Chapter 4: Use Your Attraction to Your Advantage.

She moved the knife to her other cheek to give herself another cut. She intended to give herself multiple scars on her face. She knew by doing this, she may never get the job as a model because all the models she had seen in the magazines had flawless skin and now she is giving herself scars.

"Ms, what are you doing," screamed Kate startling Dede who suddenly dropped the knife in her hand as her gaze shifted to the opened door.

Kate entered and walked up to her. Dede took a step back but Kate caught up with her and was surprised to see the blood on her face. 

"What are you doing?" Kate asked but Dede could not speak and her eyes were rather filled with tears threatening to fall. 

"Whatever you are going through, harming yourself is not a solution. It would rather give you more problems. Every problem has a solution," Kate said sounding like she was scolding Dede. 

"Look, I don't know what your problem is but I can assure you what you are doing now is not a solution," Kate said.

"What do you do when your problems are caused by your appearance?" Dede asked and Kate frowned wondering how Dede's appearance was a problem. 

"Come," Kate said and pulled Dede towards the bed making her sit. 

"Wait for me and don't do anything stupid. I would be back," Kate said and exited the room.

She returned a few minutes with a first aid kit and started attending to Dede's injury. 

"Now tell me. What is the problem?" Kate asked sitting next to Dede on the bed.

Dede sighed and narrated her whole life story to Kate. 

"You have a unique problem but it is not a problem. You do have a unique beauty and you are a woman. Attracting man is natural but you are like a magnet with extra power. You attract all kinds of men. Use it to your advantage," Kate said and Dede frowned. 

"What do you mean?" Dede asked.

"I don't mean give your body to men. What I mean is you can easily get the attention of people. You will need that since you are not a citizen of this state. Life will be difficult," Kate said. "You have beautiful skin, don't mess it up," she said staring at Dede's light bronze skin tone. "This will help with the scar once it heals," she said offering her an anointment 

"As for Mr Jackson. He has a thing for women and you being this beautiful, you are a target. Be careful around him. He loves no one but himself. He has a crazy sister who is also just like him. Pray you don't meet her," Kate warned and stood up to leave. 

"Thank you, Kate," Dede appreciated and decided to warn Julia about Brian hearing what Kate had just told her.

Dede got up and left for Julia's room but realised she didn't know where Julia's room was. She decided to go ask Kate when she ran into Julia at the staircase.

"What happened to your face?" Julia asked with a frown climbing the staircase up.

"Nothing," Dede replied covering the injury with her hand but quickly removed her hand because of the pain she felt. "Julia, can I please talk to you for a minute? Please, " she pleaded and Julia looked at her with disgust but still nodded and followed Dede to her room. 

"Julia, what do you know about Mr Jackson?" Dede asked and Julia scoffed.

"After going to my Brian's room to seduce him because you are beautiful. You stand here to ask me about him?" Julia spat.

"I am just looking out for you. Look, I heard something and I just want to tell you to be careful around him. At least get to know him well," Dede said. 

"Looking out for me," Julia repeated and shook her head in disbelief. " Is that what you were doing in his bed?" she threw the words at Dede.

"Julia, I came to this room. Took a shower and went to bed. I don't know how I ended up in his bed. I felt something cold which quickly turned warm in my chest region and I felt a hand on my thigh. That woke me up only to find him towering over me in the darkness. I asked him to get out and he told me I was in his room. That was when you entered," Dede narrated.

"Dede, in your narration. You left one thing. How did you end up in his room?" Julia questioned and Dede didn't have an answer. 

"Let me tell you what happened. You went to his room to seduce him, and because you didn't expect me to come to his room. When I caught you, you played the victim. Dede, I am not taking this anymore. You took Mike from me, Jonathan and now Brian? You want to tell me, that all of these people attacked you. How about your foster parents? And your class teacher's husband. All of these people attacked you too? Dede enough of your lies. Look outside it is sunrise, get out. I will not let you destroy another relationship of mine," Julia yelled and Dede was surprised to know Julia knew about her stepmother's accusation and what happened in the teacher's home. 

