2. Preparing Lara

(MADAM ALORA'S BROTHEL:)

Lara stepped out of the bathroom, finished bathing, and walked into the room. Janet was already dressed in a skimpy pink gown that barely covered her buttọcks.

Lara asked, "Are you going out tonight?"

Janet responded, "Yes, what does it look like I want to do, sleep?"

Janet laughed, but Lara frowned and slowly walked to the exquisite bed, sitting on it while admiring the silk bedspread, feeling relaxed.

Janet said, "That's your dress on the bed. Madam asked me to lend you some of my clothes, as you'll be going out with me tonight."

Lara frowned, "Going out where? I'm not going anywhere with you."

Janet ignored Lara and stood by the wall mirror, applying her makeup.

Janet said, "I don't have time to argue with you, Lara. And honestly, you nag a lot." She frowned.

Lara replied, "You caused all this. Even though I'm in the village drinking garri, it's still better than coming here with you to the city and doing nonsense."

Madam Alora walked toward Janet's room door, knocked, pushed it open, and walked in. She saw Lara seated on the bed while Janet was already dressed in a short pink gown. She shifted her gaze to Lara and asked, "Why are you still seated on the bed? Stand up now and dress up quickly."

Lara frowned, stood up, and walked toward her tattered traveling bag. She opened the zip while Madam Alora stared at her.

Madam Alora watched as Lara brought out a torn pant, and she gasped, "What's the meaning of that nonsense?!"

Lara shuddered in fright, stared back at Madam Alora, and asked, "Is it me? My pant?"

Madam Alora replied, "Yes, you! Your pant. You cannot wear that torn pant and bra to go out. Jeez! You're going out with a prominent billionaire, not some cheap local village client. Janet!"

Janet responded, "Yes, Madam."

Madam Alora said, "Give her one of your pants and ensure you buy new clothes and pants for her tomorrow."

Janet replied, "Okay, Madam."

Lara frowned and watched as Janet walked to her wardrobe door, pulled it open, and brought out a tiny red pant that looked transparent.

Lara gasped, "What's this? I cannot wear this nonsense." She frowned.

Madam Alora stared at Lara in disbelief, knowing she had a lot of work to do with Lara. Even though Lara looked cute, her locality was still too much.

Madam Alora yelled, "Shut your stinking mouth and put it on. Did you even brush that gutter of a mouth to utter such nonsense? Look at the kind of pant you want to wear to meet my client."

Madam Alora walked toward the bed, picked up the torn brown pant Lara had brought out with only two fingers, raised it up, and spoke, "Look at the pant you want to wear and go out. Jeez! It even has holes and has been sewn in several places. I cannot believe a young, beautiful lady like you would be comfortable wearing this nonsense you call a pant. Hmm!"

Madam Alora sniffed the pant, threw it to the floor, she picked up the red G-string pant Janet had brought out, and raised it up.

She said, "Look at the kind of pant beautiful ladies like you are supposed to be wearing. Classic pant that will bring out your sexy, curvy shapes, not some local, stinking, dirty pant."

Lara frowned, not liking the red pant in Madam Alora's hand, and replied, "What's anyone's business with my pant? Isn't it under my clothes that I'll wear it?"

Madam Alora replied, "Enough! Now put this on."

Lara frowned, collected the new red pant from Madam Alora's hand, turned around, and wore it. The pant hugged tightly to her buttọcks, bringing out her shape and making her buttọcks protrude at the back. It didn't even cover her properly.

Madam Alora said, "Now this is what we call a pant. Janet, let me see the gown you've brought out for her. Will she need a bra to wear with it?"

Janet walked toward the bed, picked up the short, sexy red gown she had selected for Lara, and handed it to Madam Alora.

Madam Alora said, "Perfect! Now put this on! You don't need to wear that torn bra either."

Lara's frown deepened. She couldn't understand why she had to dress so provocatively if she was going out to meet a client. She refused to accept the red gown or put it on.

Madam Alora asked, "Are you wearing it or not? Or do you want me to call Jack? I think you saw my guards at the gate? I will just throw you outside now, and you can find your way back to your village tonight. I don't care."

Lara frowned and finally collected the red gown from Madam Alora's hand and wore it.

Lara was sad and had no other option than to put on the red gown. She slowly cursed Janet in her mind as she wore the red gown, which hugged tightly to her body and pushed up her brẹasts.

Madam Alora said, "Perfect! Now you're good to go. Go and brush your teeth and ensure you brush them properly so you don't irritate my client with mouth odor. Janet, once you ladies are through, please step out and meet me for dinner before you leave. You both are going to Billionaire Mike Ernest's new house. I've already contacted him and told him about Lara, so you should take her along and ensure you bring her back safely."

Janet responded, "Okay, Madam. But why didn't Mike send his car?"

Madam Alora said, "You know Mike. He has refused you all and is only receiving massages. I guess you know what I mean. He will like Lara, and her payment will be triple."

Janet responded, "Okay, ma'am."

Janet stared back at Lara as soon as Madam Alora left the room. She saw Lara sobbing again, walked up to her, and said, "I'm sorry."

Lara responded, "Don't you dare touch me! So you want to take me out to a man's house, and yet you cannot lend me money to go back to the village?"

Janet frowned and spoke, "Look, Lara, he's not just any guy. He is a billionaire, the sole heir to Ernest Hotel and Suites luxury. His hotel is one of the biggest here in the state, and he also has other entertainment houses. If you see him, you will like him. He's handsome, dark-skinned, tall, every lady's dream man, oh my..."

Lara yelled, "Shut up, Janet! I hate you! You ceased being my friend from today onwards. God! I cannot breathe in this tight red dress."

Janet apologized, "I'm sorry."

Lara responded, "Just leave me alone, but where's the brush and toothpaste since your madam said I should brush my teeth? I wonder if I'm going to be close to the client for him to smell my mouth first before he speaks to me." She frowned.

Janet smiled, walked to the bathroom, brought out a clean, white, new brush, put some paste on it, and called Lara to have it.

Janet said, "Lara, here it is, be quick."

Lara walked to the bathroom, snatched the toothbrush from Janet's hand angrily, and started brushing her sparkling white teeth.

Lara had a natural set of white, glowing teeth, whether she brushed them or not. Yet Madam Alora had insulted her, claiming she had mouth odor.

Lara frowned and felt like dealing with Madam Alora whenever she got her freedom. She wouldn't be used to make money from men.

Finished brushing her teeth, Lara finally walked out into the room and didn't see Janet.

She sighed and reflected on her life as she walked to the wide wall mirror to stare at her beautiful reflection.

Lara was beautiful, and everything a man would want in a woman. She blamed her mother for their suffering, for accepting to marry an older man, as it wasn't like her mother was forced to marry her father.

Her mother knew that her father already had a wife and kids, yet she fell for him and had an illicit affair that resulted in her mother's family chasing her away for choosing an older man. When lot of eligible young men were coming for her mother's hand in marriage then, her mother was still younger and beautiful like her, but her mother rejected them all for an older man.

Lara wondered what her mother saw in her father that made her marry a poor, older man.

Lara was beautiful, but she affirmed to herself not to have anything to do with any guy asking her out to be his girlfriend until she came of age and was ready for marriage.

Even as she became a young adult, she hadn't taken any relationship seriously. She only wanted an eligible bachelor to come for her hand in marriage, not a mere relationship. But because of her mother's story in their village, some village women didn't want their sons to marry her, fearing she might turn out like her mother someday, dumping their son for an older man too.