Chapter 3

As I stepped into the opulent lounge, the room fell silent, and all eyes turned toward me, only the music played by the pianist made the stares somehow bearable. I felt a momentary surge of nerves but quickly masked it with a confident smile. Andersson was standing near the center of the room, surrounded by a group of distinguished-looking men and women. His gaze locked onto mine, and he beckoned me over with a casual wave of his hand.

"Ah, there you are," Andersson said, his tone smooth and commanding. "Everyone, this is Wish. He'll be entertaining us this evening."

I offered a polite nod and a charming smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you all."

The guests murmured their acknowledgments, some with thinly veiled curiosity, others with open appreciation. These were the titans of industry, the power brokers of Midas, and I needed to tread carefully.

Andersson clapped a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm but not unkind. "Wish, why don't you join us at the banquet? We could use some lighter conversation, before you go to my bedroom," his breath ghosting over my ear as he whispered the last part.

"Of course, Mr. Andersson," I replied, allowing a hint of flirtation to color my voice.

I spent the next few hours moving among the guests, doing my best to charm and entertain. I listened attentively to their stories, laughed at their jokes, and occasionally made a witty remark or a flirtatious comment that brought smiles to their faces. It was a delicate balancing act, appearing interested and engaged without drawing too much attention to myself.

One of the first people I approached was Michelle O'Neil, the CEO of a major tech conglomerate. She was a striking woman in her mid-forties, with sharp features and an air of authority that demanded respect.

"Ms. O'Neil," I said, offering her a glass of champagne. "It's an honor to meet you."

"The honor is mine," she replied, her eyes scanning me with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. "And please, call me Michelle."

"Only if you call me Wish," I countered with a playful smile.

She chuckled softly, though her eyes held a hint of condescension. "Very well, Wish. Tell me, how did you come to be in Mr. Andersson's employ?" her voice already revealing that she knew exactly how.

"Luck and a bit of charm," I said, leaning in slightly. "And perhaps a knack for being in the right place at the right time."

"Charm, indeed," she replied, her smile widening but her tone slightly mocking. "You seem to have a natural talent for making people feel at ease."

"It's a survival skill," I said lightly, though the truth of those words ran deep.

As the evening wore on, I found myself in conversation with Lucas Alvarro, the head of a powerful shipping and logistics company. He was a burly man with a booming voice and a hearty laugh.

"Wish, isn't it?" he said, clapping a hand on my back with a force that nearly knocked the wind out of me. "I've heard you're quite the entertainer," he snickered amused.

"I do my best, Mr. Alvarro," I replied, steadying myself, mentally rolling my eyes.

"Call me Lucas," he said with a grin. "So, what do you think of all this?" He gestured around the room at the opulent surroundings and the well-dressed guests.

"It's certainly a different world," I said, choosing my words carefully. "A far cry from the streets of Midas."

Lucas nodded; his expression proud and arrogant. "True enough. Those on the streets would say we have it too good but if they would know how easily you can get backstabbed and that death isn't the worst that can happen to you, they wouldn't look at us full of envy anymore," his voice filled with resentment and distaste.

"Yes, wise words, death is truly not the worst that can happen to you, not at all," I said trying to steady my voice and not let my emotions take over. "Death is sometimes a welcomed escape from the other ways to suffer."

"You seem like a smart lad," he said, raising his glass in a toast. "Here's to surviving, wherever we find ourselves."

"To surviving," I echoed, clinking my glass against his.

The guests' attitudes varied, but there was a consistent undertone of condescension in their interactions with me. They knew what I was, a high-class prostitute brought here to entertain, and while they might find me amusing or even charming, they never let me forget my place. I took their comments in stride, responding with practiced ease, knowing exactly what to say to keep them engaged and off guard.

As the night approached its peak, Andersson gathered the guests and led them toward a grand set of double doors at the far end of the room. "Ladies and gentlemen, if you'll follow me, it's time for our main event."

I followed at a respectful distance, but as we reached the doors, Andersson turned to one of his men and gave a curt nod. The guard stepped forward and addressed me.

"Mr. Andersson has requested that you wait for him in his private quarters. He will join you later."

"Of course," I said, dipping my head in a show of compliance.

The guard escorted me up a grand staircase and down a long hallway lined with priceless art and ornate furnishings. Finally, we reached a large, imposing door. The guard unlocked it and gestured for me to enter.

"Make yourself comfortable. Mr. Andersson will be with you shortly."

I stepped inside and the door closed behind me with a soft click. The room was luxurious, with rich fabrics, elegant furniture, and a large canopy bed dominating the room. I took a deep breath and tried to calm my nerves. This was the waiting game, the hours I had to fill before Andersson would return.

