THE UNVEILING
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Chapter Fifteeen
*******THE SAME DAY*******
Mrs. Sylvester sat in the dimly lit living room, her eyes fixed on the clock above the mantel. It was nearing midnight. The soft hum of the refrigerator was the only sound in the apartment, a stark contrast to the restless thoughts swirling in her mind.
She had tried calling Seline twice, only for it to go straight to voicemail. Her earlier attempt to get answers from Aaliyah had been equally fruitless.
"She's fine, Mrs. Sylvester," Aaliyah had insisted, too quickly. "Probably just working late or stuck in a traffic jam."
But Mrs. Sylvester wasn't convinced. There had been something strained in Aaliyah's voice, a tension she hadn't been able to hide.
Rising from the couch, Mrs. Sylvester picked up her phone and scrolled through her contacts. Her thumb hovered over a name she hadn't thought about in months—Adams. She didn't particularly like involving him, but desperation had left her with few options.
She pressed the call button, holding her breath as the line rang.
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Adams leaned back in his seat, the din of the club swelling around him. Smoke coiled lazily from the cigarette perched between his fingers, mixing with the sharp tang of whiskey on his breath. The man across from him was nursing his drink, his fedora casting a shadow over his face.
"Any news from Jason yet," Adams said quietly, tilting his head toward the man.
The man exhaled slowly, his expression unreadable. "no, not since we met yesterday"
Adams smirked, setting his glass down with a soft clink. " We have to keep an eye on him, making sure he doesn't make a move outside our plan. With Seline you never know"
The man didn't respond immediately, his gaze shifting toward the pulsing lights of the dance floor. "I'll try to track his mobile ."
Adams opened his mouth to retort, but the vibration of his phone in his pocket interrupted him. Fishing it out, he glanced at the screen.
Mrs. Sylvester.
A flicker of something crossed his face—annoyance? Amusement? He stood abruptly, nodding to the man. "Give me a minute."
Adams stepped away from the table, finding a quieter corner near the back of the club. He swiped to answer, his voice shifting into something warmer, almost practiced.
"Mrs. Sylvester," he greeted smoothly. "What a surprise. How are you?"
There was a slight pause before she responded, her voice trembling slightly. "Adams, dear, I'm sorry to call so late, but… is Seline with you?"
His brows lifted briefly, but his tone didn't betray his surprise. "Seline? No, ma'am. I haven't spoken to her in a while. Why? Is something wrong?"
Mrs. Sylvester's breath hitched. "I just… she hasn't come home yet, and I can't reach her. I thought maybe… maybe she told you where she was going."
Adams frowned, his free hand gripping the edge of the wall for balance. "Not at all, ma'am. But did she say anything to you before she left?"
"No," she admitted, her voice dropping. "She didn't."
Adams glanced back toward the booth, where the man was watching him with a steady, unblinking gaze. He turned away, lowering his voice. "I'm sure she's fine, ma'am. You know Seline—always throwing herself into work. She's probably just running late."
There was a long pause on the other end of the line, the faint sound of Mrs. Sylvester's uneven breathing breaking the silence.
"I hope you're right," she said finally. "But if you hear from her, please… let me know."
"Of course," Adams replied smoothly. "I'll reach out as soon as I do."
The call ended with a soft beep, but Adams didn't lower the phone immediately. His gaze drifted to the crowd, his thoughts clouded.
"Don't overthink it Adams ," the man at the table called out. as though he could read through his mind
Adams turned, slipping the phone into his pocket as he rejoined the booth. "They are probably together fool," he yelled, taking his seat." We need to track him fast ."
The man nodded his vigorously, rising to his feet, he made way out of the club. Adams ran his hands through his hair repeatedly" I hope you're not trying to double cross me Jason,"
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