CHAPTER 4

Kiki???

And another night has passed like the previous ones. I haven't slept well and I don't even know if I ever have. My body’s aching from yesterday. Now that the adrenaline has worn off, the pain in my hand is unbearable and my head feels like it's about to explode. I get out of the shower feeling far from refreshed. I want to go back to bed, which I'll do right after grabbing a bag of ice to make a compress. My mind is chaos, full of thoughts that lead nowhere.

Yesterday was a very surreal day. At one point we were falling from a helicopter without a parachute. I thought my time in the world was over, but when I felt Dom's hands holding me and we flew over that clear blue sea, I felt alive like never before. The wind hitting my face, the spectacular view down below... I discovered that I love adrenaline and I'm sure that it's always been a part of me. I even questioned my sanity. Because yesterday, I felt extremely comfortable with the fight. How can I be so good at fighting? And still have that angelic face? Whatever! I really want to know who I am, but at the same time, starting from scratch doesn't seem so bad. Maybe it's a defense mechanism. Therapy has been good for me.

I care about finding out the truth, but I don't want to turn it into an ordeal. I write things down, names, scribble in the hope that something makes sense. And, oddly enough, I don't get frustrated when I don't find immediate answers. I need time and patience. I'm already understanding some things about myself. After all, what's the point of focusing so much on the outside if I'm a mess inside?

I've already discovered that I'm straight, I must be between 22 and 25 years old, and I'm very suspicious, as if anyone could attack me. And you know what's craziest? Knowing that there are people after me doesn't scare me. I can't get caught up in that detail. At some point, it will catch up with me, and when it does, I'll deal with it.

Imagine dealing with that situation and still having to deal with Dominique Le Blanc's uncertain temperament. As insane as he is, he's irresistibly hot. I'm pissed that he's marked me all over! Who does he think he is? I can't even wear a skirt, with bites all over my legs, not to mention my belly and neck. And the guys think I'm trying to pull off a con, which is ridiculous. As if I don't have anything else to do, right? Jeez!

If things keep going like this, I'll end up in the psychiatric ward that the devil's advocate set up. Yesterday I thought it would be better to leave, but Vlad tried to change my mind, saying it wouldn't be smart, that it's dangerous, that I need to toughen up. As suspicious as I am, the best thing to do is to move on. Yesterday I discovered that I can protect myself if the worst happens and I feel safe with that discovery.

I look at the closet, choosing what to wear. Since it's really cold today, I put on tights and a short skirt with a white ribbed blouse and a pair of thick-heeled boots. I walk out of my room, exhausted, checking to see if anyone is there before I leave and continue down the hallway. I pass by Dom's room, holding my hand that is bothering me. I'm sure it was a dislocation. I take the elevator, saving my legs, arriving right on the first floor, finding everything silent and empty, which makes me breathe a sigh of relief. I walk through the living room, moving on, passing the library and office that have their doors closed. I enter the kitchen, coming across Berta's back, who is intently preparing breakfast.

“Good morning, Berta”,  my speech is soft.

She turns to me, patting some dough in her hand, with an annoyed look. It's a fact that she doesn't like me very much and maybe it's because of the punch I accidentally threw at her on my first day here.

“Good morning”, she says shortly.

“I'm going to get some ice”,  I walk to the fridge.

Berta places the bowl on the counter.

“Imagine, I'll do it”, she gives me a smile.

“You don't have to bother, I'll do it”, I go ahead.

“Never!”, she hands it back.

I walk to the high stool and sit down. Berta presses the button on the fridge that releases the ice and I see the cubes falling into the glass. She approaches me and, when she's about to hand it to me, she throws the cubes into the smart kitchen trash, which immediately crushes them

“Do you think you need more?”, she says, turning to the fridge and repeating the movement.

I can't decipher what exactly is happening here. But Berta comes back, throwing the ice in the trash again.

“What a shame, Kiki.”, she shrugs, “There's no more.”

I part my lips in deep shock. No one in this house is right in their right mind. I leave the kitchen, trying to come to some conclusion, and the one I'm getting is that she's very concerned about Dom's well-being, just like Maurice. It's like a really clueless overprotective network. In part, because if Dom were my friend and brought a girl into my house without knowing her background, I'd be a little paranoid too. So, I can understand what these people's point of view is. But do they realize that Dominique himself doesn't care about this?

As I walk down the hallway, holding my injured hand, the office door suddenly opens without warning. Instinctively, I kick toward the opening, my body reacting before my mind can register the movement. Dom, with quick reflexes, takes a step back, and my kick hits the air. His expression mixes surprise and indignation.

“The nose wasn't enough, was it?”, she asks.

“I was just protecting myself, you never know”, I say.

“Of course, especially since this house is poorly protected, right? The clowns outside are no good.”

“I'm better than all of them put together, that's for sure. You saw what I can do yesterday.”

Dominique pulls me into the office, letting go of me. He closes the door behind us and, for the first time, I'm in this place. It's a huge, elegant space, with a glass executive desk in the center, behind it, a wooden bookcase with drawers that stretches across the entire wall of the room, the chairs in front have a modern design, strategically positioned in front of an automatic glass door with a view of the mansion's outdoor area. A Greek statue adds a touch of art to the place. A set of black leather sofas, with a coffee table, sit next to the marble fireplace with a contemporary painting above. A modern minibar is built into the wall. Everything exudes authority. And Dom's perfume wafts everywhere and is so pleasant.

Dominique walks to the other side of the desk, sitting in the executive chair. My eyes meet Dom's and today the gray is vibrant and it makes me strangely shaky, even more so when I focus on the whole ensemble. His nose is much better than yesterday, but a little swollen. Dom is wearing black jeans and a dress shirt under a dark sweater, his blond hair is slicked back, making him look uniquely sexy. I take him in, from top to bottom. He slides a passport over the smooth surface and I approach, picking it up and opening it.

“This is for you”, he says, seriously, “And these too”, he hands me a cell phone and a credit card.

 As I scan the documents, I find Kiara Lefebvre's name.

“There are some guys who work for me, they'll keep an eye on you. That way you'll be safe and can enjoy all the luxuries you want.”

