BRUSHSTROKES OF REVENGE

Morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows, painting warm bands across the marble floor. Beyond the glass, the garden rested beneath a gentle breeze, its leaves rustling softly in the quiet.

Mindy picked up her phone and dialed a familiar number.

After two rings, Jasper answered.

”Well, well. My little Minny finally remembered her grandfather.”

A smile touched Mindy’s lips.

”Poppy, I missed you.”

”We missed you too. We assumed Maxine’s portfolio had stolen you from the rest of the world.”

”I could never forget you.”

”That’s what people say when they feel guilty.”

Mindy laughed softly, and Jasper’s deep chuckle followed.

”How’s Wade?” she asked. ”Still buried in work?”

”Completely. He says he wants to finish everything before the portfolio begins. He never rests.”

”That sounds like him.”

Jasper said. ”And like you!”

Mindy chose not to argue.

After a brief pause, Jasper’s tone grew more serious.

”I heard LUXT partnered with Zeus Vision.”

”Yes. It was the right choice. Matthias is capable, and Zeus Vision has the resources we need.”

”I knew his maternal grandfather years ago. He was an honorable man.” Jasper hesitated. ”The rest of that family is another matter. Be careful around Matthias’s father, his half-brother, and especially his stepmother. They’re not people I would trust.”

Mindy’s smile faded.

”I’ll be careful.”

”I’m serious, Minny. You have your mother’s heart, but you also have my mind. Use both. Trust your instincts, but don’t ignore the facts.”

”I won’t.”

”That’s my girl.”

They spoke for a few more minutes about Wade’s work and the upcoming portfolio before ending the call.

”Take care of yourself,” Jasper said.

”You too, Poppy.”

When the call ended, Mindy lowered her phone and remained seated for a moment. The familiar warmth of her grandfather’s voice lingered, softening the uneasiness that had settled over her since the banquet.

Then her thoughts returned to the Maxine Night Party.

The glittering chandeliers. The polite smiles. The tension that had spread through the room when Kelvin King appeared.

Most of all, she remembered Missy’s expression.

For one brief moment, Missy’s smile had faltered when she saw Kelvin. And Kelvin had looked at her with a familiarity that was impossible to mistake.

They had known each other before that night.

Mindy was certain of it.

She moved toward the window, lost in thought, and failed to notice Layla approaching behind her.

A hand touched her shoulder.

”Mindy.”

Mindy blinked and turned.

Layla studied her face.

”I’ve called you several times. You didn’t even hear me.”

”I’m sorry. I was thinking.”

”That much is obvious.” Layla glanced toward the window. ”What’s bothering you?”

”Mr. Gray transferred the land in Cerbos. No one should know that we have it.” Mindy said.

Layla frowned.

”Cerbos? Why are you interested in that land? It’s practically useless. The entire area is little more than a wasteland.”

”Just trust me.”

Mindy’s voice was calm, but there was enough certainty in it to make Layla stop pressing.

”Fine,” Layla said. ”I’ll keep it confidential. But eventually, you’ll have to tell me why that land matters.”

Mindy gave her a faint smile.

”You’re acting strange,” Layla continued.

”Strange?”

”More mysterious. More ruthless.”

”I’m not sure if I should be offended.”

”The ruthless part is growing on me,” Layla said. ”The mysterious part is less appealing.”

Mindy let out a quiet laugh, but Layla’s expression soon softened.

”Whatever is troubling you, you can tell me. I’m not asking you to explain everything before you’re ready. I just want you to remember that you don’t have to face it alone.”

Mindy looked at her.

Layla reached across the table and squeezed her hand.

”Partners in crime, remember?”

A warmth spread through Mindy’s chest.

”How could I forget?”

The words stirred an old memory.

Years earlier, Mindy had been seventeen and living with her grandparents. Layla was already attending college, studying finance.

That was when Nate Sinclair became fixated on her.

Nate was the most handsome—and one of the wealthiest—students on campus. Girls constantly surrounded him, eager for his attention. But his interest in Layla was not flattering. It was obsessive.

He followed her across campus, appeared wherever she happened to be, and continued pursuing her even after she made it clear she wasn’t interested.

Layla tried to handle the situation quietly. She spoke to several professors, who warned Nate to stop harassing her. For a while, his behavior became less obvious.

Then his admirers turned against her.

The girls who had been desperate for Nate’s attention began spreading rumors about Layla. They insulted her, followed her, and went out of their way to make her life miserable.

Layla tried to ignore them.

But one evening, the situation became dangerous.

She had stayed late at the university to finish a project due the next morning. By the time she left the building, most of the campus was empty.

Near the rear entrance, several men stepped out from a nearby alley and surrounded her.

Their clothes were rough, their expressions threatening, and their remarks crude. They blocked her path while slowly moving closer.

Layla’s heart began to pound.

She took a step back, searching for a way out.

Then she spotted a patrol car moving along the street.

”Help!” she screamed. ”Someone help me!”

The officers immediately turned toward her. The men cursed and fled into the alley before the patrol car reached them.

Layla stood frozen, trembling too badly to speak.

The officer checked that she wasn’t hurt before offering her a ride home.

She said almost nothing during the journey.

When she reached the house, she slipped upstairs, hoping to avoid everyone. But Mindy was still awake. She saw Layla pass through the hallway and immediately noticed the fear in her face.

”Layla?”

