Her heart was beating faster now.
Not from fear.
From anticipation.
She moved toward her wardrobe and began searching through the dresses one after another, tossing them aside until finally her fingers stopped on one.
A green glittering evening gown.
Perfect.
Minutes later she stepped into it, adjusting the fabric carefully over her body. The dress clung elegantly to her curves, shimmering faintly whenever it caught the light.
She checked the time on her watch.
3:24 PM.
Time was moving fast.
Evelyn stepped in front of the mirror and studied her reflection thoughtfully.
Then she reached into the drawer and pulled out a long black wig.
The dark hair cascaded smoothly to her shoulders when she placed it on.
Next came the black sunshade glasses.
With them on, the confident detective Evelyn Ashford disappeared.
In her place stood someone else entirely.
A mysterious woman.
A woman who belonged in places like Troller Brothel.
Evelyn gave herself one last look in the mirror.
Then she turned and left.
When she stepped outside, Tyler was leaning against the car.
The moment he saw her, his eyes widened.
For a brief second he simply stared.
Then he quickly looked away, clearing his throat.
"...You're really going through with this."
Evelyn slipped into the passenger seat with a small smile.
"Drive."
Tyler sighed heavily before starting the engine.
Half an hour later, the car rolled slowly to a stop in front of a towering building glowing under layers of neon rope lights.
Music pulsed loudly from inside.
The air itself seemed to vibrate with it.
Troller Brothel.
Evelyn stepped out of the car.
The moment she approached the entrance, a tall security guard raised his hand.
"Miss," he said sharply.
"Your pass."
Evelyn tilted her head slightly before offering him a charming smile.
"Oh gentlemen," she said in a soft, sultry voice, "I have an appointment with Mr. Stephan Quinlan."
She leaned slightly closer.
"He said he wants me… hot."
The guards exchanged amused glances.
One of them chuckled quietly while his eyes shamelessly scanned her figure.
"Yeah," another muttered. "That definitely looks like Mr. Quinlan's taste."
They stepped aside.
"Go in."
Evelyn walked past them calmly.
Just before entering, she glanced back once.
Tyler was still outside, slowly pacing the compound, his sharp eyes watching everything.
Then she stepped inside.
The atmosphere hit her instantly.
Dark disco lights flashed across the room.
Music thundered through the floor.
Women moved through the crowd wearing almost nothing—some in glittering dresses like hers, others in bikinis or lingerie.
The scent of heavy perfume and cologne filled the air so strongly it almost reached her throat.
Evelyn forced herself to keep walking.
Men leaned back in their seats watching her closely.
Some whistled.
One man winked while licking his lips.
Evelyn simply smiled politely and kept moving.
Her heels clicked softly against the floor as she passed couples kissing in dark corners.
From somewhere deeper inside the building, faint sounds of women moaning drifted through the hallways.
It irritated her slightly.
But she had a mission.
Suddenly—
She bumped into someone.
A woman.
The girl turned around with a playful grin, twirling a strand of her hair before winking at Evelyn.
"You want it, mama?" she teased.
Evelyn smiled politely.
"I'm fine."
She moved past her quickly.
The air inside was becoming suffocating.
So she slipped into the bathroom.
The bathroom was quieter.
Cooler.
Evelyn stepped toward the mirror and exhaled slowly.
She pulled out her lipstick and began touching up the red color on her lips.
Just then—
The door burst open.
A young woman stumbled inside.
She was shaking.
Almost sobbing.
Evelyn glanced at her reflection in the mirror.
The girl rushed to the sink and began wiping the makeup from her face, her hands trembling badly.
Her breathing was uneven.
Evelyn continued applying her lipstick calmly, pretending not to notice.
Then she spoke casually.
"What's wrong?" she asked without turning.
"You didn't get paid?"
Her tone sounded relaxed… like one of the girls who worked there.
The girl shook her head.
"No…"
Her voice cracked.
"I… I can't do this."
She gripped the sink tightly.
"I just can't."
Evelyn paused.
Something about the girl's voice made her turn slowly.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Evelyn asked quietly.
The girl sniffed and wiped her eyes.
"She chose me…" she whispered.
"To be Stephan's girl tonight."