I moved to the window and looked out over the manicured gardens of the estate, the lights of the city of Midas twinkling in the distance. The grandeur and opulence of the place felt like another world compared to the gritty reality of the streets below.

As I settled into a plush sofa, I began to mentally prepare for the next phase of the mission. I had gathered some useful information tonight, but the real test was yet to come. I had to stay focused, keep up the facade until the moment I could make my move.

Time passed slowly in the opulent room. I wandered around, exploring the various nooks and crannies, always mindful of the hidden camera and recorder concealed in my clothing. From time to time I glanced at the door, expecting Andersson to enter at any moment.

But as the first hour passed and the house grew quieter, it became clear that Andersson was busy with his guests. The anticipation was almost unbearable, the uncertainty of what was to come gnawing at me. But I had no choice but to wait.

As I paced the room, my eyes fell on a small door at the back of the bedroom. I approached it cautiously, pressing my ear to the wood to listen for any sounds on the other side. Hearing nothing, I slowly turned the knob and opened the door, revealing a narrow hallway.

This was it - my chance to explore. I slipped into the corridor, moving silently, keeping my eyes and ears open for any signs of guards or cameras. The mansion was a maze, and I knew I had to be careful not to draw attention to myself.

I made my way through the dimly lit corridors, guided by the floor plan I had memorized. After what seemed like an eternity, I reached a door that I knew led to Andersson's private office. Taking a deep breath, I carefully picked the lock and slipped inside.

The office was a stark contrast to the opulence of the rest of the mansion. It was functional and austere, with a large desk dominating the center of the room. I moved quickly, searching through drawers and files, looking for anything that might link Andersson to the robbery and the shadowy faction within Solstice.

Eventually, I found a series of documents hidden in a locked drawer. They were memos and emails detailing plans and transactions that implicated Andersson and several other high-ranking executives. I photographed each document with the hidden camera and downloaded the files from his computer onto a data chip.

As I worked, I kept my ears open for the sound of approaching footsteps. The tension was almost unbearable, but I forced myself to stay focused. Just as I finished copying the last file, I heard the faint sound of voices in the hallway.

Panic washed over me, but I quickly hid the documents and put everything back in its place. Following my frantic movements, I seemed to push a hidden button on the side of one of the cabinets filled with documents. Before I even had a chance to realize what I was doing, a click sounded from behind a huge pile of books, revealing a hidden door that slowly began to open.

Still able to hear the voices of the guards behind the main door, I silently made my way over to the now wide open hidden door and observed a glass case filled with a metallic container.

Remembering that my mission included retrieving items that looked suspicious, I began to scan the glass box for a possible button or other way to open it. After turning around in annoyance after finding nothing, I was greeted by a small red button on the right side of the wall at the entrance.

To this day, I can't explain what demon possessed me to push a button without knowing what it really did, while breaking into the private office of one of the most dangerous people in the city.

Nevertheless, I pressed the button, and to my good fortune, but also to my utter misfortune, the glass case opened. With slow and careful steps, I began to approach the metal container, scanning the inside of the glass box for any possible traps.

On the other hand, there were no traps up to that point, Andersson didn't seem to have any paranoia about anyone finding his office or this strange container.

After making sure that nothing would cut off my hand if I tried to take the container, I did just that. With the metal box in my hands, I left the room and slowly placed it on the office table, hoping to retrieve whatever was inside, as it would definitely be easier to hide than this container.

Finding a button, I was easily able to open the box and retrieve a seemingly empty closed test tube. After inspecting it, stunned by the emptiness, I was startled by the guards behind the door laughing hysterically and dropped the test tube, shattering it on the floor.

It wasn't a loud sound, but being nervous from the whole situation, I was overwhelmed by panic and hastily collected the shattered glass, put it in a garbage can in the office, as well as the metal container back in its place, closed the hidden door after pressing the same button from before and left the office through the secret passage.

I'm not sure how long all this took, but for me it was only seconds, I can imagine it took much longer and if the guards had really heard me I would have been dead already, I'm not quite sure why I didn't just leave the room immediately through the hidden passage, maybe it was panic, maybe it was my inexperience in literally retrieving mysterious items or just plain stupidity.

I don't really want to choose any of the options, but I'm happy that it seems like I had more luck on my side that night than in my whole life. It was probably some kind of karma for all the shit I had been through before.