I place the passport on the table and rub my hand lightly again.

“Thanks... er... I was just thinking, I think it would be interesting for me if I worked.”

Dom doesn't take his eyes off me and nods in agreement.

“When I get back from my trip, we'll talk about it. For now, have fun swiping your card. Don't worry about the numbers, just buy it.”

“You’re travelling?”, I ask, curiously.

“I am. And try not to... please, don't die, I worked hard to keep you alive. My cell phone is in the contacts, but don't call me.”

“So I can spend money on radical outings, right?”, my tone is suggestive.

Dominique frowns.

“No, not by yourself. Out of the question”, he shakes his head.

I twist my mouth, doing my best to disguise it.

“Did you really like that, Kiki?”, he raises his eyebrow.

“I've never felt so alive, Dom.”

Dom gets up from his chair, walking around the table, heading towards me and as he approaches, I look up, feeling my breath heavy. His thumb circles the mark he made on my neck yesterday and, when I feel his touch, it's like an electrifying circuit running down my spine, making me swallow hard. He slips his hand through my hair, pulls it, and moves it away to access the skin of my neck and leans his body over mine, making me lean forward more. His tongue imitates my movements from the day before and leaves me momentarily numb.

“When I get back, we'll go”, he says, hoarsely, by my ear.

And suddenly the room becomes small and suffocating and I don't like the emotional sensations I feel. It seems like I have no control over the rapid beating of my heart and that is an indication of vulnerability. I felt the same thing yesterday and this feeling makes me feel bad and uncomfortable. I move away from Dominique, quickly gathering the objects on the table and glancing at him.

“Thank you… have a good trip.”

I leave the office disturbed, with a horrible feeling. I guess I don't like dealing with feelings. Not that I have any, but it's a feeling that this ain't good. Attraction must not be something I'm used to.

I never thought a mansion could be so small, it's like living in a room. I'm even disoriented, you know? I put my hand on my head, walking to the living room and find Vlad coming out of the elevator wearing a formal suit.

“Good morning, Kiki. You look beautiful, where are you going?”, he asks, welcomingly.

“Where are we going, Vlad!”, I show him the card.

That's it, the best thing I can do for myself right now is to get out of here. I decide that today I'm going to explore Monaco and get to know myself better.

“And where do you want to start?”, Vlad says, intrigued.

“Bookstores. I saw that there are 4 around here. I want to go to all of them.”

Vlad seems to be caught off guard.

“Wow, do they still exist? We're in the digital age. Isn't it easier to buy a Kindle?”, Vlad looks at me as if I were outdated, and what if I am?

“I can guarantee you that a screen won't give off a unique scent of pages with each turn”, I gesture, imitating a page turn.

“If it's going to help you in any way, I'll take you.”

I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.

“Can I drive?”, I say, with a sweet and charming posture, blinking my eyes slowly, “I won’t tell if you don’t.”

“You may not tell, I may not tell, but the guys outside will”, Vlad says

I sigh, boredly.

“t's okay, Vlad. I don't want to get you in trouble…”, I toss my hair back with a movement of my hands, “I'll get my coat.”

But first, I go to the kitchen and find a frozen fruit pulp in the freezer and place it on my hand. What a relief!

The bookstore has a warm and inviting atmosphere. The design is classic, with wooden shelves that give a sense of tradition and permanence. The atmosphere is calm and silent, allowing perfect concentration so I can enjoy reading. I like environments like that, because they make me relax. Even though Dom's library is also wonderful and gives me almost the same feeling, the problem with all this is that every room in that place carries Dominique's scent and that must be why my head is all on alert. The little time we spend together is too much, it must be affecting me, because now, I'm calm here. I swipe through the pages of a survival manual, written by a guy who spent 3 months without resources, only with what nature offered and it seems like those were the most exciting times of his life.

“Are you really enjoying this book?”, Vlad whispers, sitting two chairs away.

I squint, making an OK sign with my fingers

“What do you think you'll need this for?”, his tone is curious. I shrug.

“You never know, what if Dominique throws me in the middle of the Atlantic Forest and says: ‘If you come back, I'll give you whatever you want’.”, Vlad nods in agreement.

“And what would you ask for?”, Vlad asks, casually. I widen my eyes, astonished.

“Do you really think there's a chance he'll throw me in the Atlantic Forest?”, I close the book.

“That's not what I meant, but we shouldn't doubt Mr. Le Blanc.”, Vlad's look is quite suggestive. Which doesn't leave me in disbelief.

That Dominique has no limits is old news, and Vlad’s right. I would be very stupid not to consider any atrocities that may come from him. I loved jumping without a parachute, but I could have hated it. What if I had a heart condition? In one of those cases, it was just an encounter with the divine, with no way back. I get up from the armchair, glancing at Vlad.

“I'm going to look for more books.”

Vlad nods in agreement. I enter the section of contemporary erotic novels, coming across an endless aisle of books with every theme that could exist. I pick up one named: My Hot Neighbor from the Gym. And I focus on reading, being amazed by the depravity and loving every page I read. I see Vlad approaching and quickly grab a self-help book that was in the middle of the shelf, titled: Tomorrow Will Come Soon and put it underneath, disguising it.

“Veronica was soaping her body in the gym shower, lost in her thoughts, distracted as always. The foam that slides off her body makes me watch the water fall in slow motion. I pump my cock, ready to blow up that little hole that drives me crazy…”

My GOD!

“Coquette! What are you reading?”, I hear Blanca’s voice.

I close the book quickly, feeling my cheeks hot.

“Blanca… Hi?”, I pull myself together, closing both books, still positioning myself in front of me, “Nothing yet… by the way, I’m sorry about yesterday, I had an unexpected event, you know?”

“Oh, no! I was so sad, waiting for hours in that restaurant for you and nothing. You'll have to make it up to me today”, Blanca says, wearing a crimson red coat and beautiful boots.

“Beautiful boots.”

“Beautiful! Dior, right, my love? You'd expect nothing less.”

Her blonde hair is perfectly brushed, and her expression is excited. I press the book against my fingers. I need to finish reading this, just to know what's happens on the plot.

