Chapter 7: Lumière

Alex stood motionless. His heart was pounding like a hammer, and each successive breath reminded him how deeply he had gotten into this. There was no turning back now. Drugs, money, power. These words sounded in his head like iron bells, forming a full picture of what he had just gotten himself into. He took a few steps toward the window. Manhattan at night looked like a living beast, pulsing and constantly alert. The neon lights, the flickering advertisements, the blinding glare of the billboards - it was all a smokescreen. Beneath this facade were lies, violence and ruthless manipulation. Here there was no room for weakness. One mistake meant death. If not physical, then social - and in this world, that was just as deadly.

The vibrating phone snapped him out of his reverie. He looked at the screen: Will Blackwood. The last person he wanted to see right now. But perhaps the only one who could help him.

"We need to talk."

He stared at the message for a while. Was it worth the risk? Ignoring it could have proved even more dangerous. Will was mysterious, aloof, but he always knew how to stay afloat. He was like a rat in the dark - he saw everything, never getting caught. He left the room and went downstairs. The music rumbled, punctuated by laughter and carefree conversations. But beneath the surface of this party was something else. Something darker. Will was waiting for him in the lobby, his face tense and his eyes roaming the room nervously.

- Let's go from here," he chuckled quietly, barely moving his lips. - We can't talk here.

They went outside. The cool night air hit Alex in the face, refreshing his thoughts. They walked in silence along a side alley, away from the hustle and bustle. Although Manhattan was still bustling with activity, it seemed dead at the moment.

- Heart Investments," said Will, breaking the silence. His voice was tense, as if the words were going to exhaust him. - My mother... as you know controls certain things there. Only now did I notice how far her power goes.

Alex felt a cold shiver run down his spine. He knew that Heart Investments was more than an organization.

- What do you mean? - He asked, although deep down he already knew the answer.

Will avoided his gaze, looking down somewhere, as if struggling with what to say.

- My fucking mother is involved in human trafficking. Girls who disappear.... you've probably read recently. It's fucking her and her people. I thought it was just drugs. And it's also fucking human trafficking. I knew something was wrong, but I guess I didn't want to see it. I thought at least she wasn't stupid enough and wasn't in it.

Alex felt his heart speed up. Disappearances. Those rumors that circulated in the city took on a new meaning. These were not rumors. This was the reality that life had a price.

- Why are you telling me this? - He asked, trying to understand what interest Will had in this.

Will looked at him, this time with determination in his eyes.

- Because I've had enough, Alex. I'm sick of being part of this hell. I want to end it. And you... you can help me do that.

Alex felt how something had changed in him since his last visit. Will, always cold and inaccessible, had now exposed himself to him. They were more alike than Alex would like to admit.

- What are you planning? - He asked quietly.

- We need to get more evidence. The flash drive you have.... is just the tip of the iceberg. You can't use it yet. We need more information. We need to hit hard and destroy the whole system.

Alex knew Will was right. Heart Investments was powerful. If they attacked too soon, they would destroy them without blinking an eye. They had to play carefully, understand the system from the inside.

- What about your mother? - Alex asked, looking at Will with concern.

Will lowered his gaze, fighting an internal conflict.

- I don't know," he replied quietly. - Maybe this will be her end. Maybe it will be mine, too. Screw it.

The silence between them was heavy, broken only by the distant sound of cars and the echo of the distant city. They both knew that what they were planning could destroy them. But also that there was no turning back.

- What now? - Alex asked, curious about what's next.

Will looked at him with a mixture of fear and determination.

- Get closer to Sophia. She knows more than she shows. Earn her trust and you'll find out who's really pulling the strings. But be careful, Alex. She's more dangerous than you think.

Alex nodded his head. The game was just entering a decisive phase. The task before him could destroy him. But he had no choice. Heart Investments had to fall. Will looked at him, and there was something cold in his eyes, like the blade of a knife.

- Remember. The deeper you get into it, the harder it will be to back out. And in this game.... there are no second chances.

He felt he was balancing on a thin line. Every step, every word - anything could bring him to the point where mistakes meant death. And Manhattan, that great organism pulsing with life, now seemed more like a beast lurking for his demise. The streets that had once been his home now hid dangers around every corner. What once seemed like glitz and luxury turned out to be a trap from which it was impossible to escape. He returned to the apartment, feeling a growing burden. Will's words rang in his head:

"You need to get closer to Sophia."

