"Oh, this?" Aleksei laughed. "No, no." He tried to wipe off his face. "It was from something personal I had to take care of." Something he had to keep secret from Tai otherwise she'll know exactly why he had to hurt someone. He did tell her he wouldn't do anything to him. Well, he was already used to telling little white lies.

"What about the blackmailer?" Nikita asked impatiently.

"He said he will apologize tomorrow. He said he felt ashamed about the whole thing and the only reason he did so is that he felt jealous and wanted to hurt you in some way."

"Huh?" Nikita couldn't believe what he was hearing. "He almost ruined my life, because of that?"

"You can punch him tomorrow if you want. He is for sure going to come to apologize or he won't be able to go to this school." Aleksei explained pulling up his sleeves to his elbow. "I'm going to wash up. Let's eat afterward okay."

" I'm not hungry." Nikita rushed upstairs, slamming the door upstairs.

"Was that really what the guy said?" Lev asked, placing the food on the counter.

"You don't buy that pathetic excuse either?" Aleksei asked.

"You think he's lying?" Lev turned towards him.

"I think he is covering up for someone. All of the blackmailings were organized. Getting into our trap was way too easy and everything this student told me seemed rehearsed. Like he was told to say that."

"So we're not telling Nikita?" Lev took out plates and placed them on the counter.

"I think it's better to play along for now and investigate from the side after everyone thinks this is over. I don't like it that there is someone in this school able to hide from us. I think once he or she learned about our involvement after the roommate incident, they decided to stop the blackmail and lay low. They're most likely scared of us. The kid we caught is just collateral damage. But I don't think he knows the person personally. I think he was blackmailed into doing this too."

"So we are dealing with someone who is blackmailing more than one person?" Lev didn't like the sound of that.

"Most likely. I think there are many more students being or that were blackmailed at one point. I think we should look into it a bit more and do some background checks on the guy we caught."

"Alright. I'll get on it tonight."

***

The next morning Tai couldn't believe what had happened. Nikita gave her a quick rundown on recent events with the blackmailer and then later a student came over to apologize to Nikita. After a brief conversation, Nikita left the student in good faith and then came back to Tai mad as a hornet.

"So?" Tai waited.

"He apologized for blackmailing me and gave me the same speech he told Aleksei yesterday."

"What does that mean?"

"It means something is off. This person doesn't seem like someone who could blackmail me. He could barely look me in the eye while apologizing."

Tai crossed her hands. "I mean from what you told me it's obvious your roommates are hiding something. Maybe they know more than they are telling."

Nikita suddenly smiled.

"What?" Tai asked.

"You know just now, neither me or you for a second thought that the sinners talked this student into apologizing to me just to wrap up the whole thing. They could be lying to me for all we know."

Tai smiled as well. "They didn't raise any red flags to me so far. And you instantly could tell something was off with the student right now. You would have known if Lev was lying to you."

He gave her an annoying glare. "You had to go and single him out?"

Tai shrugged. "Well, he's the only one who matters to you right?"

Nikita covered his face with one hand. "Don't! Don't ever say that again. I've been trying to forget what you said." He faced her with an annoyed frown. " This would have been a lot easier if you liked someone and I could tease you instead."

Tai shrugged. "I made out with Aleksei."

Nikita who had his mouth opened to say something else, paused in shock after hearing that confession.

"In the car. Briefly. When we were camping." Tai explained herself, clearing her throat awkwardly. "Sorry for keeping it to myself until now. I had to process it first what it means."

Nikita crossed his arms. "And what does it mean?"

Tai shook her head in laughter. "I have no idea." She then took out the invites. "Here."

Nikita brought his hands down. "What are these?"

"Invites to Hada's birthday. She's going for a big party this year which in her words is subtle. There is an invitation for Lev as well, Zakhar, Arya and umm Aleksei."

"She's inviting them too?" Nikita asked, confused.

"A birthday party is still a party, she says. Can you give them the invites for me please?"

"Why don't you just come over and give them to yourself?"

"Because I'm avoiding a certain someone until I decide if I want to reject them or have a fling with them."