“I'm kind of busy today.”

“In a bookstore?”, she says, with a confused frown.

“Yeah... choosing what I'm going to read in the next few days.”

“No, you can read it after our spree! Let's go to Chanel. I know you like it there”, she points to my clothes, “I'm throwing a party next week, and I really want you to come…”

Since yesterday, when Blanca asked me to go on a yacht and then take a quick trip to Italy, as if it were there at the bakery, I found it very weird. It's such an odd approach, and it makes me wary. It’s the third time I've met her, and she's already inviting me to a party as if we were best friends? Weird... I raise my palm in her direction.

“Let's take it easy, blonde. I don't know you, I don't know who you are, you've already invited me to go to Italy, you've already tried to buy me several drinks…”, I'm cut off by Blanca.

“You don't have to be so suspicious and serious; I'm just being nice. You seem new here and I thought you had fun gambling, I thought you liked shopping, partying.”, Blanca tosses her hair to the side.

Vlad comes closer to us, greeting Blanca with a nod, leaning close to me and whispering:

“Blanca de La Rosa is trustworthy. She's been a client at the casino for a long time, never caused any problems. There's no reason to worry. Maybe it'll be fun if you go shopping, Kiki”, Vlad says.

“Really?”

“If not, I'll take you home”, he winks.

 “Fair enough. Vlad returns to his normal position, and I look at Blanca.”

“Then, let's go with Chanel. I just need to pay for the books.”

The journey to the store was smooth. Blanca went with her driver, and I went with Vlad. The fashion consultant led us through the store, showing us the exclusive collection and, really, it’s impossible not to love this place, each piece is prettier than the last. It seems like everything was made for me. Blanca and I got excited and left Sophie, the consultant, dizzy. I enter the fitting room euphoric, and face a soft carpet covering the floor. A large mirror takes up an entire wall, with soft lighting and no shadows. There is a cream velvet sofa and a small coffee table with a vase of fresh flowers. I tried on the first piece, a black dress with spaghetti straps, a fitted cut with a modest neckline. The fabric is light and the skirt is short. The charm are the gloves, also black, that go down to the forearm and at the top, two delicate bows with a shiny dot on each side.

“Let me see how yours turned out”, Blanca enters wearing a long dress with a not-so-subtle slit.

“I love the bows!”, she says, casually.

You what? Bows don't bother me. I love them, they suit me. What I discovered here is that “angelic” type clothes, like the first ones Berta bought, don't suit me. I like the cool ones. But the ones that make me look innocent and have a lot of frills, don't work.

“There's a white one outside, which is the theme of the party, that I think is perfect for you. I saw a bow in the same color at the store next door that will match perfectly”, Blanca says

“This party again…”, I sigh.

“What's the problem? Dance a little, have a few drinks, kiss a lot, eat some sweets. You'll love it!”

“Can I at least think about whether I'm going or not?”, I ask.

“Only if you go outside to see the dress”, she points with her thumb.

Beat by fatigue, I agree.

“Come on!”

Blanca grabs me by the arm, dragging me out of the dressing room, guiding me to one of the racks, taking out the dress she mentioned earlier. My eyes are fixed on the piece, mesmerizing me. The fabric is bright white, very shiny. Halter neck, short, with two side slits, one of which  longer than the other, forming a diagonal cut. It's beautiful!

“I don't know…”, I say, as I check the price.

I'm perplexed by the number of zeros in the price.

“What's wrong?”, Blanca asks.

“Did you see the price of this?”, I point.

 Blanca's eyes widen, checking our surroundings and I follow with my gaze, also looking around, finding the fashion consultant staring at us with a frown. Blanca turns to me.

“I want to be your friend, but poor people won’t do it for me”, Blanca lifts the dress, “She's going to try this one in an XS.”

“Blanca…”, I try to say “no”, but I'm interrupted

“That dress will look beautiful on you, Kiki.”, I hear Lohan's voice and turn around, finding him next to us, “And the one you're wearing was made for you.”

“Hi, Lohan!”, I smile.

I see him wearing a white shirt and navy blue tailored pants. His hair is short and curled to the side. His smile and dimple are adorable. Lohan greets me with a kiss on the cheek.

“Some special event?”, he asks, nicely.

“Girls' day”, Blanca joins the conversation.

“It's good to see you enjoying Monaco, getting out of the house for a bit. I won't bother you, I just came here to say hello”, Lohan says, focusing his attention on me.

“What are you doing here?”, I ask.

“Buying a present for my sister”, he picks up the bags, “She turns 30 today, and I need to get back to the casino soon.”

“And we need to keep shopping.”, Blanca starts pulling me, but I keep my feet on the ground.

“What do you think about doing something tomorrow? I'll be free”, he asks, already confirming.

“How about paintball?”, I say, enthusiastically.

“Oh, coquette…”, Blanca speaks shocked and quietly.

“I would never take you to a place like that, it's dangerous. Imagine, you could get hurt. Why not something calmer, Kiki?”, Lohan says, “How about going on a yacht?”

I shrug. It's definitely not my favorite thing to do, but it could be cool. I have nothing to do tomorrow.

“Yes, that’ll do”, I agree.

“What time will you pick us up?”, Blanca leans on my shoulder

“12:00?”, Lohan's tone is calm, “We can have lunch there and I promise you'll only eat what you like”, I smile and with the movement, I find the dimple forming in his cheek.

“Great. See you tomorrow, then”, I briefly wave goodbye at Lohan;

“Bye”, Blanca pulls me back.

I try on the second dress and it's the most perfect of all the ones I've ever worn in this color palette. But I still don't think it's worth all that money. And I feel terrible for not having the money to buy it, I mean, I even have the credit card, but it seems so wrong to spend Dom's money. That's why I need a job! I decide to make up any excuse and not to buy it.

“I'm not taking it, it looks weird”, I say to Blanca, who’s sitting on the sofa in the dressing room.

“No kidding, it's perfect!”, she shakes her head, “What a mistake!”

“It happens…”

I open the door, finding Sophie, the consultant on the other side, holding a square velvet box in her hands.

