CHAPTER 2

I'm still thinking about last night. Avon really kept me up. How was I supposed to know what agent they will send to my house?

An agent sent by my boss to kill me because of my mess up yesterday. Or maybe one sent by that exclusive VIP partner who loves to argue even when they're wrong.

Shame how I was the one who got fired.

Suddenly, my phone rang. It was Sean.

"Oh? I hope you called to give me some food. Your unemployed bestie is starving." I greeted him

"You're annoying. It's only four in the morning." I hadn't even realized it was that early because I had just woken up.

"So what's up? This isn't about food, is it? You're just wasting your load."

"You're really annoying. Just come with me to BGC in a few days. I have a friend there who works in one of the offices. They're hiring."

"How much is the salary there?"

"How would I know? Stop being picky. Alright, I'll bring you some food before I head to the office, my unemployed friend." he teased before hanging up.

Sean probably went out again to find a guy for a one-night stand. I should remind him to be careful with all his night time escapades, given his habits, who knows if he'll caught a virus or something.

I got up and grabbed fifty pesos from my wallet. I was out of coffee and I should head out to buy a twin pack.

I grabbed my towel and draped it over my back to cover my chest since I wasn't wearing a bra.

"Ate Jossie, can I get a twin pack? And throw in some eggs and ten pesos' worth of dried fish." I called out to the store.

"Oh, Sam. Dried fish again? You'll get a UTI." Ate Jossie warned.

"No, Ate, I haven't had dried fish since last week."

"Come on, it was just the other day." She wrapped up my purchases, and I handed her the payment. "You know you can pay later, as long as it's by next week."

"No, Ate. I don't want you getting angry if I can't pay on time." I joked.

Ate Jossie is kind. She's like a typical gossipy mother that you have to joke with and befriend so she won't gossip about you. Besides, what could she possibly gossip about me when I barely show my face on our street?

After work, I rarely go out because I'm usually asleep. I only go out to buy food.

While I waited for my change, more people suddenly showed up at the store.

All men.

Suddenly, it smelled expensive. I wanted to turn around but was too embarrassed because they were all men.

"Ma'am, give me one Marlboro Blue. You guys want one?" Asked a man with a rich-sounding voice to his companions. It must be the guy who smells rich standing behind me.

"No, sir. We're on duty." replied one of the suited men.

"Lame."

"Hold on a moment. I'm still giving change to this young woman." said Ate Jossie as she prepared my change. She seemed to be out of coins.

"Where are you from, young man? You don't seem like you're from here. Your clothes are too nice." said Ate Jossie, unable to resist her curiosity.

The rich guy chuckled a bit. I wondered if he is good looking.

"Yes, ma'am. I'm not from around here. Just wanted to see someone."

"Ah, ask me about anyone here. I know everyone."

Of course, Ate Jossie, with how gossipy you are.

"Here's your change, Samsara. Drink water, okay? You keep eating dried fish." she scolded as she handed me my change.

"Here’s your cigarette, young man." She handed over the Marlboro Blue to the guy.

"Thank you, Ate." We both said in unison.

Before I went inside my apartment, I checked if I could catch a glimpse of the guy.

Tall, fair skinned, and obviously well maintained since childhood. Muscular too, with his shirt almost bursting from his large arms and chest. He probably has the budget for a gym membership.

He suddenly turned and leaned on the table set up in front of the store. As he puffed on his cigarette, he just stared ahead as if deep in thought.

His hair was neatly brushed back, with the sides faded. He looked very clean. He also had a sharp nose and sharp jawline, though I couldn't see what kind of eyes he had.

Maybe he had some Italian or American blood.

Before I knew it, he was looking at me and grinning.

Shoot. Me. In. My. Vagina.

I almost squeezed myself into the apartment door. I almost dropped the eggs I had bought.

Really, Samara? You’re acting like a CCTV camera with what you’re doing.

Before I could further embarrass myself, I cooked the eggs and dried fish I bought because my stomach is growling. If I waited for Sean, I might just be found dead from hunger.

Besides, next week I’ll have a job, and I am pretty sure that my experiences will qualify me.

A little later, after I had eaten, someone knocked on the door.

"Hold on, Sean! You’re early. I just finished ea—" When I opened the door, it wasn’t the person I expected to see. Instead, it was two tall men dressed in black suits.

Men in Black?

A moment later, without a word, a tall woman walked straight into my house.

I couldn’t speak and had no choice but to follow them.

"So, you're Samara."

Te woman said as she looked around my apartment. How embarrassing, it still smells like dried fish all over.

"Y-yes, that’s me. What is this about?" I replied. I noticed the woman covering her nose. "Sorry about the smell. Let me open the window." I moved to open the window and aimed the fan at it to let the smell out.

"We talked last night. Remember?"

Avon? Damn it, she’s serious about what she sajd.

"Avon? From Miss Night? But I didn’t accept your offer. I’m sorry, you might have mixed me up with someone else."

"Nope. I have strict orders to persuade you into accepting our offer." she said firmly. She also sat comfortably with her legs crossed.

Meanwhile, her guards, one stood by the door, and the other by her side.

"Sit down, Samara. Ask me your questions." The tone of her voice was almost hypnotic, making you want to follow her instructions.

I sat beside her but not too close. I admit, I still smell like dried fish. I was thinking about what questions I could ask.

I cleared my throat. "What exactly is your offer?"

She smiled and then faced me. One of her guards handed her a folder.

"This is our company. It’s called Miss Night." She opened the folder, revealing a picture of several women together. The year 1995 was written on it. There were about nine women in the picture.

She flipped through the folder, revealing another picture of nine different women, this time with the year 1996 written on it. As she continued to flip through the pages, the years went up, and different sets of nine women appeared in the pictures.

"Every year, we carefully and thoroughly select nine girls who will be candidates for Miss Night."

"What exactly do they do?" I asked.

"It is an opportunity for each candidate to enter another world. A world where they do not need to worry about money or anything in the world."

As she flipped through the pictures, one particular image caught my attention because of a familiar face.

In this picture, the year was the same as when my friend and I moved to the city. It was also the year she became wealthy and I lost contact with her.

"Lemery?" I was shocked to see the face of a woman in the picture.

"You know her?" Miss Avon asked.

"Yes. She’s my friend. We moved to the city together---"

"I bet she’s loaded now, hmm?" Her smile grew even wider, as if she was implying something.

"As I was explaining, if you accept our offer, you won’t have to worry about anything anymore. Your sibling’s tuition, your parents' medical bills, the money you send to them—you can have it all by accepting this job."

"Miss Avon, one thing I’ve learned in life is that there’s no such thing as easy money. Don’t waste your time making me promises that are not real." I said.

I didn’t want to have hope anymore. Easy money is indeed dangerous. There’s no such thing. The world is too capitalist for regular people to earn money that easily.

"That’s true. That’s why I’m saying that this offer is an opportunity. You have nothing to lose by trying. All we want here is to help you." She leaned back on the sofa again, seemingly with no intention of leaving until I made a decision.

"If I agree, what will be my role?" I asked.

I didn’t want to get involved in anything illegal. And if what Avon was saying was true, maybe this is the answer to my family’s financial problems.

"Well, all you have to do is—" She handed me a red card.

"Let a billionaire purchase you."