CHAPTER 02

In a dark room, Rostam sat on his sofa as he lit the cigarette lighter he held. Music wraps up around his bedroom which is a big help to make his mind calm. It was three o'clock in the morning but he still hadn't been visited by drowsiness. His insomnia appeared to be attacking him again.

He got up from his couch and then walked to the balcony. He was greeted with fresh air and a large, round moon that illuminated the entire sky. He pulled out a cigarette stick, and lit it before placing it in his mouth. He worked all day without much rest, but not even one of the things he did all day, there was still no lead in what he was looking for. Disappointed but had no intention of giving up.

In the middle of his pondering, he heard the door closing. It was muffled but enough for him to hear it. He immediately dropped the cigarette before pulling the gun stuck in his pants. He carefully slid inside and even though the light was turned off, he memorized every part of the room. It was so dark so he was alerted around but he didn't expect the sudden opening of the light that illuminated the entire room.

" Holy sh*t! " Catalina almost jumped into a panic when she saw the man standing in front of her. She held onto her chest to calm herself but it got worse when she saw the person in this room was holding a gun. She stood up straight and raised her both hands. " I'm sorry. I was lost again. I-I didn't know that I was in the wrong room. "

Rostam dropped the gun he was holding but his sight of the woman in front of him remained. " What are you planning to do this time? "

Her eyebrows furrowed. " P-plan for what? "

He remained silent yet his gaze remained with the young woman in front of him until one of them gave up. 

" Fine! I need to go home, okay? " Catalina runs her fingers through her hair. " My parents were looking for me. I got lost because of this spacious house. I didn't even know where I was going so I ended up getting lost again. "

" Is it my fault? "

" Did I blame you? " 

Rostam grinned at the answer he heard. He didn't expect it 'cause a while ago, fear was written all over her face but now, he couldn't see it anymore. 

" You've got a sense of courage, " he said, taking a quick glance at his watch. " It's half past three in the morning. Do you think you can return home safely? "

" Of course. "

" At this hour? "

" Definitely yes. I might be safer outside than here in your house. " 

He chuckled and walked to a table to pour wine into his snifter glass. " If that's what you want to believe, then leave. "

Catalina was unable to speak and watched the man in front of her drink alcohol until he looked at her again to offer wine. 

" I don't drink alcohol, " she refused.

Rostam just shrugged his shoulders. " As soon as you get out of this room, you go straight to the left hallway. Right, then left. You just walk straight, and you'll see a gate but it's not the way out. You straight, right, left, straight—" 

" Stop fooling me around! " the irritation in Catalina's voice couldn't be hidden when she noticed that this man was just playing with her. 

" If you think I'm fooling you, then find a better way to get out of this place, " he casually said before sitting on the couch. 

Catalina let out a deep sigh, glaring at the man who was chilling out before she decided to leave the room. 

However, Rostam take a quick glanced at the door to check if he was the only one left in his room before picking up his phone and called the staff who was in charge of securing the entrance gate of his mansion.

" None of you will release the person who trying to flee from this place, " he warned before he dropped the call, giving his people an order.

He knew that this young lady was innocent and had nothing to do with the world in which they lived, according to Lorenzo who had taken care of the young lady earlier, but he couldn't help but to suspect her because of it's strange actions that seemed to be up for something. 

***

Catalina ended up in the guest room where she stayed earlier. She had gone to a lot of hallways just to find a way out but she failed to find the door out of this mansion. 

She sat down on the edge of the bed in low spirits with a palm on her face. 

" That jerk, " she whispered as she remembered the conversation she had with Rostam. She was admittedly scared earlier when she first saw him but now, she can't help but feel like she is just being played. 

She wasn't sure what kind of people are  they but she knew that this place is not safe for her. 

The next morning, she woke up to the sun's rays hitting her eyelids. He got up and immediately looked for the clock to see what time it was. It's around 9 o'clock in the morning. 