“What do you think about trying this necklace on?”, her tone is professional, “Mr. Dupont, the gentleman you were talking to earlier, said it would go with the dress”, Sophie opens the box.

I find a thin, elegant chain with a pendant in a shiny spot.

“It's beautiful!”, I say, almost speechless.

“He left it as a gift for you, along with the two dresses”, the consultant says.

“I can't believe it!”, Blanca leans on me, looking over my shoulder, “It's from the new collection. My God, I need to see it.”

Blanca quickens her steps, leaving the dressing room.

“Do you want to try it on with a dress?”, Sophie asks.

“I do.”

I look at my reflection in the mirror and am amazed at the whole ensemble.

“It looks great, Miss Lefebvre.”

“Strange to be called that, after all, Kiki ended up taking it, right?”

“Thank you, Sophie. I'll go out wearing it”, I put my hand on the necklace, taking one last look at the dress, “You can wrap the rest up.”

I finish getting dressed and Blanca comes back, entering the dressing room at once, already wearing the red coat.

“Shall we go?”, I ask.

Blanca grabs my arm, making me sit on the sofa.

“I have to tell you something, Kiki”, and she's serious.

“What's wrong?”, I bring the tip of my index finger to my mouth, biting my nail.

“I don't wanna get into our relationship with lies, I'm not like that. That's why I'm going to come clean right away”, Blanca takes a deep breath and pours herself some champagne, taking a sip right away, “Dominique hired me to be your entertainment in Monaco.”

I narrow my eyes, getting irritated.

“What?!”

“Oh, coquette, it was for Lolla Grace, you know? I'll tell you everything. Lolla split up after finding out her husband was with someone else and canceled all the shows and fan meetings. I bought a box for the show in Las Vegas. The only one that hasn't been rescheduled is next month's show here, which will take place at the casino. I don't know what Dominique did, but his contacts are great and they kept Lolla. So... this morning he called me, asking me to accompany you everywhere and keep you entertained, since you're going through a difficult time. What's wrong with you? And it would be even worse to know that I'm deceiving you because of a dinner with Lolla.”

I raise my eyebrow.

“It's hard to swallow what you're telling me”, my tone is furious, I stand up straight.

Dominique really thinks she can control me. He gave me a false freedom... What a huge idiot!

“I know, it's horrible…”, Blanca stands in front of me, stopping me from walking, “But this way, you can count on me for whatever you want, we can take advantage of this and he'll think we're, I don't know, in the salon, when in fact we're... going indecent places, from the worst to the best. And just to be clear, I intended to tell you this as soon as I saw you, but the thing is that Belgian chocolate you have as security was turning a blind eye. And the only place he can't be is here in the dressing room”, Blanca holds my hand, “I'm sorry. I want to be your friend and, whatever you're going through, nothing is so expensive that we can't pay for it and solve it.”

“Not everything is about money, Blanca. If it were like that, I wouldn't have retrograde amnesia, no name, no address, no idea where to go and, if it's still not enough for you, no idea who I can trust.”

“Oh my God!”, her voice is full of shock.

Blanca opens the door to the dressing room.

“Bring me another bottle of champagne, please, my dear”, she asks, gently

Closing the door, turning towards me.

“And is there an estimate of when your memory will return? Or will it stay like this forever?”, Blanca asks.

“Undetermined. It may or may not return... but I'm undergoing counseling, therapy, all that bureaucracy. Just make sure you don't tell anyone. Let's see if you can really hold your tongue.”

“I promise you'll enjoy every minute you're with me”, Blanca says, seriously.

“I have my doubts, Blanca. But let your superior know that I wanted to go home.”

“Wait, the champagne is coming”, Blanca smiles

“I'll go alone.”

I walk past Blanca, opening the door and leaving without looking back. I need to think about all of this, I can't act in a rush. I can assure you that I found Dominique's attitude detestable and that I want to bash his face into the asphalt. Right now, that's not going to happen. I'm really mad at Blanca, but at least she came clear to me. I think it's better for me to plan my next actions, keep an eye on all of them, know what each one's intentions are and, of course, take advantage of this situation. If Dominique thinks I'm manipulable, he'll fall off that 450 horsepower Porsche.

Last night was peaceful and quiet, like all the others when Dominique isn't home. I barely slept at all, I just kept thinking about what Blanca said. Seriously, why does he want control so much? Does he believe what Maurice said about me? That's all I needed. I never asked him to take care of me! Just for help getting me out of the hospital, he's the one who wanted to bring me here! I can't understand what's going on in his head and trying to guess is driving me crazy. So I decide to leave this subject for when he gets back. I get out of bed early, ready to go into the games room. Yesterday when I got here, I even blocked the door while trying so many passwords. I won't rest until I find out what it is. After taking a shower and getting dressed, to get ready for therapy, I realized that the 5 hours that the device remained blocked have already passed and I decide to go to the top floor to try again. And why so much dedication to breaking into a room? A tantrum? Maybe curiosity? It could be that. Irritation? Definitely. What he did won't go unpunished.

When the elevator door opens, I hear Berta's voice on the floor and she seems to be talking on the phone:

“Dominique, there's no one on the floor. The girl didn't even leave her room after she arrived yesterday. I don't think it was her. There must have been some problem... okay. I'll reset here.”

I'm amused by what I hear, it was me. I stick my head out of the door and slowly, I step out of the elevator, taking small steps. I peek my head behind the wall, finding Berta with her back turned, typing what seems to be the new password. "1989" and confirming the code. I don't even breathe, I just take steps back, heading back. I'll wait a few days to test it. Doing it now will be very obvious.

I keep up with my morning, go to therapy and try to reflect a little more on my situation. Another day without memory, and I decide to call the immigration department. I see if anyone is missing someone like me and guess what: there isn't. And all of this brings me to one place: I need a job. I wasn't born to be idle. No matter who I am, the only thing I'm sure of is that I'm not a luxury doll. I really want to be guilt-free, but I haven't been able to buy anything with my card, except for yesterday's book and today's berry pod, which I had to buy. Nicotine keeps me going. I decide to get ready for lunch with Lohan and choose to wear the black dress. I don't wear gloves, as it would be too much for the daylight. On my feet, I put on a pair of thin sandals that elongate my silhouette. For my makeup, I opt for something light and natural, highlighting only my eyes with a touch of mascara and a light lipstick. I decide to leave my hair down.