Layla stopped.

Mindy followed her into the room and switched on the light.

”What happened?”

Layla tried to answer, but her voice broke. Tears filled her eyes as she explained everything—the men outside the university, Nate’s obsession, and the girls who had tormented her.

Mindy listened without interrupting.

By the time Layla finished, the anger in Mindy’s eyes had hardened into something cold and deliberate.

She pulled Layla into her arms.

”You’re safe now,” she murmured.

Layla held on to her.

After a moment, Mindy asked quietly, ”Tell me their names.”

Layla hesitated.

”Mindy—”

”Tell me.”

There was no anger in Mindy’s voice. That made it more unsettling.

After a long pause, Layla gave her the names.

The next day was the final presentation for the students’ mid-year projects. The entire class gathered in the university auditorium, and each student took the stage to present their work.

Mindy sat in the back row, watching quietly.

Layla was one of the last students to present. She delivered her project with steady confidence, refusing to let the previous night affect her performance.

When she finished, she returned to her seat beside Mindy and took her hand.

The next student stepped onto the stage.

The projector screen suddenly went black.

A moment later, a name appeared.

One of the girls who had bullied Layla.

The video that followed showed the girl meeting an older man in a private hotel room. The footage was not explicit, but the implication was enough to send a wave of shock through the auditorium.

The girl screamed.

”Turn it off!”

Before anyone could reach the controls, the screen changed.

Another name appeared.

This time, the video showed two girls stealing expensive beauty products from a showroom. Their faces were clearly visible, along with the date and time of the security footage.

The room erupted into whispers.

Then came another recording—one of the girls humiliating a younger student. Another showed a different girl threatening someone. One by one, their secrets appeared on the screen.

The auditorium descended into chaos.

The girls shouted and cried. Some tried to leave, while others demanded to know who had obtained the recordings.

A few minutes later, the police arrived.

The girls had already been the subject of several complaints involving harassment and abuse. The videos provided additional evidence, and each of them was escorted away for questioning.

By the end of the day, they had all been expelled.

Mindy and Layla watched in silence from the back row.

Then Layla leaned closer.

”Your friend Ana is incredible. She found all of this overnight. How?”

Mindy smiled.

”She’s a gossip queen. If there’s dirt on someone, Ana will find it.”

Layla shook her head, but a reluctant smile appeared on her face.

When the auditorium finally began to empty, Mindy turned toward her.

”Now it’s time to deal with the men who attacked you.”

A slow smile spread across Layla’s face.

She reached into her bag and took out an old phone. After typing a short message, she sent it anonymously to Nate Sinclair.

It contained the men’s names, their location, and a brief account of what they had done.

The next morning, the news broke.

Several members of a local gang had been found in an alley behind the university. They were alive but badly injured, with broken arms and legs. None of them could explain who had attacked them.

There were no witnesses.

No usable security footage.

And Nate Sinclair was nowhere to be found.

Layla rushed into Mindy’s room early the next morning and held out her phone.

”Look.”

Mindy, who had only just woken up, squinted at the headline.

”What happened?”

”The men from yesterday were found beaten nearly senseless.”

Mindy sat up and read the report. Her eyebrows rose.

”He’s useful.”

”That’s not all,” Layla said.

Mindy looked at her.

”What else?”

”The girls’ families.”

Mindy frowned.

”I thought we dealt with the girls.”

”We did. Nate dealt with their families.”

Layla scrolled through the reports.

”Several of their businesses lost major contracts overnight. Their accounts were frozen, and some of their properties were seized by creditors.”

Mindy stared at the screen.

”Nate did all of that?”

Layla nodded.

”In one night.”

Mindy let out a quiet whistle.

”He really is crazy.”

Mindy glanced at the report again.

”Maybe you should give him a chance.”

Layla’s eyes widened.

”Shut up!”

Mindy grinned.

Layla tried to glare at her, but the expression quickly gave way to a reluctant smile.

Then her voice softened.

”Thank you.”

Mindy immediately flicked her forehead.

”Ow!”

”Don’t say that to me.”

Layla rubbed her forehead.

Mindy’s expression softened.

”We’re partners in crime. Always remember that.”

Layla smiled.

”Always.”

The memory faded.

Mindy returned to the present with a quiet sigh.

Layla studied her face carefully. ”Ever since the party, something’s been bothering you. What is it?”

Mindy hesitated, then spoke quietly. ”I think Missy and Kelvin had known each other before that night.”

Layla frowned. ”If that’s true, why hide it?”

”I don’t know,” Mindy admitted. She paused, her voice dropping. ”I also think the attack on Matthias might have been planned by Kelvin.”

Layla’s eyes widened. ”If that’s true, this is much bigger than we thought. Missy isn’t acting alone. She’s never been fragile. Maybe Layton was never her only backing.”

Mindy nodded slowly. ”I think so too.”

Silence settled between them, heavy with unspoken understanding. Finally, Layla asked, ”So what now?”

Mindy’s gaze drifted to the sketches scattered across the table—her mother’s legacy, her stolen dreams. Her voice was calm but resolute. ”I want Rona Design back. And Starlight. They belong to my mother.”

Layla’s lips curved into a slow, knowing smile. ”If we want Missy to reveal her cards, we need to hit her where it hurts.”

Mindy’s eyes gleamed with quiet determination. ”Exactly,” she said.

”The game has only just begun.”