Apocalypse Queen: My Space, My Rules Chapter 149: The Surveillance Tape

"I know why Number One is so devoted to Mariella." Number Four held up his phone.

Harvey nodded. "Go on."

"Right after Number Seven and I left, Mariella had Number Two move into my old room and take my bunk. She gave Number One his own private room. Obviously, so it's more convenient when she wants to call on him at night." Number Four's teeth were clenched, eyes full of jealous hatred.

He hadn't been indifferent to Mariella. He'd shown off his muscles in front of her more than once, hoping to catch her eye.

But his face couldn't compete with Chandler's, and his chest couldn't compete with Number One's. He'd never made it onto her radar.

And now, the moment he was gone, Mariella had rushed to put Number Two in his bed and give Number One the private room. That insult stung.

His resentment toward Mariella deepened.

Harvey's jaw tightened. "So, that's why she suddenly hired all those bodyguards. They weren't bodyguards—they were boy toys."

Roxanna covered her mouth in theatrical shock. "I can't believe Mariella is that kind of woman..."

Harvey felt like a fool. His fists clenched.

"Why hasn't your inside man opened the gate yet?" He glared at Number Four.

Right now, he just wanted Mariella dead. The woman had slipped completely beyond his control, and he wanted her erased.

"It was almost done, but something went wrong. He'll try again when he gets another chance." Number Four answered.

...

Mariella called Matthew. "Dr. Lester, come see me."

The real battle would begin tonight. Time to launch the counterattack.

"Mariella—you come to me first." Matthew's voice was urgent, pitched low. "Don't bring anyone. I need to speak with you alone."

Mariella went alone. The first thing she asked was, "Do you suspect Chandler?"

He'd said not to bring anyone. He meant Chandler.

Matthew shook his head. "It's not about him specifically. Until I know what happened, I'm suspicious of every bodyguard."

"What happened?"

Matthew sent her a surveillance clip.

Mariella hit play. A few seconds in, her pupils tightened.

They'd all been focused on the rooftop. No one had been watching the sealed front gate.

If someone had opened it from the inside, the mob would have poured in like a flood. No. 98 would have fallen in seconds.

A fatal blind spot.

Matthew lowered his voice further. "Don't worry. I quietly changed the gate's access protocol a while back. Only your fingerprint and mine can open it now."

Normally, he handled the gate. Standard procedure: enter the code, press the button, and the steel door would slide open.

The bodyguards all assumed it was just a numeric code. None of them knew the button was actually a fingerprint scanner.

If anyone tried to open the gate without authorization, the entire villa's alarm system would trigger.

Mariella looked up at him and almost laughed. "Dr. Lester, you..."

Matthew. Meticulous, steady, and quietly brilliant.

"The moment Number Four and Number Seven turned, I started watching everyone else. I hope you don't mind me acting without asking." Matthew knew she wouldn't mind, but he said it anyway.

Mariella smiled warmly. "Of course, I don't. Having you with me in this life is my good luck."

Matthew's eyes flickered. He turned his head, his fair face coloring slightly.

This life. Could he really stay by her side for this whole life? For a moment, his mind wandered somewhere it shouldn't have.

He was reading too much into it. She saw him as a teammate she could rely on. Nothing more.

"So—which one of them has a problem?" He changed the subject to regain his composure.

Mariella thought for a moment. "I can't say for certain which one is guilty. But I can say which one is clean."

Matthew had steadied himself. He nodded. "Then, we can eliminate one suspect."

They held up the same number at the same time.

That teammate was clear. The other one? Still under observation.

...

Mariella went to Number Six's room herself.

Since Number Seven's departure, Number Six had the room to himself.

Mariella knocked. The door opened quickly.

"Ms. Townsend." Number Six was surprised. "Did you need something?"

"I heard about the situation between you and Number Ten from Dr. Lester. Thought I'd check in."