Now, I'm in the kitchen grabbing a sealed bottle of water and Vlad walks in. He's wearing black pants and an impeccably ironed white shirt. His look is complemented by a pair of modern, thin-framed sunglasses, which give him a sophisticated air.

“Lohan's here, Kiki. He's outside”, Vlad says, reluctantly.

And I don't understand why.

“Vlad, why do you look like that? Don't you like yachts?”, the security guard smiles in agreement.

“I love yachts... just… forget it”, he says, grabbing some sealed water and cans of soda from the boxes.

I go out the front door and find Lohan, who’s standing next to a black Ferrari. His bearing is elegant, the dimple in his face is evident due to his smile. His black hair is messy in an unpretentious way, giving him a relaxed air. He's wearing tailored pants that highlight his figure and matches a gray dress shirt made of sophisticated fabric. The sleeves are rolled up to the elbows, revealing a luxury Rolex on the right wrist. On the right hand, on the index finger, a minimalist ring.

“Are you ready to have fun?”, Lohan asks.

“I am!”

He comes towards me, taking my hand and kissing the back of it gently, directing an affectionate look.

“You're beautiful, Kiki”, he flashes a smile.

“Thank you for the gifts, I loved them!”, I put my hand on the necklace, “You didn't need to worry.”

“That was nothing”, Lohan places her hand on my waist, accompanying me to the car. Vlad walks around the vehicle, rushing in, opening the door and sitting in the passenger seat.

“Vlad, are you coming with us?”, Lohan asks, irritably.

“Of course. Wherever she goes, I go. That's the order”, Vlad slams the door, closing it.

Lohan runs his hand through his hair, huffing. I can't hold back a laugh and take the opportunity to open the back door and get in. Vlad takes the opportunity to lower the electric window and says to Lohan:

“Are you going to stand there or are you going to drive?”

Vlad sends this message to Lohan, who goes to the driver's seat, looking in disbelief. And who doesn't? I've never seen Vlad like this. He's definitely not having a good day.

We passed by Blanca, who was anxiously awaiting us in her elegant attire, a luxurious jumpsuit and very high platforms. I thought that one night would be enough to at least understand Blanca's motivation, but I confess that, so far, all I can see is mischief. I know she was sincere; I'm just wondering whether to think about it or not.

The journey to the port doesn't take long. Lohan is a good conversationalist, as is Blanca. So, there was no shortage of things to talk about until we arrived. The white superyacht is docked in the port of Monaco, it's about 50 meters long, and its imposing structure draws attention. The white hull shines under the Mediterranean sun, reflecting the crystal-clear waters. The weather isn't overcast like yesterday, you can even feel a little warm. We board between side conversations, and I take off my heels to get in, handing them to Lohan, who holds them. On the main deck, there's an incredible infinity pool, giving the impression that the water merges with the surrounding sea. The place is surrounded by sun loungers, with light-colored cushions and towels. Next to the pool, an open-air bar serves cocktails and drinks of all kinds. Blanca is already getting excited by ordering champagne.

At the stern of the yacht, there is a loading platform designed to house jet skis. The space is well-organized, with a compact and efficient crane that makes it easy to load and remove them from the water. And seeing them makes me ecstatic! Lohan is next to me, showing me the boat. He smiles at me and I hold his arm.

“Can I go for a spin?”, my tone is cheerful,

“Kiki, these jet skis are Dom's. He said he wouldn't come to society anymore if he didn't have something to entertain him. Vodka, a pool, sunsets and no who-”, Lohan says and doesn't finish the sentence, “It's not enough…”, Lohan coughs.

I find what Lohan says funny, ‘cause I understand that he's referring to whores. I've smelled them. Besides, Dominique doesn't have the profile to go to quiet and gentle events.

“No problem”, I shrug.

Lohan approaches me, smiling and holds my hand.

“I'll ask them to prepare it for you, okay? He's not here, he won't even know. Right, Vlad?”, Lohan says to me and then looks at the security guard.

“I can't guarantee anything, but I'll definitely go with Kiki.”, Vlad says, putting his hands in his pockets.

“It's going to be amazing!”, I say, excitedly, “Thank you, Lohan.”

“It's going to be amazing!”, I say, excitedly, “Thank you, Lohan.”

As they prepare the boat, on the upper deck, I find an outdoor dining table surrounded by comfortable chairs and decorated with arrangements. It’s positioned so that you can enjoy panoramic views of the sea and the city. Everything is immaculate. Lohan shows Blanca and me each place and the interior of the yacht is equally impressive, with spacious seating areas, high-quality furniture and large windows, offering beautiful views.

We have lunch and I enjoy my canned goods, with no one disturbing me. I’m surprised that I managed to finish without being interrupted and… I feel that strange sensation run through my body at the thought of Dominique and I feel slightly uncomfortable, shifting in my chair. Blanca goes to the bar for drinks and Vlad is not there, leaving me alone with Lohan, who places her hand on my thigh discreetly. Feeling her skin against mine does not give me the electric tension that I felt and when her intense brown gaze meets mine, exchanging a slight suggestion, I take a deep breath.

“Is everything okay?”, he asks, worried.

“Uh-huh”, I agree.

And I can't help but swallow hard, because suddenly, it seems wrong to be here and thinking about Dominique makes my heart race too fast and my stomach tight.

“I need to go to the bathroom. Excuse me.”, I get up, dazed.

I enter the first door on the left, confused, closing the passage behind me. I look at my reflection in the mirror and pour water on my chest, feeling myself boil and it's still as if I feel his tongue running up and down my neck, giving me shivers, feeling my whole body vibrate at an unique frequency. And it's so vivid that I remember his perfume perfectly. I dig my nails into the counter, so irritated!

I hear knocking on the door, which pull me from my thoughts all at once.