Her lips trembled.
"But I don't want to."
Evelyn rolled her eyes slightly.
"Is that why you're bothered?"
The girl froze.
Slowly she turned toward Evelyn, staring at her as if she had just heard the strangest thing in the world.
"Do you even hear yourself?" the girl said, her voice trembling.
Evelyn finished applying the last touch of red to her lips and closed the lipstick calmly.
"That man," the girl continued, her voice shaking more now, "handles women like objects. Women who go into his room… they come out with scars. Marks."
Her fingers tightened around the edge of the sink.
"I'm… I'm not up for that."
Evelyn sighed softly, leaning one shoulder against the marble counter.
"So Stephan Quinlan isn't just an ordinary womanizer," she said thoughtfully. "He tortures women too?"
The girl hesitated.
Then she whispered quietly,
"One million dollars."
Evelyn's brows lifted slightly.
"A night," the girl added.
For a brief moment Evelyn simply stared at her.
Then she swallowed… and suddenly a wide smile spread across her lips.
"So he paid you one million dollars," Evelyn said slowly, "just so he could torture you?"
She gave a small amused shake of her head.
"Men," she muttered.
"Blinding women with money until they're willing to sell their souls… and their bodies."
Evelyn turned her head slightly, studying the girl more carefully now.
"What's your name?"
The girl stiffened immediately.
"W-why are you asking?"
Evelyn looked away, almost disappointed.
"I was thinking of helping you," she said casually. "But if you don't trust me…"
The girl's eyes widened.
"H-help me?"
Evelyn straightened and met her gaze again.
"I'll go to Stephan tonight," she said calmly. "In your place."
The girl blinked.
Once.
Twice.
She looked completely stunned.
"I'll help you get out of this," Evelyn continued. "But you'll owe me one."
The girl stared at her, trying to process whether what she had just heard was good news… or something even more terrifying.
"T-thank you," she whispered nervously.
Then she hesitated.
"But… what about you?"
Evelyn shrugged lightly.
"I'll be fine."
She extended her hand.
"Now tell me your name."
The girl swallowed.
"M… Melissa."
Evelyn smiled.
"Well then," she said smoothly.
"Tonight… I'm Melissa."
Before the girl could react, Evelyn gently took the card from Melissa's trembling hands.
A small smirk curved across her lips.
Perfect.
A very convenient excuse.
Tonight…
She would be Stephan Quinlan's girl.
-------
Evelyn walked past the guards on the fourth floor, her heels clicking softly against the polished marble corridor.
The hallway was quieter here.
Too quiet.
This floor was clearly reserved for someone important.
At the very end of the hall stood a pair of heavy doors guarded by two men dressed in black suits. Their expressions were cold, professional.
Stephan Quinlan's room.
A faint smirk touched Evelyn's lips as a thought crossed her mind.
Silas…
You have no idea what I'm capable of doing.
Her eyes hardened slightly.
I'll burn anyone standing in my way if I have to.
She paused for a moment outside the door.
Tonight I'll test my limits.
And when I walk out of this place… I'll prove something to you.
My mistake doesn't define my intelligence.
The bodyguards glanced at her briefly.
Then immediately looked away.
No one dared stare at Quinlan's "guest."
Evelyn exhaled quietly and raised her hand, knocking gently on the door.
For a few seconds there was silence.
Then a deep voice came from inside.
"Come in."
Evelyn pushed the door open.
The room was dimly lit, illuminated only by a few golden lamps and the faint glow of the city outside the massive window.
Stephan Quinlan sat on a wide leather sofa.
He was bare-chested, wearing only black trousers. One arm rested casually over the back of the chair, his posture relaxed in a way that suggested quiet control rather than laziness.
Evelyn paused just inside the doorway.
Her eyes studied him carefully.
Handsome, she admitted silently.
But then another face flashed briefly in her mind.
Cold eyes.
Dangerous calm.
Not more than the devil who brought me here, she thought.
Silas.
When Evelyn didn't speak, Stephan slowly turned his head.
His sharp gaze landed on her.
Dark.
Observant.
Measuring.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then his deep voice filled the room.
"You know what to do."
His eyes moved briefly over her figure.
"Strip."