CH006

Mia stared at herself in the cracked mirror of the hotel room, her eyes red from crying. The room was dimly lit which made it cast eerie shadows on the wallpaper and the expensive pent up chandeliers. She clutched a crumpled poster advertising a high-paying "escort" service against her chest with her hands trembling. It had come to this—a decision she never imagined she would make, driven by grief, anger, and the crippling weight of poverty.

The news of Jasmine’s death had shattered her. She was and had been more than just a friend; she was the sister Mia never had, the one person who had always believed in her, even when Mia herself had lost hope. Now, Jasmine was gone, reduced to ashes in a tragic bus explosion. And Mia was alone, drowning in her sorrow and regrets, unable to shake the guilt of not being able to save her, from her jerk of an ex husband nor from the bus explosion.

Desperation had led her here to this hotel to do something she had sworn she would never do. Her mind was a whirlpool of conflicting emotions—shame, fear, anger, and a dark, growing resolve. Jasmine’s death was the catalyst that had pushed Mia to a breaking point where nothing seemed to matter anymore, not even her dignity.

The door creaked open behind her snapping her out of her thoughts. Mia didn’t turn around; she didn’t want to see the man who had come to take what little was left of her pride. Instead, she stood frozen staring at her reflection as the man entered the room and closed the door behind him.

The silence was thick and oppressive and she could feel the man's presence behind her and even sense him watching her. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was about to happen. Slowly she reached up to undo the first button of her blouse, her hands shaking uncontrollably as she did.

“You don’t have to do that because I am not here for that” the man’s voice cut through the silence, startling Mia. It was deep and firm but not unkind.

Mia froze with her fingers hovering over the button. For a moment she thought she had misheard him. Slowly she turned around to face him, her heart pounding in her chest.

The man was tall with broad shoulders and a commanding presence that filled the small room. His face was partially obscured by the dim lighting but his eyes were dark and intense—were locked onto hers, holding her in place with their unwavering gaze.

“I didn’t come here for that,” he repeated, his voice steady and calm.

Mia stared at him with confusion and suspicion searing within her. “Then… why are you here?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The man took a step closer while reaching his hand into his pocket. Mia flinched, her body tensing in fear, but he merely pulled out a sleek phone and tapped on the screen a few times. A moment later he held it out to her showing her the screen.

Mia's eyes widened as she saw her bank account displayed on the screen. A large sum of money—more than she had ever seen in her life—had just been deposited. She looked up at the man with her heart racing. “What is this? What’s going on? Who are you and how were you able to get my bank account number?”

The man lowered the phone slipping it back into his pocket. “It’s an advance payment. You’re going to work for me.”

Mia’s confusion and curiosity deepened. “Work for you? Doing what?”

The man’s expression remained unreadable but there was a hint of something in his eyes—something Mia couldn’t quite place. “You’re going to be a nanny.”

Mia blinked, trying to process what he was saying. “A nanny? For who?”

“For my bride,” the man replied simply.

Mia’s mind was reeling. None of this made any sense. “Why would you want me to be a nanny? I don’t have any experience with children, and I—”

“You’re not here because of your experience,” the man interrupted, his tone firm but not rude. “You’re here because I need someone I can trust. And I believe you’re that person.”

Mia stared at him, her thoughts racing. This had to be some kind of trick or some twisted game. But the money in her account was real, and the man standing before her didn’t seem like the type to play games.

“I don’t understand,” Mia finally said with a voice tinged with frustration. “Why me? You don’t even know me. I don't know you either” she voiced being unable to see his face in the dimly lit room nor understand why it has to be her.

The man’s tone softened but just a fraction. “I know enough,” he said quietly. “I know you were Jasmine’s best friend. I know you were the only person who truly cared about her. And I know you want justice for what happened to her.”

Mia’s breath caught in her throat at the mention of Jasmine. The pain of her loss was still fresh and raw and hadn’t begun to heal. She clenched her fists with her nails digging into her palms as she fought to keep her emotions in check.

“What does that have to do with being a nanny?” she asked, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and sorrow. Who was this stranger really and why did he seem to know so much.

The man didn’t answer right away. Instead, he reached out and gently took her hand, guiding her to sit down on the edge of the bed. He sat beside her, his presence both comforting and intimidating.

“This isn’t just about being a nanny,” he said, his voice low and serious. “This is about something much bigger. Something that goes beyond Jasmine’s death.”

Mia looked at him, her heart pounding in her chest. What are you talking about? Who was he? What did he know and how did he seem to know all these.

It hasn't been a month yet since after Jasmine's death, why was he bringing her up, who was he to bring her up?