“Kiki, the jet ski is ready!”, Blanca keeps pounding on the door.

I open it at once and her gaze finds me.

“What's wrong? You're blushing”, Blanca says, placing her hand on my face.

“It's just hot in here.”, I fan myself.

We head towards the diving platform, where the two jet skis are positioned. I put on my life jacket and Blanca does the same, with her glass of champagne. Vlad gets on the first one on the right and when he goes to the one on the left, Lohan holds my waist and helps me get on the jet ski. I lean on his shoulder and get on the boat, placing my feet on the side supports, and holding the handlebars, he then helps Blanca, who hugs me, putting one of her hands on my hip. Lohan attaches the safety key to my wrist. In case we fall into the water, the engine shuts down immediately.

“Be careful, my darling. I'll watch you from up there”, Lohan says, turning his attention to me, with a gentle smile, and caressing my cheek with the back of his hand, “Have fun.”

“I will”, I smile back, “Are you ready to drink water, Vlad?”, I say, loudly.

“Not if I do it first”, Vlad starts the engine, accelerating.

Blanca squeezes me with one hand, and I glance back. I find her drinking her champagne and accelerate, feeling the gentle breeze blowing on my face, giving me a wonderful feeling of freedom.

“This is what I live for, for sure!”

“Coqueeeeette! My glass fell, holy shit!”, Blanca shouts.

I laugh at Blanca, increasing the speed. The engine roars and Vlad is far away from us, following me and yelling for me to slow down. Never! I feel the adrenaline rising with each passing moment, flooding me with this wonderful feeling. We keep moving away, heading towards the open sea, watching the sun shine and reflect in the clear waters around us.

“Let's turn left, Blanca!”

“Mine or yours? Or is it the same? I'm confused.”

“Remind me not to let you drink that much champagne”, I say, amidst the accelerated pace.

Blanca shouts at my movement.

“It's fun, right?”, I say, ecstatically.

“If regret could kill, I'd be dead! Enough, Kiki. I wasn't born for this, look at my hair and my Balenciaga! I can feel everything turning inside me… let's go back, for the love of God!”, Blanca says, pleadingly, squeezing me “I’ll throw up.”

“No, wait”, I despair, “Not in my Chanel.”

I turn around, hearing Blanca grumble. I return to the yacht, accelerating to the maximum, Vlad shouts for me to slow down, but Blanca says the opposite:

“Don't listen to him, your Chanel will be compromised at any moment!”

I swerve around some yachts that are heading in the opposite direction, slowing down as I approach the diving platform. I turn the jet ski around and stop. I turn it off, turning to Blanca, who’s pale. I stand up, catching her in time for Lohan to approach in a hurry.

“What happened?”, he asks, confused.

“She got wasted, that's what happened.”

“Kiki”, Blanca holds my hand, “My glass can't be empty”, she says, drunkenly, “Bring me another one.”

“The only thing you're drinking now is sparkling water”, I say, firmly.

“Hey, Lohan, can I have some champagne?”, ​​Blanca asks, while Lohan holds her in his arms, helping her walk.

I follow by her side, following Blanca as she staggers, holding on to Lohan. Her steps are unsteady, and I notice the difficulty she has in staying upright. Before she can complete the third step, she stops abruptly, her eyes widening. Suddenly, Blanca leans forward and vomits, hitting Lohan squarely. He stands still for a moment, the shock visible on his face.

“Your shirt was horrible”, Blanca dazes at Lohan.

Blanca faints and Lohan holds her in her arms, while Blanca snores on her shoulder.

“I’ll take you upstairs”, Lohan says.

I nod briefly. Vlad parks the jet ski next to mine and looks at me worriedly.

“Are you okay, Kiki?”, he asks.

I let go of my shoulders.

“I am. The one who isn’t is Blanca. That’s why I couldn’t stop. Sorry, Vlad”, he nods, briefly.

“I think we should go, it’s already getting dark”, Vlad says.

“I can’t leave Blanca like this, and it’s so cool here…”

I say to Vlad, who sighs and nods.

“I know. Why don’t you come with me to the bridge?”, my tone is suggestive.

“Kiki…”, Vlad seems to think it’s a terrible idea.

“Just a quick look, come on. No one's watching. Please”, I clasp my hands together.

“Okay!”

That’s it! I celebrate internally. We head to the upper front of the yacht. The place is modern and elegant. In the center is the pilot station, with a helm and engine control levers. Around it, are multiple high-definition monitors, displaying radar, GPS and systems information on the yacht. Additional control panels include buttons for steering, stabilization and radio and satellite communication. The view is unobstructed, providing all the stunning splendor of the sea. The area is equipped with comfortable seating and cameras everywhere. I can see Lohan with a towel in her hand and a confused expression, next to the diving platform and Blanca sleeping peacefully on the sofa in the living room.

“Vlad, I’m going for a little ride.”

“ No way, Kiki. You weren’t even supposed to go on a jet ski, let alone take a yacht”, Vlad says, grumpily — You don’t even know if you know anything about…

“This week I’m committed to a journey of self-discovery, I’m working on it in therapy. So, excuse me, but I'm going to turn on the key”, I say, turning the ignition.

I wait for preheating. It's like that, right? Vlad doesn't want me to do it, but he's instructing me. The engine starts. I grab the helm. At the helm station, I push the lever forward, making the yacht move and increasing the engine power. I press the horn. I hear the loud sound expand. When I check the cameras, I find Blanca scared, looking around, putting her hand in her hair, and Lohan, who is on the platform. I brake hard, lowering the lever, making Blanca fall off the living room couch, Vlad holds on to the wall, and Lohan fall into the sea.

“Kiki!”, I hear Lohan scream.

“Wow! Vlad, put that back where it belongs… MY GOD, THE JET SKIS!”

Today was an exciting day. Blanca came home better. I'm in a great mood, I had lots of fun and I really needed to distract myself a little. Tomorrow I'll go out with Blanca again. I have to admit, she's great company. Lohan, on the other hand, invited me to dinner tomorrow, and I said I wouldn't go. I need to try to find out something about myself, after all, the days are passing and I don't have anything concrete. Sometimes I wonder if my memory will ever return and something tells me that maybe I won't like to know. Why would I be erased from society if I was someone important to be remembered?

