The Contracted Stripper

Ryan sat in the passenger seat of Luca’s car, the city lights flickering through the window as they sped through the quiet streets.

His thoughts raced faster than the car, the weight of everything pressing down on him-Bella’s betrayal, Victor’s manipulations, the company slipping through his fingers, and now this meeting with Luca.

He needed answers, and he needed them fast. Luca drove in silence, his grip tight on the steering wheel.

They both knew they couldn’t afford to raise suspicion, especially with Bella’s guards likely watching Ryan’s every move. The less noise they made, the better their chances of discovering the truth.

Finally, they pulled into the driveway of Luca’s secluded house on the outskirts of the city. It was a modern, minimalist home, surrounded by high walls and trees that shielded it from prying eyes. Luca parked the car and gestured for Ryan to follow him inside.

Once they entered the house, Luca led Ryan to the living room, motioning for him to sit on the leather couch. Ryan obliged, though he was barely able to sit still. Luca began pacing, clearly deep in thought.

“We need to talk about what’s going on, Ryan. I’ve been doing my digging, and it’s worse than we thought.”Ryan crossed his arms, his gaze sharp.

“How did they do it, Luca? How did Bella and Victor manage to get their hands on the company?”Luca stopped pacing and turned to face Ryan.

“It was the day you had that meeting with Victor and his associates. They slipped the document in with the other papers, and you signed it without realizing what it was.

“Ryan’s jaw tightened as the memory of that day came flooding back. He had been distracted, tired, and rushing through the meeting. Victor had been pushing him to sign off on some minor agreements, or so he thought.

He hadn’t given it a second thought, trusting Victor and his investment plans at the time.”So, the document I signed… it was the transfer of ownership?” Ryan asked, his voice filled with disbelief and anger.

Luca nodded grimly. “Yes. They took advantage of the situation, and now they’ve got everything.”Ryan’s mind raced. His company, his inheritance, everything his father had built-it was all in Bella and Victor’s hands because of one careless moment.

He clenched his fists, rage bubbling under the surface.”There’s only one way it got into their hands,” Luca said, his voice low. Ryan met Luca’s gaze.

“Bella,” he whispered, the name tasting bitter on his tongue. Luca nodded again. “She’s been working with Victor from the start.

They played you, Ryan. The fake pregnancy, the manipulation-it was all part of their plan.”Ryan leaned back on the couch, trying to process it all. Bella, the woman he had once cared for, had orchestrated everything. She had torn his life apart piece by piece, and now she stood at the helm of his family’s empire.

Ryan shook his head, trying to focus. “You said Mrs. Jessica is with you, right? Where is she?”Luca beckoned to his maid, who had been quietly standing in the corner.

She nodded in understanding and walked toward a nearby wall.”Follow me,” Luca said, as he and Ryan followed the maid. They walked through a narrow hallway until they reached what appeared to be a solid wall.

Ryan watched as the maid slid a large portrait to the side, revealing a hidden door behind it.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

Ryan’s eyes widened slightly, though he wasn’t completely surprised. He and Luca had often shared ideas about security measures like this. Ryan even had a similar hidden room in his own home.

They stepped through the hidden doorway and into a dimly lit room.

The air was cool, and there was a quiet hum of machinery, like a ventilator or a medical device.

Ryan looked around, his heart beating faster. In the center of the room, lying on a small bed, was an older woman with striking features.

Her eyes fluttered open as she sensed their presence. She blinked a few times before her gaze locked onto Luca and then shifted to Ryan.”Luca,” she said weakly, her voice hoarse from disuse.

“Is this Ryan?”Luca nodded, stepping forward. “Yes, Mrs. Jessica. This is Ryan.”Ryan swallowed hard as he stepped closer to the bed, his eyes fixed on the woman. There was something familiar about her-her face, her eyes. She looked like someone he knew, but older, weathered by time and hardship.

“Ryan,” Mrs. Jessica whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. “Where’s Iris? Where’s my daughter?”The mention of Iris’s name sent a shockwave through Ryan’s body. He hadn’t heard her name in months, not since everything fell apart. The memories of Iris, her smile, and her laughter all came rushing back like a flood.

Before he could respond, Mrs. Jessica’s voice grew more desperate. “Your family… they’re evil. Please, just let my daughter and I go. We’ve been through enough.”Ryan stood frozen, his eyes locked on Mrs. Jessica. Her face-it was a reflection of Iris. Older, yes, but the resemblance was undeniable.

The shape of her eyes, the curve of her lips, the way her hair fell around her shoulders-it was as if he were looking at Iris, just years into the future.

Tears welled up in Ryan’s eyes as the weight of the moment hit him. “Mrs. Jessica,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion, “I don’t know where Iris is.”Mrs. Jessica’s eyes filled with tears as well. “You have to find her, Ryan. She’s in danger. They’ll never stop hunting her. She’s my daughter… my only daughter.”

Ryan’s heart ached at the sight of this woman, broken and desperate for her child. His mind flashed back to the last time he had seen Iris her defiance, her strength, her unwavering spirit.

She had always been a fighter, but now she was lost, somewhere out there, and he had no idea how to find her.

Luca stepped forward, placing a hand on Ryan’s shoulder. “We’ll find her,” he said softly. “We’ll bring Iris back.”Ryan nodded, his resolve hardening.

He couldn’t let Bella and Victor continue to destroy everything that mattered to him.

He had to find Iris, protect her, and reclaim what was rightfully his.”I’ll do whatever it takes,” Ryan said, his voice steady with determination. “I won’t let them win.”Mrs. Jessica’s hand trembled as she reached out to Ryan, her fingers brushing against his.

“Please,” she whispered, her eyes pleading. “Don’t let them hurt her.”Ryan squeezed her hand gently, his heart breaking at the sight of her vulnerability. “I won’t,” he promised. “I’ll find Iris, and I’ll protect her. I swear it.”

Later, as Ryan and Luca sat in the dimly lit kitchen, the gravity of the situation hung over them like a storm cloud.”What’s the next move?” Ryan asked, his voice low as he stared into his untouched cup of coffee.

“We need to get more evidence on Bella and Victor,” Luca replied. “Something solid that can bring them down. We can’t act too soon or too late.”Ryan nodded, his mind racing with plans and possibilities.

“We’ll need someone on the inside,” he said, his voice thoughtful. “Someone who can keep an eye on them without raising suspicion.”

Luca leaned back in his chair, considering Ryan’s words. “That won’t be easy. Bella and Victor are smart. They don’t trust many people.”Ryan’s eyes darkened. “I know just the person.”Luca raised an eyebrow. “Who?”

“Jessica,” Ryan said quietly. “She knows more than we think. She’s been involved with the Kendricks longer than anyone. She has to have leverage.”Luca looked hesitant. “But she’s weak right now. And if Bella finds out she’s still alive…”Ryan’s gaze hardened.

“That’s why we need to move carefully. But Jessica is the key to unraveling this whole thing. I’m sure of it.”Luca nodded slowly. “All right. But we need to be careful. One wrong move and Bella will know we’re onto her.”