She quickly left the bed to get out of the room and didn't hesitate to go down the stairs. She now clearly sees how this mansion was beautiful and elegant due to sunlight coming out of the window. She could see every hallway she needed to walk through to get out. 

" Oh, you're awake. " Catalina had to stop walking when she heard the voice behind her. She turned around and this was the man who took care of her last night yet she still didn't know his name. " Good morning. Come on, join us for breakfast. "

" Oh, thanks but no thanks. I'm full and I had to—" the traitor was not just a tear, but also her stomach  when it suddenly growls. 

" See? Your stomach says something different, " he playfully said and both hands were placed on both of her shoulders to take her to the kitchen. " Come and join us before you leave. You have to eat because you didn't eat last night. "

She had no choice but to accept his offer when she sniff the aromatic smell from somewhere in this mansion. She lost her mind for a moment because of that fragrant smell.

A large and long table was revealed when they reached the kitchen. Not only did that surprise her but the different dishes on the table. 

" Good morning! " greetings from the men who are already sitting in their positions. She couldn't greet them back because she was hesitant to talk to them. 

" We now have permission to eat, no need to wait for him. He's still taking care of something upstairs, " said a man who almost just sat down. He was about to eat when his companion's hand slapped his hand. 

Catalina remained standing, still thinking if she was really going to eat with them. She is attracted to the smell of food but she is afraid that she might regret this after. 

" Don't worry, there's no poison in it. "  said the curly man on his side as he pulled a chair so she could sit down. " Just eat comfortably, don't be shy to us young lady. "

Catalina was unable to hold back because her stomach starts to rumbling again when she saw her favorite dish served on the table. She took the spoon and was ready to eat when she heard her companion's pray. Suddenly she felt so embarrassed that she slowly put his spoon on the table, put her hands in a praying position and closed her eyes to join. 

Shortly thereafter, they began eating a morning meal accompanied by the chatter of the men who were with her at the table. Catalina wasn't interested in their stories so she was just eating quietly and enjoying her last day in this mansion. 

" Hey, young lady. " Catalina stopped chewing when one of them get her attention. " How's your feeling today? "

" I'm good, " she answered before she drinks water. " Thanks for the breakfast and for accompanying me last night. "

They looked at each other, chortling. " You misunderstood us, young lady. You didn't have to say that but, you're welcome, I guess? "

Catalina just rolled her eyes before she stood up. " Yeah, whatever. Thanks for the food, don't worry this will be my last breakfast with you guys. I wish I could not see you anymore. Bye. "

She turned around and was ready to walk away when she saw someone melting her  with a sharp look. She had no intention of greeting him that's why she ignored it but he suddenly held her arm to stop walking.

" Where are you planning to go? " he calmly asked, looking directly into her eyes. 

" I'm going home. Thank you for allowing me to stay here last night, " she said casually and tried to take back her arm but she couldn't. " What's wrong with you? Let me go! "

" Quit pretending, young lady. Show me your true color, " he said with simple directness and then he pulled down the dress that Catalina was wearing which caused some expensive jewelry to fall off the she stole last night in one of the rooms she had entered.

Catalina closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh. She didn't bother to speak up to explain herself because she knew where it is going. 

" Do you have no intention of explaining it? " Rostam asked, pointing to the pieces of jewelry on the floor. 

" Why would I explain if it was bright as the sun that I stole it? " Catalina fixed herself then looked straight into the eye of the man in front of her. " Who would leave jewelries in a room if you know that a stranger is staying with you all night? Dang, is this your way of framing someone? I'm stupid but I'm not a fool! "

Rostam remained silent yet he was secretly amazed how this young lady quickly found out about his plan. 

" You really made a trap for me, huh? Why?  What's the reason? Who ordered you to do this? " Catalina asked but she suddenly remembered someone who was possibly the reason behind this plan. " Oh, I get it now. Are you one of my creditors? Maybe personnel of my creditors? If so, you did a good job! You already caught me. "

Rostam did not respond but his eyes were busy watching the young lady who seems frustrated about the theory she made. 