He knew she was the key, but that key could open the door to something that would consume him utterly. Sophia Montgomery was the epitome of everything he feared in this world - a beautiful but cold, ruthless manipulator who controlled every move around her. Getting closer to her was a risk, but he had no choice. The game he had started required sacrifices. He sat in his chair, staring at his laptop. On the desk beside it lay a flash drive - the key to destroying the organization, but also a deadly trap. He knew that what was there could be the beginning of the end of the organization. But it might as well have been the end of himself. This was a fight to the death, and any mistake could cost him everything.

Finally, he turned on his laptop. His hands trembled as he opened the files. Last time, he was unable to grasp all the data. Looking through the documents on Sophia's family, a full picture gradually laid out before him. Jonathan Montgomery, her father, was not just a drug trafficker. He also controlled the arms market, and his money flowed through corporations that had a legitimate facade, but were in fact a cover for the most filthy interests. He found documents that could destroy the Montgomery family's reputation. Implicated in arms and drug trafficking - this information was like a death sentence. But he was still missing something. Something that could bring all these elements together into one crushing whole. He needed Sophia.

The next day, as he entered the school grounds, he felt the eyes of others on him. The organization had its eyes and ears everywhere. He had to remain calm, pretend that everything was fine, although adrenaline was bubbling inside him. This was no longer a simple game of dominance - this was a fight to the death. He saw Sophia in the courtyard, surrounded by a group of her loved ones. She looked like a queen in control of her subjects' every move. Her laughter echoed, and her companions laughed along with her, as if her every word was an order. However, her face - beautiful, almost perfect - hid something more. Alex saw a shadow of darkness behind that smile. This was no ordinary girl. This was the daughter of the beast.

He came closer. Sophia noticed him almost immediately. Her smile was wide, but her eyes remained as cold as ice.

 - Alex! - she called out, waving her hand to him. - Come on, join us!

He couldn't say no. He knew he had to play his part. He sat down next to her, trying not to show anxiety. The atmosphere in the group changed immediately. Everyone waited for Sophia's reaction, as if she was the ruler on whom their lives depended.

- I heard you made quite an impression at last night's party," she said, her voice soft as silk. - How did you like it? The real life of the elite, huh?

Alex shrugged his shoulders, trying to remain indifferent.

- It was ... interesting," he replied with a slight smile. - But I have a feeling I haven't seen everything yet.

Sophia smiled wider, and her gaze became more defiant.

- In our world, the real fun happens behind closed doors.

His heart sped up. This was an invitation into her world. He knew it was risky, but he had to go deeper.

- Why don't you show me what goes on behind the door sometime? - He asked, trying to adopt a casual tone.

Sophia looked at him investigatively, as if assessing whether it was worth letting him more into her world. Her smile became more devious.

- Maybe soon," she replied softly. - But you know, Alex... once you're in, you won't want to leave.

Alex nodded, knowing that he was just approaching a point of no return. The game he had become embroiled in was becoming more and more dangerous. He was about to learn the darkest secrets of this world - but whether he would come out of it alive was another matter entirely. He felt his heart speed up as Sophia's words penetrated his thoughts like poison. Her every gesture, every look seemed to foreshadow something more than mere intrigue. But he knew it could have been a trap. He couldn't trust anyone, least of all her. Sophia was too smart, too dangerous. And he was smart enough to realize it.

- I've always liked a challenge," he replied lightly, hiding the tension behind a mask of indifference.

Their gazes crossed briefly, and in her eyes he saw something he couldn't read. A warning? A challenge perhaps? Sophia smiled softly, as if she sensed his uncertainty. She tossed her hair back and stood up, ending the conversation on her terms. The rest of the group, like a troop of loyal subjects, moved behind her. Alex knew they were just appearances. Each of these people was like a snake - ready to bite whenever the opportunity arose.

- Be ready," Sophia threw over her shoulder, disappearing into the crowd of students. - When the time comes, you'll know if it was really worth it.

He was left alone, staring into the dying chaos of the schoolyard. Heart Investments was like a cobweb that shrouded all of Manhattan, and he was only now beginning to understand what a deep mess he had gotten himself into. He walked into the school building, feeling the air grow heavier. Every step he took was watched by unseen eyes. The rules were simple: either you destroy someone, or someone will destroy you.

At his locker, he felt the phone vibrate.

"Meet me tonight at the Club Lumière."

Sender: Sophia.

