Chapter 536: Chapter 536

Still, that video caught me off guard. How the hell did Luna even get my number? I was pretty sure we hadn’t exchanged anything. Maybe Carrie gave it to her. That woman was trouble. Even back in that restroom, she had me second-guessing myself. Completely unhinged.

I checked the time. There was still a while before we’d call it a night. Eleanor crossed my mind again. After everything that happened, there was no way she was okay. Charlotte had already excused her from work, so she was probably alone.

Might as well check on her.

“I’m gonna visit Eleanor,” I said, pushing myself up slightly. “You guys wanna come?”

The three of them exchanged looks.

Kim shrugged first and nodded. “Sure. Why not.”

Tessa glanced toward the kitchen. “What about you, Minne?”

Minne kept placing dishes into the machine before answering. “I should finish this. I don’t want to leave it undone.”

“If we’re going, you’re coming too,” I said, cutting in. “Just change into something casual. We’ll wait.”

She dried her hands on a towel and hesitated. “I don’t want to keep you waiting, Master.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” I replied, leaning back as Jasmine settled her head on my lap again. “Just be quick.”

“Okay,” she said softly, then hurried off.

Watching her go reminded me of Mana. What she did… ending Minne’s pregnancy like that. That wasn’t her place. It wasn’t her decision.

For a moment, I wondered if things would’ve been different if I had stayed with Dierella instead. Maybe she wasn’t as unstable as Mana. Ah… didn’t matter now. At least the girls were safe from Chase. Just thinking about that guy having more power made my skin crawl.

“Oh, I saw Emma at work today,” Kim said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

Jasmine turned her head slightly. “You didn’t tell us that.”

“I asked her if Nala had sent anything to Jack,” Kim continued.

I leaned forward a bit. “And?”

“She didn’t,” Kim said. “Apparently Emma talked her out of it. Told her guys like that don’t stop at one thing.”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “I told her the exact same thing. She didn’t listen to me.”

“Emma’s her friend,” Jasmine pointed out calmly.

“What am I, then?” I asked, a bit sharper than I intended. “I’d like to think I’m more than that.”

Tessa nodded in agreement. “He’s not wrong. She wouldn’t even be CEO without him.”

Kim raised a hand slightly. “Let’s not turn this into a whole thing. All I’m saying is she hasn’t sent anything. Yet.”

That “yet” sat heavy, but it was still something.

“Good,” I muttered. “At least she’s thinking straight now.”

Tessa leaned back again. “Still doesn’t make sense. If he already has a video, basically a sextape, why would he care about getting a nude from her?”

Jasmine spoke without looking up. “It’s not about that. It’s about control. Making someone do something they don’t want to do. That’s what people like him enjoy.”

Kim nodded slowly. “Yeah… that tracks.”

Tessa smirked suddenly and glanced at me. “Like how Evan, when having breakfast, asked us to suck his—”

“Nope,” I cut in immediately. “Don’t finish that. I asked. I didn’t force anything.”

Jasmine reached up and grabbed my cheeks, squeezing them lightly. “With that face? You really think we had a choice with those cute-puppy eyes?”

I smirked faintly. “Maybe you really need that banana, Jasmine.”

“Shut up,” she shot back, flicking my forehead.

“Ow.”

“Jerk.”

A few seconds later, Minne stepped out of the hallway. She had changed into a plain black t-shirt and a pair of tight pants that fit her frame neatly. Her hair was still slightly damp, falling loosely over her shoulders. She looked more relaxed without the maid outfit.

Kim was the first to move. She pushed herself up from the chair and brushed her hands over her legs. Jasmine followed, and I got up right after her. Tessa slid her phone into her pocket with a quiet sigh and joined us.

I reached for the remote and turned the TV off before heading toward the door. After patting my pocket to make sure the keycard was there, I opened it and stepped outside, slipping into my shoes.

“Let’s take the stairs,” Kim said as she pulled the door shut behind us.

Tessa groaned immediately. “I’m tired.”

“It’s one floor, you walking pillow,” Jasmine shot back. “Move.”

“Yeah, yeah…”

We headed down the stairs. Our footsteps echoed faintly in the quiet stairwell as we descended. It didn’t take long before we reached the floor below.

I walked ahead and stopped in front of Eleanor’s door, knocking twice.

The girls waited behind me. Tessa stood with her arms crossed. Jasmine leaned slightly into her, resting an elbow on her shoulder. Kim stayed relaxed, watching the door.

No answer.

I knocked again, a bit louder this time. Was she outside? Nah, no way.

A few seconds passed before I heard movement inside. Something shuffled, then slow footsteps approached. The door opened, and Eleanor stood there.

She looked like she had just woken up. Her hair was messy, her eyes a little heavy.

“Oh, hey,” I said. “Were you sleeping?”

She rubbed her eye lightly. “Was scrolling on my phone… fell asleep on the couch.” Then she glanced past me at the others and gave a small smile. “Hey. Come in.”

“Thanks,” I said, stepping aside as Jasmine moved in first.

“You look better,” Jasmine told her, stepping inside. “That eye’s healing.”

Eleanor smiled faintly. “Thanks to you. Jasmine, right?”

“Yep. That’s Tessa and Kim.”

“Nice to see you all again,” Eleanor said, then closed the door once everyone was inside.

She led us into the living room. We all settled in naturally. Jasmine and I took the double couch. Eleanor sat in the middle of the larger one, with Kim and Tessa on either side of her. Minne quietly took the armchair near the TV, watching everything with quiet attention.

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