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Juliet picked up her phone that kept ringing for the nth time... she dropped her phone and face palmed herself... She had answered the call and it was her aunt... she ended the call immediately without hearing what her aunt wanted to say, and now she kept calling her over and over again... it was getting so much on her nerves, but she knew if she answered the call, her aunt would keep asking her for money... Money that she didn't even have to give. if she did, she would have used it to move away from this neighbourhood for good, but she was tight on cash, and Claudia was only making things worse. How was it her problem if her cousin was in jail. "Please would you f*cking leave me alone!" She yelled at Claudia and ended the call... she switched off her phone and slumped on her bed... When would all her problems end for good. Maybe moving away was for the better. What of Claudia found her again... Why did it have to be her... She couldn't always rely on Alex to defend her... They were only friends. were they really? She had no idea how to even describe their relationship. did he want something more? Did he want to date... He never asked her about that but made sure to make her heart flutter for him over and over again... Then he made her worry... She was confused, and she hated such a confusion...She wanted him to tell her how he really felt about her, but he only came when he wanted to, and they never really spoke on the phone... shs wasn't sure if it was okay for her to call him. was he at work? he was a total mystery to her... A mystery that she wanted to solve. she didn't even know what his last name was... She only knew him as a stranger who always seemed to show up when she needed help... _____________________ _____________________ Claudia stood across the road and a distance from Juliet's house... She had been waiting for Juliet to come outside so she could approaching her, but Juliet had not stepped out, and it had been hours... "That b*tch! she avoids my calls, and now she doesn't want to come out!" She said in rage when her stomach grumbled... she sighed deeply and decided she needed to take a break, her legs were killing her and she was starving maybe if she saw one of those nosy neighbours they could pay for her lunch in exchange for something to gossip about... She turned and became startled when she saw a bulky looking fellow approaching her. She had no idea who he was and why he was looking at her that way... She immediately took a step back and was about to leave, but he was faster than her and blocked her way... "Who are you? Get the hell out of my way!" She yelled out to raise an alarm in case he tried to mugg or harm her... But the man looked relaxed and just simply said, "My boss wants to speak with you." "I don't give a flying f*ck about your boss get the hell out of my way!" She tried to push her way out of this bit the man held her arm... No one was around, and she had purposely chosen such a spot to stay so no one would find her suspicious for hanging around the area for so long... she regretted it now... "Leave or I will scream," She threatened, but the man didn't bulge. Instead, he took his phone out of his pocket and answered a call... "He wants to speak with you," "It's me, Juliet's boyfriend," Claudia immediately recognised his voice... it was the b*stard who liked to meddle and not mind his damn business... "I only want to speak to you, that's all... He won't harm you in any way if you comply, " Alex said... Claudia looked up at the bulky man who was holding her arm and then at the phone his free hand... This could be her chance... if he had enough money to hire someone like this, that meant he might be earning a lot... The more the merrier... Maybe she could extort more cash from him than Juliet could provide... It would be a win-win situation for her... "Why do you want to speak with Me" She asked and there was silence at the other end of the line for a few seconds and she feared that she had missed her chance till he spoke again... "Why don't you follow him and find out?" The man ended the call and freed her hand... "If you try anything funny, I'm calling the police," Claudia said and finally followed him.... He led her to where a black SUV was parked, she hesitated a bit before entering into it... The whole car ride was silent, and about thirty minutes later, the car came to a halt... They were at a restaurant... a smile appeared on Claudia's face... she was starving, so she might as well use this chance to have her dinner. . "This way," the bulky man said to her when she came out of the car, and she nodded. she followed him into the beautiful restaurant and was awed by the view... People like her had no business in such a place... It was a place she could only dream of visiting... She was sure she couldn't afford the cheapest dish on the menu... It gave her a second reassurance that she was at an advantage... He could afford to eat at a place like this... Why was Juliet so stingy to her if her boyfriend was kind of a big shot... The man finally stopped in front of her door and gestured for her to go in... Claudia went in, and there he was sitting there with the Menu in his hands... Her cheque...