Chapter 14: Games we don't see coming

Chapter Fourteen: Games We Don't See Coming

Caramel sat alone in her car, staring at her phone. Kim's warning echoed in her head: Keep your eye on him too.

But that wasn't what was bothering her. It was the look on Kelly's face when she walked into that office. Cold. Defensive. Like he was already expecting the worst from her.

She hated how familiar that felt.

Her thumb hovered over Monika's name in her contacts—yes, she had it. But calling her felt like digging into a graveyard barefoot. Still… Kim wanted answers, and Caramel wasn't about to fall behind.

She pressed "Call."

Monika picked up on the third ring. "I was wondering when you'd stop pretending."

"Let's get something straight," Caramel snapped. "I don't care for your drama. But you stirred the wrong pot. What are you doing poking Kim?"

"I told her truth shakes things. Looks like it's already working," Monika said lazily. "How's your old friend Kelly, by the way? Still playing bodyguard?"

Caramel froze. "…What do you know about him?"

Monika chuckled. "Oh, Caramel. You're asking the wrong question. What does he know about Kim?"

The line went dead.

---

The next day, Kim burst into her office, slamming the door shut behind her. She wasn't wearing her usual calm. Her blazer was rumpled. Her phone buzzed nonstop.

Caramel raised an eyebrow. "You look like someone just screamed 'fire.'"

"Monika sent a threat," Kim said, tossing her phone onto the desk.

Caramel picked it up. The message read:

"It's not just your secrets anymore. This time, someone else pays. Watch your back… or hers."

"She means Zuri?" Caramel asked sharply.

Kim nodded. "I think she's testing me. Trying to see how far I'll go to keep things quiet."

"Then go further," Caramel said. "Or let Kelly in."

Kim shook her head. "No. He's too unpredictable."

---

Later that evening, Kelly returned to the apartment with Zuri in his arms. She'd fallen asleep mid-sentence. He tucked her into bed and sat at the edge of the couch, exhausted.

His phone buzzed. A message from an unknown number.

"Nice to see you're playing family man. Shame if something happened to her."

His hands clenched.

He stormed out of the apartment and drove.

---

Meanwhile, Caramel was walking to her car in the parking garage when she heard footsteps—fast ones. She spun just in time to see a man in a hoodie charge at her.

She ducked instinctively, throwing her bag into his chest. Another man came from the side. Before she could scream, a third voice cut through the air:

"Back. Off."

Kelly.

He stepped forward from the shadows, fist already clenched. The attackers looked at him, hesitated, then ran.

Caramel stared, panting. "You… followed me?"

"I didn't follow you," Kelly said. "I followed the message."

He handed her his phone, showing her the threat.

Caramel's breath caught. "Zuri—"

"She's safe. For now."

She looked at him. "You saved me. Why didn't you save Kim when Monika's goons came after her last time?"

Kelly's eyes darkened. "Because sometimes, saving someone too early stops them from learning who their enemies really are."

Caramel stared at him. "You think Kim deserves this?"

"No," he muttered. "But I think she needs to know who's standing next to her… and who's aiming behind her back."

---

Back at the apartment, Kim stood near the window, watching the street below. A car pulled up, slow, suspicious.

Zuri's teddy bear dropped from her hand onto the floor, unnoticed.

Because in the dark corner of the room… a red light blinked once on a hidden camera.

And Monika, somewhere far away, smiled to herself.

"Now the game begins."