here if you prefer...”  

“No. It’s just, why are you doing all this for me?”  

“I didn’t.” Peyton waited for more but quickly realized it was a dismissal. Sighing she went to get in the car when she noticed something on the ground near where the van had been parked. Squinting in the darkness of the lot she saw that it was the bag she'd ditched to escape the men. Remembering that her keys and wallet were in it she quickly changed direction making a beeline for it.  

“We don’t have time for this,” she could hear Adriana mutter, but she needed the keys if she didn’t want to wake her roommate when she got back so she could avoid questioning. Any hope for that was lost when she crouched down beside it and found that it had been emptied, probably onto the street when she had first let it go. Grabbing it any way she turned back to face the car, the driver had gotten in, but Adriana was still standing at the door expectantly.  

“I’m coming, just getting my bag.” she took a step forward and froze as she suddenly felt like someone was standing behind her. She saw Adriana’s eyes shift as she felt a hand was her shoulder.  

“I don’t like to lose my prey,” a cruel voice whispered as something was placed against her neck.  

“Didn’t your boss tell you to go home like a good little mutt?” Adriana tapped a nail on the roof of the car.  

“Not until I had a taste,” Peyton felt something warm run down her neck and realized that he must have cut her as the knife was no longer at her neck. In a surge of determination, she took the opportunity to try the same move she did on the guy earlier and brought her heel down on his toe. The hand on her shoulder lighted so she tried to drive her elbow into his gut only to hit what felt like a brick wall. Thankfully it was enough to make the man hiss and let go, forcing her onto the ground. She scrambled forward sure that she was going to die there in the parking lot. When she noticed something blur past her and toward where the man was. Finally looking toward the car, she saw that the driver was out and had a gun pointed behind her but Adriana was gone. Not thinking too much about it, she crawled the rest of the way, not wanting to get shot, and crouched behind the door peaking at where she just was. She swore at what she saw. Adriana Arnault wealthiest person she had ever met was holding the knifeman with his throat in one hand and the other wrapped around the wrist of the hand which held the knife.  

“I dislike when my things get damaged,” she must have squeezed as the knife fell to the ground. Peyton was so shocked she almost didn’t register what was said. “I am going to assume that this was done as part of your own volition and not on behalf of Mr. Grey. Now as I am clearly being extremely charitable tonight. I am going to pretend that this never happened.” she said it with a smile but her eyes were stony.   

Peyton wished that she was hallucinating, that her brain was just showing her an elaborate hallucination while she was still passed out on the floor of the diner. But the scratches on her knees from her crawl and splitting headache told her otherwise. She could only sit back and watch as Adriana casually released the man. Only for him to lunge toward Payton not even a breath later. And then almost as if it was in slow motion, Adriana was behind him holding his head in both hands, twisting with a sickening crunch.    

Peyton could help herself as she vomited on the ground, narrowly missing the inside of the car. She continued retching until she had fully unloaded the contents of her stomach before daring to look in the direction of Adriana and the man. The woman was holding the knife inspecting it, while the man's lifeless eyes stared back at her, his body violently twisted in the other direction. All she could do was stare into his eyes. The same eyes that were so full of hate not even an hour ago. She was vaguely aware that the driver had come around to check on her, draping his suit jacket over her shoulders and helping her to sit in the back of the car. She was noticed when the trunk was opened and something heavy was placed inside. But everything else was a blur. Peyton hadn’t even realized they had gotten into the car until the driver asked where she lived.  

“Southview University, block B.” her voice sounded hollow and raspy to her own ears. How did all this happen? How did delivering a letter end with a dead guy in the trunk of a ridiculously expensive car? She ran threw everything in her mind over and over as the car made its way to her accommodation block. She just sat there staring out the window not even registering when they had pulled up outside. Until Adriana cleared her throat shaking Peyton out of her stupor.  

“I don’t think you need to be told to keep what happened tonight between us do I Peyton?” she nodded in response before the woman continued. “I understand that you might have many questions, but for now it is probably best for you to go to and rest. Stephen will help you to your dorm as you look like you need it.”   

The driver, Stephen, was already opening the door as Adriana spoke, offering a hand to help Peyton out of the car. Taking it, she cautiously stepped out of the car only for her left leg to collapse under her, the only thing stopping her from falling over completely was Stephen who had managed to slip an arm around her waist to hold her upright. Mumbling her thanks, she tried to put weight on it once more only to feel a shooting pain in her ankle.  

“I think I twisted it,” her voice was little more than a whisper.  

“I can carry you if you want,” Stephen offered casually, but Peyton just shook her head. He shrugged in response and readjusted his grip to help her take the weight off. Together they walked to the building. Peyton tried to get him to leave her so she could make her own way from the main door but, he insisted on making sure she got to her room safely. He even went to track down a key for the door, when it became apparent that Ann was either not in or just not going to open the door, and within a few minutes, he had a very grumpy RA there opening the door.  

When the RA left Stephen turned to Peyton handing her a white business card, with just a phone number on it. “Not that you should need this but call that number in case anyone comes to harass you. I know everything you saw tonight can be a little bit overwhelming, but it is really important that you don’t tell anyone about the people you met and the things you saw.” He waited for her to acknowledge what he said before placing a hand on her shoulder and going on. “The next few days are going to feel like hell for you, but you need to act like normal, if anyone asks any questions just say you fell off a bike or something. Now go get some rest and I guess I will see you around.”   

Peyton gave a nod and slowly closed the door making sure it was fully locked before stripping off her wet clothes and realizing that she still had Stephen's jacket on her shoulders. Too tired to care she carefully left it on the back of her chair before collapsing into bed and drifting off into a deep dreamless sleep.