CHAPTER 3

"Haven't you heard?" Mica frowned when I asked her what was happening.

The hellhole of a place is now in complete chaos. Madam Hirushi is screaming in a different language. In the years that I was locked up here, I had already picked up some of the words she frequently used, but she was yelling too fast that I couldn't keep up.

One thing is for sure. She's enraged! I've never seen her like this before.

"Why would I ask if I know?" I snapped at her.

She clicked her tongue in annoyance but stepped forward to come nearer.

"One of the newbies escaped last night," she whispered behind my ear.

My eyes widened in shock. Someone escaped!

"W-who?" I whispered back despite already having an inkling who it was.

"Julia," she mouthed.

My heart seemed to jump even though I was already expecting it. She escaped!

Memories rushed inside me of that night long ago when I thought I could slip out of the syndicate's claws. Only to be caught shortly after that. The punishment they gave me was unimaginable. It was like I was sent to hell and back a hundred times.

I shook my head, trying to stop reminiscing about the old days. I just hope Julia won't be as unlucky as me. I genuinely hope she can make it out. 

The whole day, I kept my ears open for news about her disappearance. I'd only known her briefly but could see my younger self in her. My heart was beating erratically inside my chest the whole time. I stopped believing in any almighty power long ago but found myself earnestly praying she wouldn't be caught.

"Ava," France's shrill voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I had just finished dressing up for tonight's show when she appeared behind me.

"What now?" I snapped.

"Oh no, dear," she grinned evilly. "There's no need to be grumpy now."

I frowned. The wide grin on her face creeps the hell out of me!

"You've been called to the office," she said. Madam Hiroshi wants to talk to you."

My jaw clenched. What does the evil wench want with me this time? Does it have anything to do with Julia's disappearance?

I suddenly remembered how I tried to encourage her that night. Did they misunderstand it? Did they think I was the one who gave her the idea?

Whatever. I don't care anymore. If they will punish me for that, then so be it.

"Madam," I curtly bowed my head when I entered the luxurious office. Everything here screams money, but it won't cover up the filth this place was built by.

"Ava," she grinned when she saw me. "You really are my lucky charm," she added.

I frowned. The smile on her face made my skin crawl. Why does she seem in a good mood now when she was wreaking havoc this morning? What did I do?

I don't remember doing anything unusual today. The show hasn't even started yet!

She turned to the armed men in the room before I could ask anything.

"Take her," she ordered.

"Wait, what?" I confusedly ask.

"Hey, let me go!" I tried to pull myself away from Hiroshi's men, but I was easily overpowered. They carelessly dragged me out of the room.

"Madam! Wait! What is the meaning of this?!" I screamed; however, she didn't even give me another glance.

"Where are you taking me?!" I snapped when they kept yanking me to the elevator.

Shit. I took a deep breath to calm myself down. It's not going to help if I struggle now. I will just waste my energy. Clearly, I can't escape three well-trained men. I need to be smart about this.

Hiroshi said I was her lucky charm. Then why is she dragging me like this?

Will I take Julia's place? But it doesn't go that way. The client also has responsibility if the woman was able to escape while in their custody. It's part of the contract. Hiroshi won't just go and replace the woman that easily. Even the client has to suffer some kind of consequences for it.

My eyes widened when the elevator door opened to the ground floor. It's been ages since I set foot here!

"Where are we going?" I tried to ask again, but the men kept their mouths shut, probably following Hiroshi's orders.

My heartbeats kept escalating as they dragged me out of the building. Too many thoughts swirled inside my head at once. I didn't know what to think of it. What's going to happen? Where are they taking me?

A sleek, black car was waiting. As we approached it, a man held the door open while looking at us.

I gasped when I was shoved inside the car like a cheap suitcase.

"Hey!" I protested but was only answered by the slamming of the door.

"What's going on?" I asked when a man sat in the driver's seat, but a glass partition went between us. I slapped it angrily.

"Where are you taking me?!" I snapped when something hit my senses. I coughed at the intrusive scent wafting inside my nose. My eyes got teary until my vision became blurry.