"Can I say something?" Nikita took the invites.

"Sure."

"Is relationship nowhere on this list?"

Tai thought about it. "I don't even know him. Everything happened very suddenly. I need time to think."

Nikita waved the invites in front of his face. "Keep me updated. I might as well hear about someone's love life. And don't skip out on the dirty details."

"I told you this while risking teasing, all because I want to distract you. "

Nikita placed an arm around her. "You still have to tell me details."

She chuckled. "Fine. But don't get your hopes up too much. I'm going on a date on Sunday and who knows. Aleksei might just come out of the picture."

"A date huh? I like it. You're keeping things interesting."

"And it's going to be more interesting dancing at the party. Make sure you come."

Nikita nodded. Now that the blackmailing thing was sorted out to a point, maybe he can have some fun too.

***

The day of Hada's 18th birthday party was here and Tai had been running all day doing her hair, her nails, laying out her dress, the jewelry, the perfume, and lastly her make-up. Hada who took a special trip to the beauty shop came to the villa just to change and then all four of them went to the party arriving first.

Hada was immediately busy, making sure everything was in order, the drinks, the service, the decorations. Call it a rich girl talent, but good etiquette and party hosting were the essentials of any high society household.

Tai looked around the venue. They had turned the normal-looking place into a beach bar, with low red lights, and crystal and glass decor hanging from the ceiling and over the bar. It made it seem like they were somewhere tropical, like an island in the south of France where you'd spend mornings sunbathing on the beach and nights, dancing underneath the moonlight.

As for Tai herself, she had gone with a little red dress and a large fiery flower at the side of the curly hair that stood out the most with her bold lips. She had gone with red nails and heels with a sparkling belt around the ankles for the right amount of attention.

The party had very quickly warmed up. Students arrived one after the other leaving gifts at the entrance and then going straight to the bar to order drinks.

 It was getting hot inside, and it was crowded for dancing but Tai was having a great time dancing in the middle of the floor holding her Bahama mama cocktail.

From the corner of her eyes, she noticed Nikita walking in. He was wearing a fitted outfit making all the girls turn their heads.

Tai waved at him with a smile. For a second she thought no one else arrived with him, but then she saw the sinners entering one by one into the venue. Her breath stopped in her throat. They really showed up.

From the moment he got the invitation Aleksei knew there was no way he was going to miss the chance to go to a party and see Tai all dressed up. And god, he wasn't disappointed.

Stunning, she was always that. Sometimes cute, and sometimes attractive but it was for the first time he had seen her into a provoking edition, making her way towards him with red lips, bare legs in that short dress, and those sparkling shoes that he could construct a whole fantasy around them later tonight.

A bright smile spread on her face as she approached them. A strong sweet scent lingered under his nose. She smelled like a hot summer night and a sweet drink.

 He wasn't even aware how long he stared because, by the time he snapped out of it, he noticed Lev and Nikita were already making conversation with her.

 After parking, Zakhar and Arya walked inside as well. Arya grabbed Tai's wrist and pulled her closer.

"Oh god, you smell so good." Arya told her.

You don't get to rub it in my face. Aleksei wanted to yank her away.

"Thank you." Tai smiled. "You look amazing."

Zakhar seemed a bit dazed and disoriented but Arya just took his hand and smirked. "We're going to dance. Right?"

"Mm?" Zakhar looked at her confused and nodded. "Sure."

"Are you okay? You're a bit red in the face." Tai asked.

"I'm fine." Zakhar walked towards the bar annoyed.

"Don't worry. I'm taking good care of him." Arya leaned over Tai's shoulder. "He's just a bit frustrated."

"Oh okay," Tai answered.

"That's all you want to know, trust me." Lev told her and then headed towards the bar.

Before she was left alone with Aleksei she turned around and went back to the dancefloor with her friends. After the third drink, Tai was swirling on the dance floor.

"My feet hurt. I'll rest for a bit." Diana, who was dancing with her, decided to leave.

"I'll stay." Tai said and continued dancing with Mei who was as tipsy as her.

Suddenly two hands dropped down on her hips. Shocked, she turned around.