The Lumière Club, hidden among the luxury townhouses of the Upper West Side, looked like an innocent lighthouse. It was one of those places that led people right into the shallows. The light of the neon signs tempted one to enter, into a world of luxury, decadence and decay. Inside, chaos reigned. A crowd of young people - the rich, the beautiful, the untouchable - danced, laughed and drank like there was no tomorrow. Alex pushed his way through the crowd, feeling the music pulsing through his body, each sound like the pounding of a hammer. There was no room for fear. He was in the middle of the game. Finally, he spotted Sophia. She was sitting at a private table, surrounded by her "mansions." Next to her, Will Blackwood - usually confident, now looked tense. Something was wrong.

- You've come," Sophia said with a smile, indicating the seat next to him.

- Welcome to the real face of Manhattan, Alex. Here you'll find out who's in charge.

Will nodded to him, but his gaze said more than words.

Something inside him snapped, as if he suddenly realized how deeply they had stepped. Sophia pointed to the other side of the club, where several men in suits were sitting in the shadows. They looked like businessmen, but Alex knew they were the ones with their hands on the controls.

- They are the real players in New York," she said quietly. - Every move they make, every decision they make, affects hundreds if not thousands of people.

- What do they do? - Alex swallowed his saliva with difficulty, his stomach tightened into a knot.

- All of them," she replied with an almost fascinating calmness. - Everything that happens in this city is planned, controlled. Each of us has a role in this system, but they They are the masters of the game. They decide who will survive and who will be destroyed.

Will, hitherto silent, finally spoke.

- Alex, they see everything. The game you are entering now is no joke. If you stumble, you won't end up in jail, you'll end up dead.

Sophia smiled, approaching Alex, her eyes glittering with challenge.

- Oj. Don't scare him. He is so cute. It's a shame for him to withdraw from our game. - She replied after which she touched the tip of his nose with her finger. - You are clever aren't you? Only such people give advice. You will learn how to manipulate, how to use others. If you are good enough, you will get everything. The whole world and maybe me. But you will make one mistake.... - she fell silent, and the silence that followed was worse than any warning.

Lumière, a seemingly elegant nightclub, resembled a complicated clockwork mechanism - perfectly precise, but full of hidden dirt and corruption. Alex sat at a table next to Sophia, feeling the almost electric tension that always accompanied her presence. She was the queen of this place, and perhaps of their entire world. Every step, every look, every word seemed to be under her control. She was like a spider that had woven a web, and was now waiting for her prey. The bass pulsed in his head, drowning out the noise of conversation and laughter. The people around were having fun, as if nothing mattered except the moment. He looked at a group of older men in suits who sat at the back of the room. They were the real players. Under their control were drugs, sex, information trafficking - everything. Manhattan was just a board in their game, and he fell right into the middle of it all. Sophia leaned into him, her breath smelling of alcohol and perfume, a sweet, thick mixture that captured his senses.

- Do you know that the coolest things happen here? - she whispered, coming so close that he could feel the warmth of her skin. - Do you think this is all a coincidence? Me and you? - her smile was cold, and her eyes shone with something more than amusement. - This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Alex forced himself to look composed, although inside he could feel his heart racing and his thoughts spinning at a frantic pace. With one movement, Sophia caught the attention of the waiter, who brought another bottle of champagne. She had power over them - over him, over Will, over everyone who was in the club. Will sat across from her, his face expressing the weariness he once hid. When he finally looked at Alex, there was more than a simple warning in his eyes. There was terror there.

- Be careful," he said quietly, so that Sophia would not hear.

Alex squinted, trying to understand Will.

Sophia interrupted them, or maybe she knew, but she was perfectly in control, which only made Alex more anxious.

- Alex," she began, playing with her glass, turning it in her hands. - Everyone here has a role. You ... you are new, but I see potential in you. Maybe you will find your place here, or maybe not. It all depends on you.

Sophia's words were like poisoned arrows. Alex knew she was testing him, testing how far he was willing to dive deeper into this game. The music became more intense, almost aggressive. People began to dance more dynamically, and the atmosphere around them thickened. Sophia watched all this with an ironic smile.

- So how? - She asked, leaning closer, almost whispering in his ear. - Have you decided?

Alex felt the tension in his body build up. He knew he had to answer quickly, without hesitation, or Sophia would see him as weak. And weakness had no place here.

- Yes. I would love to get to know you better. - He replied in a confident tone that surprised even himself.

Sophia smiled with satisfaction.

- Well. Tonight we will see how far you are able to go.