In the kitchen, I'm absorbed in reading, shocked by how the story unfolds. Veronica's description of the size of Arthur's dick left me so stunned that I even closed the book[1]. I took three bites of the can of chickpeas, took a deep breath and went back to eating.

I hear heavy footsteps in the hallway and they approach the kitchen. I pick up the fork in my hand and raise it, keeping watching. Dominique's figure passes through the door and, immediately, my heart races wildly when I see him. I put the fork on the counter, close the book and quickly put down my can. His gaze directed at me is cold, the gray in his eyes is like a storm about to break. I notice his cut lower lip, the red and slightly swollen cheekbone. His blond hair is disheveled, and his black tie is untidy. His body is dressed in a well-groomed, pinstriped suit.

“What happened? Did the whores hit back?”, I blurt out, covering my lips with my hand.

And instead of an acidic kick, as usual, I find a clear tension in the air, but Dominique diverts his attention from me, as if I weren't there, and heads for the refrigerator. As he approaches, he hits the ice container with everything he can and nothing falls out.

“There’s no ice”, I say, casually.

He snorts, still ignoring me, and I’m in disbelief when he leaves the room after grabbing a frozen pulp and placing it on his hand, without looking back. I grab the book and get down from the high stool, following him worriedly.

“Dominique, what happened?”, I say, following his steps.

He doesn’t answer, and I get irritated by his disdain. I hurry down the hallway, placing myself in front of him, raising my gaze to his, finding his furrowed eyebrows, his tense jaw, showing his contained anger.

“Why are you like this?”

Without saying a word, he pushes me aside and continues walking, ignoring me. I feel frustration growing inside me, powerless in face of his cold and distant treatment. Now I’m the one who’s angry, and even though I don’t think it’s wise for me to go after him, I decide to confront him, because I’m not a doormat for him to step on. The little cutie must be going crazy. With heavy steps, I stand in front of him once more, now entering the room, placing my hand on his torso.

“Dom?”

“Damn, I've had a shitty day, can't you see I don't want to talk? I'm tired and you're annoying me, aren't you tired of being inconvenient and doing everything wrong?”, his tone is rude and loud.

I part my lips and feel my fingers close in the shape of a fist.

“You mean your problem is with me?”, I respond in the same tone.

Dominique shakes his head to the side, still with an icy look, as if I were to blame for whatever she's going through.

“You're the fucking problem!”

“I don't see any reason why I should give in to this!”, I move to turn around.

Dominique pulls me hard, throwing me against the wall. The book falls, along with the pulp. My back hits hard, a shock of pain spreads through my body. Before I can react, he holds me close to him, his body pressing mine against the wall. His fingers dig into my neck, squeezing tightly and his face is just inches from mine and it feels so good.

“You're mine, damn it”, he says coldly.

I can feel his heavy, hot breathing, his furious, possessive gaze fixed on my eyes, while the tension between us increases with each second. My breathing becomes short, and, at the same time, hatred parades freely through me. It's the most absurd thing I've ever heard.

“I'm not an object that you can have, Dominique”, I say, pushing him away.

And I realize that I'm disappointed, angry, my breath uneven. I walk away, it's unbelievable. Dominique is really focused on controlling me and now he thinks I'm an object, like a car or the hundreds of works of art he has. What an idiot! I feel terrible, I was already stuck with the fact that he hired Blanca to try to be my friend, now this. "I'm his". The only thing I am is a tenant. I can't freak out, I need to be rational. But who can, at a time like this? Jeez!

I go to my room and close the door behind me, I feel a whirlwind of feelings that I don't want to vent, ready to explode. It's horrible and I hate feeling like this. I don't think I should be surprised by Dominique's behavior. Of course he has everything he wants, whenever he wants it, and it wouldn't be any different with me. I'm not like the people he's used to dealing with, I may not know much about myself, but I'm sure I'm not submissive to this scenario. And I decide that the best thing to do, until I can digest this scandal, is to leave. I pack a modest bag, with some clothes and cans, and leave. I don't want anyone to stop me, I'm going to beat everyone up. Hell!

The next day...

I didn't even sleep that night. I had no choice but to come and ask Blanca for help. Where could I go? It was the easiest and quickest alternative for this first moment. I'm so pissed off at Dominique. I can't believe his egocentrism. All this time I've been a fucking object? How ridiculous! I need a plan to get out of Monaco safely. I can't just leave, I need money to guarantee my survival and caution so that I can survive outside of here, after all, there are people who want to kill me. And not to mention that I need to find some clue as to what happened to me.

I open the door to the exquisite bedroom, going out into the large hallway, still wearing my pajamas. It's almost ten in the morning. Blanca's mansion exudes elegance and sophistication. It’s located in a panoramic position overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The place is a mix of modern classic, with lush windows. Inside, the floors are marble, crystal chandeliers and impeccable furniture. The suites are luxurious, each with a private bathroom and balconies with sea views. The gardens are charming, with a gourmet area for the endless parties she organizes. Blanca has a beauty salon at home, can you believe it? The wealth of Monaco is fascinating. Despite this, I have the impression that I’m used to this environment. Which leads me to think that, as absurd as I find the values, my old life must have had a certain luxury. How could a person who should have had her connections and money be erased from society so quickly? It makes no sense at all. What am I missing?

I go down the marble staircase, arriving at the living room. I come across Blanca wearing a black suit and stiletto heels. Her long hair is perfectly straight. She is sitting on the cream sofa, drinking a cup of something steaming, while reading a magazine called Élite Affaires. When she sees me approaching, she smiles.

“Good morning, Kiki. Did you sleep well?”, Blanca seems to be analyzing me, “God, you look awful.”

“Thank you for your part in my case”, I make my way to sit on the other sofa.

“Go back upstairs and get dressed. We're going out”, Blanca says.

I frown, shaking my head to the sides.

“No! I can't. I need to get a job and do other things…”

Blanca brings her hands to her lips, as if I had insulted her.

