The Contracted Stripper

The hospital room was dimly lit, only the soft hum of machines filling the silence.

Ryan Kendrick lay in the bed, his face pale but his sharp eyes alert. Luca sat beside him, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, listening closely as Ryan recounted the fragmented memories that had finally started to return to him.

“So, you remember everything?” Luca asked, keeping his voice low. His eyes scanned the room, almost as if he expected someone to be listening in. Ryan nodded slowly, his voice rough from disuse.

“Almost everything. It’s still fuzzy in parts, but I know enough to understand what’s going on.” He shifted slightly, grimacing from the pain in his side.

“I need you to promise me something, Luca.”Luca’s brow furrowed, concerned. “What is it?”Ryan took a deep breath, glancing towards the door before meeting Luca’s gaze.

“You can’t tell anyone I’ve regained my memory. Not yet.”Luca blinked, surprised. “Not even Ivy?”Ryan’s expression hardened. “Especially not Ivy.”Luca leaned back in his chair, his eyes widening in confusion.

“Why? She’s been worried about you this whole time. She deserves to know.”Ryan shook his head, his voice firm. “Ivy’s emotional, Luca.

She’d act on impulse and ruin everything. I need time to figure things out, to understand who’s really behind all of this. My father’s secrets, the company… everything. There are too many moving parts, and I can’t afford any mistakes.”Luca hesitated, still unsure.

“And you trust me with this?”Ryan’s gaze was steady. “You’re the only one I can trust right now. Everyone else has their agenda-my mother, Bella, and Dr. Parker.

I need someone loyal, and that’s you.”Luca’s jaw clenched, nodding slowly. “Alright. I won’t tell anyone. But what’s the plan? You can’t just lay in this bed forever.”Ryan chuckled bitterly.

“That’s exactly what I intend to do-for now, at least. If everyone thinks I’m still weak, still recovering, they won’t see me as a threat. It gives us time to gather information, to figure out who’s pulling the strings.”

Luca rubbed his chin, thinking. “So, what do you want me to do in the meantime?”Ryan’s eyes darkened, a shadow of his former determination creeping back into his expression.

“First, we need to keep an eye on everyone-my mother, Dr. Parker, Bella. I want to know their every move. We’ll hire some men, people they won’t recognize, to tail them.

They need to think they’re still in control.”Luca nodded, already thinking of who he could call for the job. “I can make that happen. But what are we looking for exactly?”

“Anything,” Ryan replied, his voice sharp. “Conversations, phone calls, meetings. Anything that points to what they’re planning.Belongs to NôvelDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

Bella’s been far too confident lately, and I know my mother’s hiding something. She’s always been manipulative, but this feels different. More calculated.”Luca frowned.

“You think they’re working together?”Ryan’s expression was grim. “I wouldn’t be surprised. My mother’s never cared about anyone but herself, and if she thinks she can control Bella, she’ll use her as a pawn. But I don’t think it’s just them. There’s someone else-someone in the shadows.”Luca’s eyes narrowed.

“Dr. Parker?”Ryan clenched his fists. “It’s possible. He’s been too close to my family for too long. I never trusted him, and now I have even more reason not to. I want him watched closely, too.”

Luca nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. “And what about the company? Victor and his associates… they’re planning something big, Ryan. I’ve overheard them talking about draining Kendrick Enterprises dry.”

Ryan’s eyes flashed with anger, but he quickly composed himself. “We’ll deal with Victor and his crew in due time. But first, we need proof. We can’t move against them without solid evidence.”Luca leaned forward again, his voice dropping to a whisper.

“I have recordings, Ryan. Of Victor and the others. They’re planning to empty the company’s accounts and expose your father’s dirty dealings to ruin his name. They think they’ve already won.”Ryan’s face hardened further, a dark storm brewing in his eyes.

“Good. Let them think they’ve won. It’ll make it that much sweeter when we take them down.”There was a pause, the weight of the conversation hanging in the air.