Once I was back in the safety of the bedroom, I took a moment to breathe. I had what I needed, but the danger was far from over. I had to play my part perfectly, keep up the charade until I was safely out of the mansion, and hope that no one noticed that I had destroyed the test tube.

I sat back down on the sofa and tried to act as if I had waited patiently the whole time. Taking my time to breathe and relax again, I finally felt a slight sting on my hands. Looking at them, I noticed that I had some small cuts from the shattered test tube and was now bleeding. Trying not to panic again, I made my way to the bathroom and looked for a towel.

After washing my hands in the sink, I grabbed a towel and squeezed it tightly between my hands. The cuts weren't that big, so they should be able to close by themselves, at least so I wouldn't bleed anymore. It would be quite strange if Mr. Andersson saw my bloody hands in the middle of our session or if I smeared some of it on his clothes. I don't really know how to explain these cuts?

"Oh Mr. Andersson, you were just so wild that we didn't look and I hurt myself a little," I imagined myself teasing him with a slightly whinnying and confused voice. Well, I for one would think that's shit no matter what, but I have a tiny feeling that if we were already at it, he would just buy it and maybe even be proud of it. What a sad world we live in...

After a few minutes I looked at my hands again and was happy to see that the bleeding had stopped, the wounds were still red and fresh but at least now they were closed. I threw the towel in the trash and made my way back to the couch, where I made myself comfortable and prepared for Mr. Andersson's arrival.

Hours passed, and just as I was beginning to think that Andersson might not return at all, I heard heavy footsteps approaching the door.

The door opened slowly and Andersson entered, his expression unreadable.

"Wish," he said, his voice a low rumble. "I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long."

"Not at all, Mr. Andersson," I replied, forcing a smile. "I've been looking forward to this."

He crossed the room, his eyes fixed on me. "Good. Because now the real game begins."

I spent the next few hours with Mr. Andersson, doing what was expected of me. Despite my nerves and the adrenaline coursing through my veins, I played my role flawlessly. My heart was pounding, each beat a reminder of the danger I was in and the stakes of my mission.

Andersson watched me intently, his gaze piercing. "Why is your heart beating so fast, Wish?" he asked, his voice a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.

I forced a flirtatious smile and leaned closer. "It's you, Mr. Andersson," I replied, my tone dripping with charm. "You have that effect on me."

He chuckled, seemingly satisfied with the answer, but I could see the flicker of doubt in his eyes. I pushed it aside and continued, making sure to keep him entertained and off guard. Every move, every touch was calculated, designed to distract and disarm.

When the night finally ended, Andersson fell into a deep sleep. I lay beside him, my mind racing with everything I had learned, the documents I had obtained, and the stupid test tube I had so flawlessly destroyed. I needed to get out of the mansion safely, but that would have to wait until morning.

The next day, I awoke to find myself alone in my bedroom. I took a moment to gather my thoughts, my body aching from the night's exertions. The door opened and the same guard from the night before entered.

"Mr. Andersson has instructed us to escort you back to your quarters," the guard said, his tone impassive.

I nodded and slowly rose from the bed. "Of course."

After a quick shower to wash away the remnants of the previous night, I dressed in my clothes from the day before, which now felt slightly rumpled and worn. The guards led me through the mansion, the opulence that had once felt overwhelming now bleak and terrible, filled with nothingness and cold marble.

The limousine ride back to Desire was silent, the guards' expressions unreadable. I stared out the window, my thoughts drifting to the information I had gathered and what it might mean for me.

But there was one thing that took priority in my mind, and that was the fear of what will happen when Mr. Andersson realizes that his precious test tube has been destroyed. I don't need to understand what was in it, or if there was anything in it at all, you can see from the way it was protected that it was important and I destroyed it in my stupidity.

When we arrived, the guards escorted me to the entrance and then left without a word. I stepped inside, the familiar sights and sounds of the facility both comforting and exhausting. I made my way through the main lounge, ignoring the few staff members who greeted me with polite curiosity, their eyes full of envy and disgust.

I finally reached my room. Closing the door behind me, I leaned against it and allowed myself a moment of relief. The exhaustion hit me all at once, my body and mind drained from the night's events and the tension of maintaining my facade.

I crossed the room with the last of my energy and collapsed onto my bed, the soft mattress a welcome contrast to the harsh reality I had been navigating. I was safe for now, but the knowledge I had gained weighed heavily on me. In particular, the mistake I had made clouded my thoughts and gave me nightmares to come.

As I drifted into a restless sleep, I knew this was only the beginning. The road ahead was fraught with danger, but I was determined to see it through, to complete my task and finally break free from the chains that bound me to this hellish orb floating around a gas giant.