“Don't give me that peasant-salaried talk at this time of the morning. You don't need it. Not when Dominique Le Blanc says he owns you”, she provokes.

I close my eyes the moment I hear it, shooting a fatal look at Blanca, who clearly wants to see the circus burn. Yesterday I arrived here feeling quite unbalanced and ended up telling Blanca what happened. Since she's already calling herself my friend, I need to trust someone in this shit, right?

 “Just kidding, it's so absurd that it's hard not to joke, you know?”, Blanca smiles, placing the cup on the plate, “He could have at least made a contract. Then, I would understand.”

“I don't want to be ordered around, seriously nor jokingly.”

I cover my eyes with my hands, I don't understand why I'm feeling terrible about Dominique's attitude, I shouldn't have expected more than that. We're nothing! He's always been like this since the first day I met him. It's not a surprise. I shouldn't have gotten into that car, that's the truth. Okay, I would have been killed... But I also didn't know I was good at self-defense. I guess I'm just trying to justify something to make myself feel less bad. Anything is better than assuming that for some reason, Dominique makes my thoughts turbulent to the point that I hate thinking about him. A neuron in me dies of disgust for losing so much psychic energy with Dominique.

“Whatever”, Blanca says, “Let's go for a walk, it'll do you good. I'll introduce you to the rest of the girls. I asked Gabrielle to put a sealed crate of sparkling water in the car.”

I take my hands off my eyes, watching Blanca get up.

“No, sorry. It won't work.”

 I see her run her hand through her hair, arranging the strands.

“Kiki, I know. If you go with me, I'll help you think of something that’ll profit you. I just think that right now, it would be good for you to distract yourself a little. There's no point in rushing through everything... do you understand?”

I nod slightly. In a way, Blanca is right. I'm sure I'll keep mulling this over and over until my mind is exhausted, until every neuron dies.

“Maybe... I'll go, but if I don't like it, I'll come back. Deal?”

“Okay.”

The restaurant is located in a historic building overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The decor is a combination of contemporary and refined. Crystal chandeliers hang from the high ceiling and reflect the soft light. The tables are covered with fine linen tablecloths and adorned with ornamental flower arrangements. The chairs are upholstered in black velvet. The polished floor complements the walls decorated with mirrors adorned with gilded frames. Large windows let in natural light, highlighting the architectural details and offering a beautiful view of the sea. The background music is filled with soft jazz.

The drive here was quiet and turbulent. I assumed that getting out for a while would ease my feelings, but I was wrong. I discovered that I have a knack for adapting quickly to new scenarios, but that doesn't stop me from feeling really strange. I don't even know exactly what's happening to me. One moment it's anger, the next it's sadness, and sometimes it's boredom or tiredness from sleepless nights.

Blanca introduces me to Odette, who is a former sugar baby, important in the business world, works in the oil industry, is 26 years old and lives off her pension, thanks to the lawsuit against her ex-daddy. Ingrid is a businesswoman with a vegan makeup brand. Her husband is the CEO and she lives like a single woman, because he works too much and doesn't have time for her. Geneviève, who is married, can't work because her husband is rich, and so is she. Apparently he is jealous enough to push away her former stylist because he is a man. She has been passionate about handbags since she was born. Céline is studying law remotely, from what I hear. She is passionate about chocolates and has a fountain in her winter garden with the best milk chocolates. She likes older men and is currently the sugar baby of Olivier, a multimillionaire from Paris.

“Darling, and you? Where are you from? Married? Do you have a contract with someone?”, Céline asks me, drinking her Martini.

Before I can open my mouth, Blanca steps forward:

“She's new here, she moved last month. She's from Dubai.”

“I love Dubai!”, Geneviève says.

“Oh, my friend, we know it's a bit run down there, right?”, Odette says.

“Really run down.”, I confirm, “So outdated, yikes!”, I say, getting into the swing of things.

Remembering the conversation Blanca had with me in the car before leaving:

“Don't come looking poor among rich people. Don't embarrass me. You're rich. Nothing is too expensive that you can't afford, you understand, Kiki? Whatever I say, you confirm. I looked at her in disbelief.”

“No oppression here, Blanca. Look at that little face here, tell me if I don't have millions in my account?”

“That's right, that's what I want to see in there. The women agree.”

“Girls, have you seen this month’s Élite Affaires?”, Odette asks.

“I saw it, I loved it! Lohan’s interview was impeccable. All I wanted was for him to cook for me.”

Geneviève agrees with Odette:

“He’s so hot!”

I exchange glances with Blanca and she silently agrees, as if she knew my question:

“Yes, girls, Lohan was impeccable. He invited us yesterday to go to his yacht…”, Blanca exchanges glances, confused.

And an idea crosses my mind at that moment.

“Dominique Le Blanc, you know? He introduced me to Lohan, he needed a stylist. If you see them looking handsome around, it was me”, I take a sip of sparkling water.

I don’t even know how I managed to say all that without even blushing. I hate lies! Blanca nods her head non-stop, smiling broadly.

“She’s their darling. The entire casino board is consulting with Kiara”, Blanca says, gesturing with her hand.

The three of them are open-mouthed.

“No waaaaay! And you do women's fashion too?”

“Of course I do”, I imitate the rich girl I'm not, “What do you think of what I'm wearing today?”

Geneviève fans herself with the tips of her fingers, her nails are stiletto-shaped.

“You look beautiful!”, Odette chimes in

“So, this is just a preview of what I can do.”

I say, pointing to my elegant red straight-cut dress. I wear white ¾ socks and doll-style shoes, with my hair partially tied up with a discreet bow the same color as the dress.

“So the coquette style is back in full force? I know it's all the rage in Paris. It's so beautiful”, Céline says gently, “I definitely need a consultation like this. Do you have time?”

I agree.

“I want it!”, Geneviève takes the lead.

“After me”, Odette speaks over the top.

“I want to be first”, Ingrid says.

“Girls, this is a nice time. We'll talk about work later. I promise to meet you all. Write down your contact details”, I slide my cell phone across the table, pretending to be relaxed, even though I'm desperate for their money.

[1] I was uncertain about censoring this one.