"Fuck," I weakly muttered. My head is spinning. I was left with no choice but to lean my back against the seat. What is it to me anyway? There's nothing worse that they can do to me. They have already ruined me in every human way possible. 

All that's left, maybe, is killing me. But then, wouldn't that be a relief?

Those were the thoughts inside my head as I let myself slip into oblivion. It somehow calmed me down. A peaceful feeling washed over me, and I thought that this would be the end of my miserable existence.

The next thing I knew, I was staring at a pristine white ceiling above me. I blinked. I'm sure as hell I'm not in heaven because there is no way my soul will be allowed there.

"I'm alive," I muttered, not knowing how to feel about that fact. I pushed myself up and slowly looked around me. I still feel a little dizzy from whatever drug they used on me.

But my eyes widened when it finally dawned on me!

"Oh my," I frowned. I couldn't believe my eyes. What the hell is happening?

I'm in a very luxurious room. Even the sheets around me feel exquisite. There are large windows overlooking the unfamiliar skyline. 

"Where am I?" I asked. I tried to think if I could remember anything after being shoved in the car, but there was nothing—nada.

I looked down to check myself. I was still wearing the same clothes from last night. As in, the seductive lingerie set I was supposed to wear for my performance. Needless to say, I felt so out of place. I felt like a piece of trash in the middle of this fancy place.

When I stood up, the biting cold from the blaring air conditioner pierced my exposed skin. My arms wound around my body, but it didn't do much to give me warmth.

I almost jumped when the door suddenly opened. I haven't recovered from my initial shock when I saw the most unexpected person in front of me!

"Y-you..." I barely whispered. To say I was stupefied is an understatement. My mouth opened and closed several times. I couldn't find any words to say. I was so confused.

His eyes looked me up and down. I can feel my cheeks heating up from the intensity of his gaze.

Damn. I'm like a teenage girl blushing at the slightest attention her crush gave her.

"You look like trash," he hissed, confirming my initial thought. But how dare he say it to my face?! And why am I here? More importantly, why is he here?

"Go get changed. There are clothes in the walk-in closet," he motioned at the other side of the room, and then he left before I could even gather my scattered thoughts.

I stared at the closed door for a while before forcing myself to move. I went to the closet to check for some clothes. My forehead was knotted when I saw that it was filled with new clothes. Almost everything still had tags on them. I wonder why he had a stock of women's clothing. Is he living with one? Or these are here just in case of, you know...

I gulped when I saw the labels. These could easily cost a fortune! I carefully ran my hand through the fabrics. Can I really use any of these? I shook my head. Now is not the time for that.

I shrugged and pulled out a pair of comfortable sweats. There are different types of clothes for various occasions here, but I'm already freezing to think of anything else. I went to the other door in the room, and just as I expected, it was an ensuite bathroom.

"What the hell?" I muttered when I couldn't turn the shower on. How does this damn thing work? I groaned after trying and failing a few times. There aren't knobs or buttons. Just the fucking showerhead!

I was already getting frustrated when the door suddenly flung open!

"Holy fuck!" I flinched, trying to cover up my nakedness.

I heard him click his tongue behind me. I turned to look at him. He was holding a remote control, fiddling with its buttons.

I shrieked when drops of water suddenly splashed on me!

"What the hell?!" I screamed.

"I figured you'd be needing some help," he shrugged while looking at me as if I wasn't in my birth suit.

Why the hell am I trying to cover myself anyway? It's not like he hadn't seen me naked before. I relaxed my arms, letting them drop beside me. Then I stood up straight and looked him straight in the eyes. I am proud of my body despite my scars and flaws.

Just like our past two encounters, he had no reaction.

"Hurry up. There's something I need to discuss with you," he said before leaving. 

I was left with my jaw dropped. That's it? He didn't even bother to take a second look at my nudity. Does he really find me unattractive?

I don't know why I was so bothered by that fact. But now I'm seeing it as a challenge. I find him a walking contradiction. He makes it seem like he couldn't care less about my existence and yet I'm here. 

I smirked. Let's see who will win this game...