PLAY ALONG

As Lucian stormed out of the office, she could feel the eyes of her coworkers on her. She knew she had made a scene, but she didn't care. She was tired of being humiliated and tired of being treated like dirt.

She walked back to her desk, her heart pounding in her chest. She grabbed her purse and her phone, and then she walked out of the office, not knowing when she would return.

As she walked out of the building, she felt a sense of relief wash over her. She was finally free from the toxic environment of the office, and she was finally free from Ace's manipulation.

But as she walked down the street, she couldn't shake the feeling that Ace was still playing games with her. She wondered what his next move would be, and she wondered how she would react when he made it.

Just as she was starting to calm down, her phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number. "You think you can just walk away?" the text read. "Think again."

Lucian's heart skipped a beat as she realized who must have sent the text. Ace. He was already playing his next move, and Lucian was ready to play along.

Lucian's eyes narrowed as she read the text again. She knew that Ace was trying to provoke her, to get a reaction out of her. But she was determined not to give him the satisfaction.

She took a deep breath and typed out a response. "I'm not playing your games, Ace," she wrote. "Leave me alone."

She hit send and waited for a response. But her phone remained silent. Ace was waiting for her to make the next move.

Lucian smiled to herself. She knew that Ace was trying to control her, to manipulate her into doing what he wanted. But she was onto him. She was going to take back control and show him that she wasn't afraid of him.

With newfound determination, Lucian started walking again, her eyes scanning the crowded streets. She knew that Ace was watching her, waiting for her to slip up. But she was ready for him. Bring it on, Ace, she thought to herself.

As Lucian walked, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. She glanced over her shoulder, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Just people going about their daily business.

But the feeling persisted. She quickened her pace, her heart beating just a little bit faster. Suddenly, she heard the sound of footsteps behind her. She spun around, ready to confront whoever was following her.

But it was just a stranger, hurrying to catch up to her. "Excuse me," he said, out of breath. "I think you dropped this."

He held out a small piece of paper, with a note scrawled on it. Lucian's heart sank as she read the words: "You can't escape me, Lucian."

Ace. It had to be him. He was playing games with her again, trying to scare her. But Lucian was not going to be intimidated. She took the note from the stranger, her eyes flashing with anger.

"Thank you," she said, her voice cold. "But I think I'll handle this one myself."

Lucian crumpled the note in her hand, feeling a surge of anger and frustration. How dare Ace try to intimidate her like this? She thought she had made it clear that she wasn't going to play his games anymore.

As she stood there, trying to calm herself down, she noticed a black SUV parked across the street. The windows were tinted, but she could sense that someone was watching her from inside.

Lucian's instincts told her that this was no coincidence. Ace must have sent someone to follow her, to keep tabs on her movements. She felt a chill run down her spine as she realized the extent of Ace's obsession.

Without hesitation, Lucian pulled out her phone and dialed a number. "I need your help," she said, her voice firm. "Ace is stalking me. I need someone to watch my back."

The person on the other end of the line listened intently, and then replied, "I'm on it. Stay safe, Lucian."

Lucian nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She knew she wasn't alone, and that someone was looking out for her. She took a deep breath, and then started walking again, her eyes scanning the streets for any sign of danger.