" I said I would pay you, right? I'm not running away, I'm just looking for another place to get a job so I can have money to pay you. You don't need to abduct me or imprison me, how can I pay you if I'm in jail? Don't threaten me or something, I'll pay my debt once I get a job, okay? " she continued but the man in front of her  still didn't say anything. Catalina turned her head to see the others and just like him, they seems clueless about what she said. 

The silence prevailed throughout the mansion. Even the kitchen cooks couldn't help but to gossip because of Catalina's statement with no breaks, that seems to be part of a rap competition.

" F*ck, you're unbelievable, " Rostam couldn't help himself but to cuss. 

Catalina pointed her finger towards him. " Don't f*cking swear at me! "

" I'm not swearing at you, young lady. "

" You do! "

" Did I mentioned your name when I cussed? "

Catalina didn't answer. She just observing the man who seemed to be pleased with the reaction she had shown.

She clenched her fist." It's up to you what you want me to do, but if you want to recover my debt, give me a chance and I'll give you the full amount of money I borrowed. "

Rostam just smirked at her, shrugged, and let her believe the theory she just made. It was negative. She's totally had no idea what kind of people they are.

***

Catalina seemed to be a street girl who didn't know where to go. Her mind was occupied by thoughts of how she will pay all her debt if she couldn't find a job because she doesn't have a high school diploma. There was nothing left of her, even her luggage with her belongings are no longer with her. She only have herself. 

" I should have kept at least one piece of jewellery to sell it, " she whispered then sat on a bench to rest. 

She's been hiding a lot of people who collects debts but it looks like wherever she goes, they can still trace where she is. She owes a lot of money but she doesn't even know some of them because she sees different faces every time someone charges her. Catalina had no permanent job, a part-time job was her only source of income but unfortunately, she was expelled.

She also couldn't finish college because she was rebelling against her parents at that time. She ran away from them to prove something, but how could this happen if her life has been ruined?

" I couldn't die like this as long as I am not rich, " she said while watching the shady sky. She had someone promised about her rise. Her late father but still lives in her mind and heart.

" How deep is your thoughts? " Catalina stopped mind-wandering when a woman sat next to her. She first noticed her busty because of the thin shirt she was wearing. She also had long earrings that almost slid over her side of the shoulder. " Don't stare at me, that might melt me. " 

She smiled awkwardly before removing her eyes from her busty. She couldn't help but look down on herself and simply compared herself to the one next to her. A melon and a watermelon. Not that bad. 

" You're beautiful and your body is also in good shape. You have nice skin and long red hair, " she heard from the woman next to her. " You're like a star, you're going to shine. "

" Uh, thanks? " she said, hesitant about her answer. 

She smiled and lit a cigarette in front of her. " Are you busy now? Do you have a problem that you are looking for a solution? I can help you if you want to. "

" Wait, do we know each other? " Catalina asked. 

" Nope, but let me introduce myself, " she extends her right hand for a handshake. " I'm Janice also known as Mamita. How about you? What's your name? "

" Catalina," she answered and accepts her handshake. " Nice to meet you, Janice, but can I ask where is this conversation going? If you want money, I'm broke. You see, I don't have anything. I'm a jobless and homeless person now. Find someone else you can fool. "

Janice burst out laughing. " Gosh, I already love your attitude! Fearless woman. "

Catalina raised her eyebrow, clueless about her reaction. " Okay? What do you really want? "

She smiled brightly, pulled a card out of her wallet, and lend it to her palm. " This is the answer to your problems, and if you are interested, just call me. "

Catalina looked at the card she was holding and based on the design and some details on it, she immediately knew what kind of job Janice offered to her. 

" Janice, wait. " She stood up to stop her from leaving and handed the card to Janice to return it. 

" Oh, okay. You're not interested—"

" If I can start now, will I get my salary right away? " she asked that made Janice have a smug smile.

" Right away. No more, no less, " she replied, scanning her from head to toe to see what suitable position she could give to her new recruit.

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