Chapter 68: Liabilities
Madame Beck couldn’t believe how quickly everything had unravelled. In one night, she had not only lost her most promising entertainer but also her most generous client.
"It all makes sense, but why does something still feel off?" she muttered, massaging her temples. Frustrated, she grabbed her phone and ordered, "Get me Diana Jones first thing tomorrow morning! No, not tonight—she’s probably still with Alexander Lancaster. And assign someone to tail Alexander. Make sure it’s done discreetly!"
Just as she ended the call, her assistant Arlene entered the room, panting. "We have a problem. Michael..."
"That bastard!" Madame Beck cursed under her breath as she hurried towards the private elevator leading to her underground facility. Michael Astor was her partner in all her illegal dealings, the powerful connection that had allowed her operations to flourish. But she was growing weary of constantly cleaning up his messes.
Madame Beck descended into the underground facility, her heart pounding with a mix of anger and anxiety. The elevator doors opened to reveal a dimly lit corridor, lined with reinforced doors leading to various rooms where her more nefarious operations were carried out.
She stormed down the hallway until she reached the room where Michael was supposed to be. The door was slightly ajar, and as she pushed it open, a foul stench assaulted her senses. The sight that greeted her made her stomach churn.
On the cold, metal table lay one of her star entertainers, Moonstar, barely recognizable. Her face was swollen and bruised, her once beautiful features marred by the brutal torture she had endured. Her body was covered in cuts and burns, evidence of the sadistic methods Michael had used to extract information—or perhaps just for his twisted pleasure.
Moonstar’s eyes fluttered open as Madame Beck approached, but there was no recognition in them. The vibrant, confident woman she had once been was now reduced to a broken shell.
"Michael, what have you done?" Madame Beck whispered, horrified as she moved closer to inspect the damage. She reached out to touch Moonstar’s hand, but the woman flinched, pulling away as much as her restraints would allow.