Dede grabbed her backpack and packed her toiletries into it. 

"Julia, thank you," Dede said

"Get out," Julia yelled and Dede quickly exited the room.

She headed downstairs and walked towards the main entrance. As she exits the apartment she runs into Kate heading for the door.

"What happened?" Kate asked seeing Julia was carrying her bag.

"My best friend threw me out," Dede said in a sad tone.

"Believe me. It is for the best. Remember what I told you about Mr Jackson," Kate said. "Look, there is a restaurant in town. They are hiring. Go there I am sure you will find something to do. Tell them you don't have a home. They will send you to the shelter home," she said and gave Dede some money. 

"You will need this," Kate said and Dede accepted the money, exited the apartment heading for the gate.

Dede walked through the gate and ended up outside. She walked down the pavement towards the street. It was a strange city and she didn't know where to find what. She didn't even know where the restaurant Kate mentioned was. She stood at the junction of the road lost in her thought.

"It was a bad idea to leave the country of my birth to this strange land. How will I survive and what do I do?" Dede thought. 

An SUV made a turn at the junction and stopped in front of her. The window rolled down and Brian's face was in view.

"Where are you going?" Brian asked and Dede narrowed her eyes at him. 

"Look, I know I messed up but you came to my room. I thought it was Julia until you climbed into bed. My bad, I should have woken you up. Do you sleepwalk?" Brian lied and Dede was shocked by what he said. 

How could she have sleepwalked into his room when she didn't even know where to find the kitchen? 

"It is a harsh world out on the street. Trust me, you will not survive a night. You need help and I can help you," Brian offered 

"What do you want from me?" Dede asked knowing he was right about one thing, she needed help. 

She didn't know the city and didn't know how to survive here on her own.

"You are a smart girl," Brian said with a smirk. "I want you. If you let me, I have another apartment in town. I will take you there," he suggested.

"I can't do that. You are my sister's boyfriend," Dede said. 

"Cut the bullshit. Your sister indeed. Look at where you are standing. I can bet a thousand dollars she threw you out. I know her type," Brian spat. 

"I decided to leave. No one threw me out," Dede said and looked away. 

"I can find out what happened with a phone call but that is not important. You are. I will make you a deal. I will help you get a roof over your head and you will pleasure me in return," Brian said and Dede lowered her head.

"I have never been with a man before," Dede said and Brian's eyes widened, and he stepped out of the car. 

"Are you being serious," Brian asked and Dede nodded. 

She remembered what Kate told her about using her attraction to her advantage. Brian got closer and held her waist. Dede trembled in his arms and tried to push him away.

"I will help you. Come with me," Brian said pulling Dede towards the car. 

Dede sat in the car wondering what she was getting herself into. She had just spoken and allowed Brian close to her with no plan in mind. Brian sat down next to her and gave a destination to the driver who quickly spun the car around. He joined the street and was soon on the road heading for the destination Brian had mentioned. The driver closed the divider and Brian didn't waste time pulling Dede into his arms. He was about to kiss her but Dede covered her mouth with her hand. 

"Wait. Please. I am new at this. At least let's get to our destination. Please give me time to put myself together," Dede pleaded and Brian sat back down. 

The car stopped and Dede looked outside. They were inside a compound of cars. Brian got down and pulled Dede out of the car with him. Dede scanned the environment wondering where they were but she didn't have to wander around for long as her eyes fell on the name written on the building. It was a motel. Brian walked her into the reception and booked a room. 

Brian walked Dede up the staircase into the room given to them. Upon closing the door after entering the room. He pinned Dede to the wall. His face inches away from hers.

"Do you know you are driving me crazy right now?" Brian said breathing heavily.

Dede was wondering what was wrong with him. Meanwhile, Julia was back in the apartment exploring her new environment.