GALA I

"Fuck!"

I angrily tossed away my duvet from my body to the foot of my bed, covering both my ears with my hands, cause of the obnoxious noise that came from outside my room. Peeling away the tightly drawn blinds from my eyes, I sat up straight on the bed, cussing inwardly at whoever made those annoying sounds.

For the first time in days, I was having a wonderful rest cause I wasn't worrying about our debts, but now it's all over thanks to whoever was making those disturbing noises.

Just as my feet touched my fluffy pink slippers on the floor, a knock on my door attracted my attention and stopped me from going to where I wanted to initially, my bathroom. 

"Come in."

My mum walked in with a carton in her hands. Her face brightened when she saw I was up on my feet.

"Good morning, honey. I was about to come to wake you, it's a good thing you're up already."

I smiled. "I just got up." 

She nodded and I watched her place the carton on my desk. Her eyes rummaged around my room, before coming back to my face. "Hope you slept well."

I wish I had more sleep. I fumed.

"What's going on, Mum? What's the annoying sound?"

"Oh, did it wake you up? Sorry about that, I just wanted to fix a few things around here before we move, you know?"

"Oh..." I nodded as my eyes went to the carton on my desk that she stood close to.

"You have a guest, waiting for you downstairs."

A guest?

"I invited him inside, but he declined and insisted on waiting outside, on the porch for you. He seems to be in a haste though."

My brows crumbled slightly as I wondered who that could be. "Did the person describe himself?"

"Not really, he only said his name is... Ezekiel? Something like that."

"Zeke?"

"Yes, that's the name. So you do know him."

I look into her interested eyes. "Yes, mum. He's my colleague I told you about."

"Really? How delightful! Maybe I should invite him for breakfast so I can thank him for helping you out-"

"That won't be necessary, Mum!" My voice went higher than usual, and I bit my lips in regret when I heard her say, "Oh," in an embarrassed tone, obviously from the way I reacted.

"Don't keep him waiting, then." She picked up the carton and walked out of my room.

I fumbled, "Mum-" as I watched her leave and slammed my right hand against my forehead.

How can I overreact that way, knowing how sensitive my mum is?

Standing to my feet, I let out a frustrated sigh as I dragged my feet out of the room. I didn't bother changing my pajamas since I was just going to go find out why Zeke was at the door of my house this early.

I opened the front door when I got downstairs and walked to the stairs on the front porch, in search of Zeke whom my mum informed me was waiting for me. As I descended the stairs, I turned to the door behind me when I heard his voice.

"Good morning, Miss Abigail."

Zeke stood close to the door, resting partially on it with both arms wrapped around each other. His chocolate brown eyes were directly on my face, and a smirk engraved the side of his lips when I approached him.

Why was he speaking so formally with me?

"You look better than you did the last time we met." Zeke stood straight when I got to him and I forced a smile.

"It's all thanks to you, Zeke."

"Is it? I just brought the offer." 

"I don't think I would have had a choice in the first place if not for the offer you brought."

He nodded in affirmation to my last remark, "fair point," and continued after he watched me take a quick look around, "I'm here to take you away for your first assignment."

My wandering eyes rested on his face as they enlarged in confusion about his message relayed.

"Why do you look so startled? Didn't you get a text yesterday?"

The text!

I looked around to make sure nobody was listening in. It would be disastrous if any member of my family found out about my job. They had already gone through a lot, and my parents wouldn't be a fan of my job. I wouldn't want to make them worry. 

"In preparation for that, I was ordered by Miss Khloe to bring you to a place," he continued.

Bring me to a place this early? I haven't even had breakfast.

He was quick to catch my uneasiness and he said, We need a lot of time to prepare you before you get to meet the client."

I looked down at myself. He was right. I needed a little touch-up if I was going to seduce a man. I couldn't remember the last time I pampered myself cause I was too indulged in extra jobs to earn more living.

"Okay. Just let me get changed-"

"That would be taken care of," Zeke interrupted.

I let out a soft sigh. "Don't tell me I don't also have the time to say a farewell to my family?"

"You'll get to speak with them, soon, Miss Abigail."

Without waiting for another word from me, a couple of men, four to be precise, all in black suits stepped out of a car parked behind a limousine, a little further from our building, walked toward me, and led me to the limo. It felt like they were waiting for Zeke to utter those last words before they could come in and do their job. 

I climbed into the car hesitantly, devastated, looking out the car window at my home's building as though it was my last view. I wasn't even given a chance to protest.

Zeke entered the same car with me, while the other men entered the car behind the limousine, and we all drove off.

Everything felt surreal and I couldn't help but stare behind me, at my house, which was fading with each passing second. I only reclined on the seat when I could no longer see it, occupying myself with other views from the outside world.

I felt bad for what transpired between me and my mum earlier, and also for not telling them about my departure, but there was nothing I could do about it. I wonder how they would react back at home when they notice my disappearance.

Would they think I've been kidnapped or something?

Or would they go out looking for me?

My parents are dramatic, so this isn't impossible for them.

"Miss Abigail..."

"Yes," my sad eyes came to Zeke's face, but that emotion was replaced with bewilderment when I noticed he was now standing outside the car, holding the door close to where I sat.

I can swear I didn't notice when the car stopped, or when Zeke stepped out of it. Was I so lost in my thoughts that I missed out on all that had happened?

"I've been calling you for a while, what's wrong?"

"Oh, sorry about that," I only said and stepped out of the car, ignoring his question.

The sight my eyes held onto gave me an entirely different emotion about my job.

We were in front of the most expensive and opulent beauty salon in country X. It had the best spa and salon, all in one place and you only need a reservation to get in.

Zeke led me into the place and I quietly followed behind. I couldn't help but admire the place. It looked different from when I visited with my mum a couple of years back before we became bankrupt. 

My admiration was short-lived cause of Zeke who asked me to wait in the waiting room while he booked me in, and I complied diligently.

It took less than five minutes for Zeke to return with a couple of staff who led me to the spa section of the building, where I was excellently treated.

The entire experience—from the spa to the salon—brought up painful but beautiful memories from my past that I usually try to ignore. Even if I had wished to forget them so desperately, those moments still represented the happiest days of my life, and I couldn't just toss them away. That would hurt more than me comparing them to my new memories. 

The rest of the day went by with me going to different luxurious places alongside Zeke just to get dolled up. From the spa and salon to one of the most expensive jewelry and clothing stores. It was like I was on vacation, and Zeke made sure I was also properly fed. I couldn't remember the last time I enjoyed this kind of luxury, and it felt good to some point.

After the day's exploration, I was taken to a five-star hotel where stylists and fashion designers were assigned to prepare me for the main event of the evening.