Mia stared at Kevin's contact name on her phone for several seconds before finally pressing call.
The line rang twice.
Then he answered.
"Finally," Kevin said lazily. "I was wondering when you'd call."
Mia leaned back in her chair inside her office at Alps Builders, her expression calm and unreadable.
"You've been busy," she said.
Kevin chuckled.
"You're the one who disappeared."
She ignored that comment.
"We need to talk."
There was a short pause.
"So you heard the rumors," Kevin said.
"Yes."
He sighed like the conversation bored him.
"You're overreacting."
"Am I?"
"It's nothing serious," Kevin replied casually. "Chelsea and I meet clients together sometimes."
Mia didn't respond.
Kevin continued talking as if he was explaining something obvious.
"But honestly, Mia, you won't be able to leave me anyway."
Her eyebrows lowered slightly.
"What makes you think that?"
Kevin laughed softly.
"You can't stand being without me."
His voice became smug.
"You've been with me for five years. You're not throwing that away."
Mia's tone remained calm.
"You cheated."
Kevin scoffed.
"And whose fault is that?"
Mia already knew where this was going.
"You know what I mean," he said. "Five years together and you still treat me like a stranger."
Her grip tightened slightly around the phone.
"You never gave me what I wanted."
Sex.
For five years Mia had refused him.
Not because she didn't love him—but because she believed intimacy should come after marriage.
Kevin had complained about it before.
But hearing him blame her now made something inside Mia turn cold.
"If you really want to fix things," Kevin continued, "maybe you should stop acting like a princess."
Mia stared quietly at the city lights outside her office window.
"Meet me tonight," she said.
Kevin sounded immediately interested.
"Where?"
"I'll text you the location."
He laughed.
"So the princess finally gives in."
Mia ignored that.
"I'll reserve the room," Kevin said confidently.
"Sure."
The call ended.
---
An hour later Kevin walked into one of the city's most luxurious hotels.
Marble floors reflected the warm glow of the chandeliers above. Guests moved quietly through the elegant lobby while a piano played softly in the background.
Kevin approached the reception desk with a confident smile.
"I'd like to reserve a suite."
Within minutes he was holding a key card.
Inside the room he looked around with satisfaction.
A king-sized bed.
Floor-to-ceiling windows.
A view of the city skyline.
He sent Mia a message.
Room is ready.
Kevin leaned back on the couch and grinned.
After five years, she finally gave in.
---
Across the street, Mia sat inside her car watching the hotel entrance.
Luis sat beside her in the driver's seat.
"You sure about this?" he asked, clearly trying not to laugh already.
Mia nodded calmly.
"Very."
Luis checked his phone.
"The delivery team just arrived."
"Perfect."
Mia had absolutely no intention of going into that hotel room.
She would never allow herself to be alone with Kevin again.
But she still had something planned for him.
---
Inside the hotel suite Kevin heard a knock on the door.
He stood up with a confident grin.
"Mia couldn't wait, huh?"
He opened the door.
Instead of Mia, three hotel staff members stood outside holding large boxes.
"Delivery for Mr. Kevin Blackwood," one of them said politely.
Kevin frowned.
"I didn't order anything."
"It was prepaid, sir."
Kevin shrugged.
"Fine. Bring it in."
The staff wheeled the boxes inside.
The first box opened.
Dozens of pink heart-shaped balloons floated into the air.
Kevin blinked.
"What—"
The second box opened.
Inside was a large rolled banner.
The staff unfolded it across the wall.
Huge glittery letters appeared.
CONGRATULATIONS ON CHEATING!
Kevin froze.
"What the hell is this?!"
Before he could react further, the third box opened.
Confetti cannons.
One of the staff members pressed a button.
POP!
Gold and pink confetti exploded across the room.
Another employee turned on a portable speaker.
A dramatic breakup song blasted loudly through the suite.
Kevin stood in the middle of the room, covered in glitter.
"Turn that off!"
One of the staff handed him a printed note.
Kevin snatched it angrily.
The message read:
Congratulations, Kevin.
You successfully destroyed a five-year relationship.
To celebrate your dishonesty, here's a party just for you.
Enjoy the confetti.
— Mia
Kevin's face turned bright red.
Before he could process what was happening, the door opened again.
Several curious hotel guests peeked inside.
Apparently the delivery had been scheduled as a "celebration event."
One woman whispered loudly.
"Is he the cheater?"
Another person lifted their phone.
Kevin panicked.
"Stop filming!"
But someone had already taken a photo of the giant banner.
Confetti stuck to Kevin's hair and jacket.
He looked ridiculous.
Across the street, Luis burst out laughing.
"Oh my God," he said between breaths. "That banner!"
Mia watched calmly through the car window.
Her lips curved slightly.
"He deserved it."
Luis wiped tears from his eyes.
"You literally threw him a cheating party."
"Public humiliation can be effective," Mia replied.
A few minutes later Kevin stormed out of the hotel building covered in glitter.
People in the lobby stared at him.
Someone even clapped sarcastically.
Luis pointed toward the entrance.
"There he is."
Kevin rushed toward his car, furious and embarrassed.
Mia quietly opened her phone.
Then she blocked Kevin's number.
Just like that.
Five years of relationship ended in silence.
Luis started the car.
"Feeling better?"
Mia looked ahead calmly.
"Yes."
Then her expression turned serious.
"Now we focus on the real problem."
---
Later that night Mia sat with Luis and their parents inside the bunker planning room.
A digital calendar glowed on the wall.
Six days remaining.
Luis leaned against the table.
"So this is it."
Frederick nodded.
"We've done everything we can."
Michael folded his arms.
"The next step is making sure no one suspects anything."
Mia tapped on her tablet.
"I've already prepared the announcement."
Luis raised an eyebrow.
"The company vacation?"
She nodded.
Both Alps Builders and Aetherion Land & Holdings had hundreds of employees.
"Six days of paid vacation," Mia explained. "With advance salary."
Frederick nodded approvingly.
"No one will complain about that."
Luis smirked.
"They'll think we're celebrating something."
"Exactly," Mia said.
Michael looked thoughtful.
"But what about warning people?"
Mia leaned back slightly.
"I'll post anonymously online."
Luis frowned.
"About the apocalypse?"
"Yes."
She shrugged lightly.
"Some people might believe it. Some won't."
"At least they'll have a chance to prepare," Helen said quietly.
Mia nodded.
"That's enough."
Their final decision was simple.
They would move into the bunker five days before the apocalypse.
No risks.
No delays.
---
The following morning Mia gathered the maids working in her house.
They looked confused as she handed each of them envelopes.
"Miss Mia… what is this?" one asked.
"Your bonus," Mia said gently.
Inside each envelope was a large amount of cash.
"Go home," she told them. "Spend time with your families."
The maids thanked her repeatedly before leaving.
Luis's family did the same with their staff.
By evening both homes were empty.
Security systems activated automatically.
Reinforced steel shutters could slide over every window.
Exterior doors locked with armored plates.
Motion sensors and cameras monitored the entire property.
Even emergency protective shields could deploy around the house if an invasion occurred.
Luis's home had similar protection.
Both company headquarters were also secure enough to protect any security personnel who remained during the vacation period.
Luis looked at Mia as they stood inside the bunker entrance later that night.
"You really thought of everything."
Mia glanced at the heavy steel doors closing behind them.
"We have to."
Luis nodded slowly.
In six days, the world outside would collapse.
But deep underground,
They were ready.