Luca shifted in his seat, thinking about the gravity of their situation. This wasn’t just about saving Kendrick Enterprises-it was about taking back control from everyone who had betrayed Ryan.

“So,” Luca began cautiously, “how do we go about this without tipping anyone off? You know your mother is going to be watching closely. If she senses anything, she’ll act.”

Ryan’s eyes narrowed, his mind already working through the details. “We need to make her believe she’s in control. Let her think everything is going according to her plan.

Meanwhile, we gather our evidence, quietly and methodically.”Luca nodded, impressed by Ryan’s composure.

“And Ivy? What happens when she realizes something’s off? She’s not going to sit back if she suspects foul play.”Ryan clenched his jaw. “Ivy’s… complicated. I care about her, but she can’t be involved in this yet.

She’s too emotional, and if she gets wind of what’s going on, she’ll make a scene. Right now, I need her to stay out of it.”Luca raised an eyebrow.

“And what if she figures it out on her own?”Ryan’s expression darkened. “Then we deal with it. But for now, she stays in the dark.”Luca let out a slow breath. “This is risky, Ryan. One wrong move and everything could blow up in our faces.”Ryan smirked, his confidence returning.

“That’s why I have you. You’ve always been good at staying one step ahead.”Luca chuckled. “Flattery won’t make this any easier.”Ryan’s smile faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression.

“I know. But we don’t have a choice.”A knock on the door interrupted them, and both men immediately tensed. Luca shot a look toward Ryan, silently asking if he should answer. Ryan gave him a subtle nod. Luca stood and walked to the door, opening it cautiously.

A nurse stood in the hallway, holding a clipboard. “Mr. Kendrick? Just here to check on the patient’s vitals.”Luca forced a smile, nodding. “Of course.

Come in.”The nurse entered, glancing between the two men before focusing on Ryan. “How are we feeling today?”Ryan offered a weak smile, playing his part perfectly.

“A little better, I think. Just taking it slow.”The nurse nodded sympathetically as she checked his vitals. “That’s good. Just keep resting, and you’ll be back on your feet in no time.”

Ryan gave a faint nod, doing his best to appear compliant. Luca watched carefully, noting how Ryan skillfully concealed his alertness. He was playing the role of a recovering patient, and it was working.

Once the nurse finished, she smiled at them both. “I’ll be back later to check on you again. If you need anything, just call.

“Luca thanked her as she left, closing the door softly behind her. The moment she was gone, Ryan’s demeanor shifted back to its sharp focus.”Like I said,” Ryan muttered.

“We have to be careful. They’re watching.”Luca nodded, sitting back down. “So, what’s the first move?”Ryan’s eyes gleamed with a dangerous intensity.

“We start with my mother. She’s the key to all of this. If we can figure out what she’s after, we’ll be able to unravel the rest.”Luca rubbed the back of his neck, frowning.

“You think she’s involved in something this big?”Ryan’s gaze turned cold. “I know she is. She’s always been after power, and now that my father’s gone, she’s seizing her chance. But there’s something more-something she’s not telling anyone.”

Luca nodded slowly. “Alright. I’ll have some guys tail her and see what she’s up to.”Ryan smirked. “Good. And make sure they’re discreet. If she even suspects we’re onto her, she’ll disappear faster than we can track her.”

Luca made a mental note of the instructions, already thinking of who to assign to the job.

“What about Dr. Parker?”Ryan’s eyes narrowed further at the mention of the doctor’s name. “I want him watched, too. He’s been too close to my family for years, and I’ve always felt there was something off about him. If he’s involved with my mother in any way, we’ll find out.”

Luca’s fingers drummed on the armrest of his chair. “You think he’s more than just a family doctor?”Ryan snorted. “I think he’s a snake. He’s been my father’s closest confidant for years, but there’s something he’s hiding. I can feel it.”Luca nodded.

“I’ll have my men keep tabs on him as well. He won’t know we’re watching.”Ryan’s lips twisted into a smirk. “Perfect. Once we know what they’re up to, we can start taking control from the inside.”