The phone buzzed on the glass coffee table, but I was already sprawled comfortably on the plush couch in my penthouse, one leg dangling lazily over the edge. I sipped my chilled apple martini, the crisp, tart flavor cutting through the warm afternoon light streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Laura sat across from me, her golden blonde hair glowing in the sunlight like a halo. We had built this escort empire together, turning it into one of the most exclusive services in the city. We were the queens of this glittering world. But tonight, something felt off. A dark tension hummed in the air.

“Danielle’s out,” I said quietly, swirling...