At this point, Lynch must have figured that Brielle was either rich or powerful. Possibly both.

So Ariana had to strike while the iron was hot. She had to get what she wanted before Lynch got suspicious

Just a few minutes after she sent the message, her phone rang. It was Lynch.

Ariana fixed her posture, cleared her throat, and answered the call. After a few seconds of silence, a deep voice came through the phone.

“Miss Edwards, I can't believe your arrogance. You waited twelve hours to reply to me.”

Ariana grinned to herself at the sound of Lynch's voice. Mimicking Brielle's tone, she said, "Did you Like my reply?"

“Well I have to say, if it were any other woman, I would have told her to get lost. But I just didn't have the heart to do that to you. I guess there's something special about you. I've really fallen for you." The sexual subtext of his words was obvious.

Managing to suppress her disgust, Ariana said, "You talk the talk. I hope you can live up to it tonight."

“Prepare yourself for the best night of your life," he said, before adding, "But I pick the place."

Ariana frowned at this.

“Don't you trust me?"

“Of course I do, don't get me wrong. I've just been in the industry for a long time and I have my ways of getting rid of the paparazzi. Don't worry, Miss Edwards, I'll send you the address later." Lynch delivered this in a gentle but firm tone.

Ariana cursed silently. He was more vigilant than she had expected. But she had no choice but to accept his condition.

"Okay, I'll see you later."

The two talked for a little longer before hanging up.

That evening, just as Ariana was about to leave, having changed outfits, Judy approached her, holding a finely detailed box.

"Ma'am, a package came for you."

Ariana took it, surprised. There were only a few people who knew where she lived, and very few of them would be Likely to send her a package. Who could it be from?

Curious, she opened it. Inside was the very necklace that she had worn on the runway the night before.

There was a small card inside too, lines of Lord Byron's poem written on it.