Until Forever Ink Fades

Lily adjusted her glasses repeatedly, her eyes darting towards the driver's mirror. She was disguised in a face mask, face cap, and her hoodie's hood was pulled up to conceal her face. She had sneaked out of the film set without anyone noticing, not even her manager. She didn't want to drag anyone into this mess; it was her fault, and she was determined to fix it.

The man she was meeting had chosen a fancy, newly opened restaurant in town. Lily was hesitant, but she had no choice. She had agreed to meet him, and now she was on her way.

As she fidgeted with her glasses, the taxi driver turned around, concern etched on his face. "Miss, are you alright?" he asked.

Lily forced a smile, relieved that her disguise was still intact. She shook her head, using a fake voice. "I'm good, sir."

The taxi driver nodded, though he still looked uncertain. "Miss, we're almost there," he announced.

Lily nodded, her eyes fixed on the restaurant in the distance. As the taxi pulled over, she stepped out onto the sidewalk, her eyes scanning the area nervously for any paparazzi. The taxi driver handed her a card with his phone number. "Miss, if you need a ride back, just call me. I'll be at your service immediately."

Lily smiled, taking the card and slipping it into her pocket. "Thanks," she said, before quickly walking into the hotel to avoid drawing attention to herself.

As she entered the lobby, she approached the receptionist, her voice barely above a whisper. "Uhmm, hi... I'm here to meet someone..."

The receptionist smiled professionally. "Do you have a reservation or a scheduled meeting, miss?"

Lily frowned, realizing she didn't have any of those details. The person she was meeting had only told her to come here, without mentioning a reservation. But just then, her phone buzzed with an incoming message from Instagram. She opened it to find a message from "Ryoo," the same person she was meeting.

Her eyes scanned the message, and she saw that it was the reservation details. She felt a surge of relief, knowing that she could now confidently tell the receptionist that she had a reservation.

"Yes, I do have a reservation," Lily said, her voice more confident now. "It's under... Ryoo."

The receptionist's eyes sparkled with recognition as she asked, "Are you Lily Huston?" Her voice was no longer neutral, but instead held a hint of excitement and curiosity.

Lily's heart skipped a beat as she hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond. She had been trying to keep a low profile, and the last thing she wanted was to draw attention to herself.

But the receptionist's expectant gaze made her realize that she had no choice but to confirm her identity. "Yes, I'm Lily Huston," she replied, trying to sound casual despite the butterflies in her stomach.

The receptionist's face broke into a wide smile. "Welcome, Ms. Huston,We've been expecting you. You're here to meet Mr. Ryoo, correct?"

Lily nodded, feeling a sense of trepidation wash over her. Why was this person after her reputation, And why had he chosen such a public place for their meeting?

The receptionist handed her a key card. "You're booked in the VIP lounge on the top floor. Mr. Ryoo is already waiting for you. Please, take the elevator to the top floor, and our staff would excort you there."

Lily took the key card with a smile leaning against the counter."Uhmm I'll be glad if you keep my visit here a secret. " She said using her fingers to make a zip sign. 

     The receptionist did same with a smile. 

  Lily smiled. As she stepped out of the elevator on the top floor, Lily's eyes scanned the luxurious lounge area. The VIP lounge was dimly lit, with soft music playing in the background. The air was thick with the scent of expensive cigars and fine wine.

Lily's gaze swept across the room, searching for the man she was meeting. That was when she saw him - tall, dark-haired, and impossibly handsome. He was sitting on a plush couch, sipping a glass of whiskey as he gazed out the window.

As their eyes met, Lily felt a jolt of electricity run through her body. She had expected a sleazy, creepy individual, but the man before her was anything but. He was polished, refined, and exuded an aura of confidence that was both captivating and intimidating.

He stood up as she approached, his eyes never leaving hers. "Lily," he said, his voice low and smooth. "It's a pleasure to meet you again, now sobber. "

   Lily's eyes narrowed slightly at the last part of his sentence, but she tried to maintain a neutral expression. "Mr. Ryoo," she replied, her voice cool.

Ryan smiled and gestured for her to sit down beside him. "Please, call me Ryan," he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

Lily hesitated for a moment before sitting down, trying to keep a safe distance from him. She couldn't help but notice how handsome he looked in the dim light of the lounge, but she pushed the thought aside. She was here to deal with the blackmail, not to get distracted by his good looks.

Ryan leaned back in his seat, steepling his fingers together as he gazed at her. "So, Lily," he said, his voice low and smooth. "I believe you're wondering why I asked you to meet me here today."

Lily nodded, her eyes locked on his. "Yes, I am," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

Ryan smiled again, and this time, there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Well, I think it's time we got down to business," he said, pulling out a cheque from his pocket. "You see, I've been thinking, and I've decided that I don't want your money after all."

Lily's eyes widened in surprise as he handed her the cheque. It was the same one

she had written out to him the night before, for $200,000.