Chapter 69: So Cold
After that day, Claire found herself back in the same state she had been in at Halfmoon Manor. Under Frederick’s orders, she was still barred from using anything in the villa; not even a drop of water was allowed. She checked the meager tips she had earned while working at the underground Eclipse Nightclub, but it wouldn’t last long. Claire’s most pressing concern was making money, but how could she do that? After all her efforts to find a job, Eclipse Nightclub had been her only option. With that thought in mind, she dialed Hannah’s number.
“Hannah, about the underground Eclipse Nightclub…”
Deep down, Claire had already sensed the answer. The people involved with the club were trapped, and since Frederick had taken her out, he must have made arrangements to ensure she couldn’t return.
“Claire, I don’t know who you crossed, but I just heard from up top that you can’t come back to the underground Eclipse Nightclub,” Hannah replied, confirming Claire’s fears.
“I figured as much, Hannah. I wanted to see if there are any other ways to make money,” Claire said, nodding to herself.
“Ways to make money?” Hannah paused for a moment. “I know someone who runs an underground fight ring. I can check if they need anyone. But that’s about all I can do for you, Claire.”
“Thanks. I really appreciate it,” Claire said before hanging up.
After the call, Hannah quickly typed out a text message: [Claire just called me. I’ve told her about the underground fight ring.] Not long after, she received the contact information for the fight ring’s manager. After considering it for a moment, she scheduled a text to send to Claire later. An hour later, Claire received the contact details for the fight ring manager. She thanked Hannah again and pulled out her phone to call the contact, but glancing at her injuries, she decided it would be best to wait until she healed.
For the next few days, Claire focused on resting and recovering in the basement, only venturing out to buy essential supplies. Thankfully, her earnings from the underground Eclipse Nightclub allowed her to make the basement a bit more comfortable. As for Frederick, she hadn’t seen him since her return. To be precise, Claire hadn’t gone upstairs at all; she was determined to stay out of his sight. Claire knew how much Frederick despised her, and the last thing she wanted was to run into him. Fortunately, during this time, Frederick hadn’t come looking for her.
Once she felt better, Claire reached out to the manager of the underground fight ring, Felix Dent.
“Hi, Mr. Dent, this is Claire Prescott. Hannah sent me over to get into the fight scene,” Claire introduced herself.
“First, take a look at our fight ring rules. I’ll send you the address, and you can come by,” Felix replied curtly before hanging up. The line was noisy, and it sounded like he was busy with something else. “Okay…” Claire barely managed to get a word in before the call ended with a click.
When she arrived, Claire quickly understood why Felix had been so cold on the phone. The moment she stepped into the underground fight ring, she was struck dumb by the chaotic scene before her.