Even though it was very clear, that the woman in front of him was in dire need of money. Reject the check, if not weird then what?

Hearing the man’s word, Anna fell silent not knowing what else to say because what he said was true.

She took the man’s belongings without the owner’s knowledge

“Then I’ll keep it here. If you change your mind you can take it without telling me,” said Devan when he didn’t get a response from Anna, he then placed the check on the nightstand right next to Anna.

“Whatever,” said the girl.

“Hhhmm. You rest here first. I want to go out,” said Devan turned to walk towards the door.

“Where are you going?”

“I have an event in a moment,” Devan replied without turning his head.

“Where?”

“Hotel Ruffles,” said Devan.

“I’m coming,” said Anna managed to make Devan stop.

“You want to come to my friend’s birthday party?” asked Devan with one eyebrow raised.

Anna paused for a moment then nodded, actually this was not her intention. She didn’t know if it’s just a coincidence or because of luck.

The Ruffles hotel was not far from where Anna worked. If she went with the man, who knows, her condition would start to improve if she rested in the car on the way there. That way Anna could immediately go to work without spending a penny to go there. Good enough to save costs. With such thoughts, Anna dared to bet on herself. If not, then she will lose all her work and then die. Either because she died of starvation or because she died at the hands of debt collectors.

Anna didn’t want to die silly like that.

“With your condition like this? Don’t be joking Anna,” said Devan.

“I’m fine. After all, no one knows my body’s condition other than myself.”

“But, you might not feel at home there,” said Devan again.

“Don’t worry about me,” Anna replied.

“Well, if you insist, be prepared,” said Devan again.

I’m ready,” replied the girl again occasionally glancing at the clock on the nightstand.

Devan was frozen on the spot hearing the girl’s words. After a moment, a smirk appeared on his lips.

The man immediately approached Anna and lifted the girl’s body, carrying her into his arms.

“What are you doing? I can walk alone,” said Anna, trying to struggle.

“And fell again?”

“I don’t want to go to jail just because you died in my house,” Devan added.

Suddenly Anna became calm and silent at the man’s words.

Devan smiled faintly feeling no more rejection from Anna who was in his arms.

“Wait here a moment,” he said placing Anna’s body on the sofa downstairs very carefully, then jogged up the stairs, to a room on the second floor.

It was only about thirty minutes and Devan came back out with a new suit and style. A black tote bag hung from his left hand.

Anna who was waiting for the man on the sofa was already very nervous, her mind never left her work.

“Come on,” said Devan, carrying the girl’s body again towards his black Ferrari in the garage.

“Shall we go now?” asked Anna leaning back in the car seat.

“Erm.”

“By the way, what time is it?” the girl asked again.

“7 o’clock,” the man replied after glancing at the Rolex watch on his wrist while he turned the wheel.

Hearing this, Anna sighs a breath. Another hour left and she had to get back to work.

She closed her eyes for a moment and tried her best to relax her body.

***

Suddenly her body lifted, Anna was shocked and immediately saw who the culprit was.

Devan carried her again without a word.

Trying to adjust the light entering her eyes, Anna blinked. Turns out she fell asleep during the trip.

Devan led her into a pink building, seated Anna in one of the rows of chairs right in front of the wide mirror.

“Change her appearance and put this dress on her body,” said Devan flatly as he handed a black tote bag to a woman standing behind Anna.

The dress was intended for another woman he would randomly choose to accompany him to the party. However, hearing Anna offer herself, so the dress for the girl.

While on the other hand, when Anna looked around her, the girl’s brow furrowed faintly. Aren’t they going to the hotel? Why go to the salon?

“What are we doing here?” asked Anna turning to Devan, she also saw a long cloth wrapped around her waist that kept hanging down, covering her thighs which were previously exposed because the only clothes she wore were the man’s shirt which was a little too big on her body.

“I can’t possibly take you there with your appearance like this.”

Anna froze on the spot hearing the men’s words.

‘Who also wants to go there? I want to work,’ Anna thought.

“What time is it now?” the girl then asked.

Devan’s brow furrowed, this was the third time Anna had asked the same thing in only thirty minutes.

Why keep asking that?”

“Just sit there and be quiet.”

“Please take care of her,” said Devan again to the woman who seemed to be a beautician in the salon.

Devan then stepped into the waiting room, looking for the right place for him to relax while continuing to play on his cellphone.

While on the other hand, Anna who was left alone by the man bent her face.

She then turned her head towards the woman in the pink uniform behind her.

“Sorry. May I know, what time is it now?” she asked.

“Half-eight, Miss.”

Oh no, there are only thirty minutes left.

“Now, where is this?” Anna asked frantically.

The woman was confused by Anna’s question which she thought was very unclear.

“Okay. I’ll start it,” said the woman slowly removing the cloth covering Anna’s thighs.

“No, no,” said Anna, standing up from her position.

The dizziness she had felt earlier had lessened, and she only felt occasional sick on her head.

Of course, the beautician was surprised to hear Anna’s rising voice.

“Where’s the back door?” asked Anna scanning the entire room.

“But, your husband just now has…”

“He’s not my husband! Quickly, tell me where the back door is. Please,” Anna said, accompanied by a whimper with a pitiful face.

The woman sighs a breath. “Okay, over there, enter that room, turn left and the back door is there,” said the beautician pointing in the intended direction.

Okay, thank you,” said Anna immediately left go.

With quick steps, Anna headed for the door that the woman was referring to, ignoring the presence of Devan who might be waiting for her.

Nothing is more important than her current job.

Approaching the back door, the girl steps very quickly.

She touches the doorknob and then opens it. But no matter how hard Anna tried, the door didn’t move an inch.

LOCKED

A rough sigh escaped her lips. She had to go back to that beautician to ask for the key again.

Soon, the girl turned around.

“Need this?” said the figure who was currently standing right in front of Anna, one of the man’s hands holding the key while being moved in front of the girl’s face.

He is Devan.

____________________

Notes:

Beautician is a profession that is closely related to beauty services ranging from hair care, nails, makeup to skin.