The night was deep, and the club began to slowly empty. Sophia led Alex down a side corridor, hidden from the view of most of the guests. Each step echoed in the silence. The corridor seemed to go on forever, and each step seemed heavier than the last. They reached a massive door decorated with gold ornaments. Sophia paused for a moment, looking at Alex with a predatory smile. Then she pushed open the door and stepped inside. He followed her in. What he saw surpassed his worst assumptions.

The room looked like an exclusive living room, intended for the most private meetings. Luxurious couches, dimmed lighting, expensive paintings. But it wasn't the decor that shocked him. There were several people sitting around the table, older and younger, and among them was Jonathan Montgomery, Sophia's father. Jonathan looked at Alex with a cold gaze that pierced him to the core.

- This is Alex," she said with satisfaction in her voice. - I think he will be an excellent addition to our.... company.

Jonathan took a drag on his cigarette, remaining silent for a while. Finally he spoke, and his words sounded like a sentence.

- We'll see.

Only one sentence, but Alex knew that his life would not be the same from that moment on. There was a heavy, suffocating smell of cigarette smoke in the air, but it was not the dominant one. The room pulsed with something darker - a tension that wrapped around everyone like an invisible rope, gradually tightening the noose. He had the feeling that his senses were working at top speed. Sophia's father sat across from him, his every glance seeming to pierce Alex's skin. This was a man who controlled not only this room, but an entire empire that Alex couldn't even imagine. Jonathan watched him closely, like a hunter appraising his next trophy. He measured him with his eyes, but Alex felt that there was more at stake in this game than superficiality. Here his future was at stake.

- Alex Cartwight, right? - Jonathan asked, in a tone that left no doubt that he already knew the answer. - I've heard about you. Los Angeles. The city of angels, right? - His lips twisted in a mocking smile. - Well, Manhattan is a different beast. You won't find angels here. There are only demons.

Alex felt the dryness coming up his throat, but forced himself to remain calm. There was no room for weakness in this world. Everyone in the room was a predator, and he had to play until he learned the rules.

- I'm a fast learner," he replied, trying to make his voice sound confident, although his heart was beating like a hammer.

Jonathan raised an eyebrow, as if assessing his words. The silence dragged on, he slowly inhaled his cigarette, and the smoke rose lazily toward the ceiling.

- I hope so, boy," he finally spoke up, releasing smoke toward the ceiling. - Because there is no room for mistakes in this game. If you want to survive, you have to understand that everyone here has a price. Every loyalty, every look. Everything can be bought, everything can be sold. And you... you have to know what your value is.

These words struck Alex like a warning, reminding him that nothing in this world was clean. Everyone had blood on their hands. The higher you climb, the longer you fall. Sophia sat next to him, quietly, but he could feel her presence. She was playing with her wine glass, lazily turning it in her hands. Her gaze shifted to Alex, as if she noticed something new about him for the first time. Her father had already begun to test his limits, but Alex knew that Sophia was the real master of this game.

- What do you think, Alex? - she asked suddenly, her voice was both soft and icy. - Do you have what we need in you?

He felt that this was no ordinary conversation. It was a trap. He had to be careful, any false move could cost him more than he wanted to pay. He took a breath and let it out slowly, trying not to show fear.

- I think," he began slowly, choosing his words carefully, "that everyone has something they can sell. You just have to know how much.

Sophia smiled with evident satisfaction, and Jonathan nodded as if Alex had just passed the first test. In his eyes he saw something new - maybe acceptance, or maybe a warning.

- Exactly," said Jonathan, rising from his chair. - The game is about knowing when to pull the strings. Who is your pawn and who is the king.

He walked through the room with a slow step, like a king in his palace. Alex knew that at the moment he was just a guest - a guest who could be thrown out at the first mistake. Sophia stood up silently and approached him. Her hand brushed his shoulder, and a wave of heat, a mixture of fear and fascination, passed over Alex's body.

- Come," she whispered, her voice silky and enticing. - I'll show you something you haven't seen before.

Alex followed her without saying a word, his steps seeming to grow heavier and heavier. They walked through a dark corridor, narrow, overwhelming. When they stepped outside, the cool air hit him in the face like a knife blade, but it brought no relief. A black limousine was waiting for them in the parking lot. Sophia pointed with her head to the open door.

- Get in," she said with a smile. - It's time, to see what's really hidden under that pretty face.

Alex knew that every second spent with Sophia was pushing him deeper and deeper into the darkness. He got into the limousine, and the door closed with a deafening click, like the announcement of something inevitable. The car took off. Sophia sat next to him, her eyes filled with promises that Alex knew would come at a price.

In the silence, he felt that what would happen that night would change everything.