(The following scenes are from the female lead's PoV)
I look at the card in my hand and back at the building again. 'Immortal Heaven', huh. This is it, there's no turning back,... is there? I don't really want to do this but, you left me with no choice, Ashton; I need the money. I take a deep breath and push the glass door open.
*Jingle Jangle*
Receptionist: Hello- Oh, it's a girl.
I spot a very... sparsely dressed woman at the counter.
Receptionist: You want any service?
Claire: Um, no. I was looking for... a job.
Receptionist: A job you say?
She sizes me up.
Receptionist: Hmm, pretty face, good figure... Are you a virgin?
What?! Who just asks someone that?! I feel so embarrassed but that person told me that I'd get more money if I were. I swallow all my shame and open my mouth.
Claire:... Y-Yes.
Receptionist: Huh, then we can do something about the clothes then. Okay, follow me. Leila, take over.
She motions another woman to come at the counter and shows me to the office.
*Ker- clack*
She opens the door and signals me to stay put.
Woman: What is it now?
Receptionist: Some chick looking for a job.
Woman: Where is she?
She motions me to enter the room. The woman in the chair looks at me up and down.
Woman: 'She a virgin?
Receptionist: Yeah.
Then she looks at me again.
Woman: Can you do bondage?
Claire: Wh-What's that?
It isn't something kinky is it? She sighs and pulls out a magazine. She flips through the pages and shows a particular page with a woman wearing very lacey lingerie whose hands are tied with black ribbon and her eyes are covered with the same. Behind her, a man stands with a whip in his hand. OHEMGEE!! That's definitely some kinky stuff!
Claire:..! No, I can't do that!
Woman: Not even if we offered you a good sum of money?
Good some of money? I nervously gulp.
Claire: H-How much?
Woman: I don't know, how does 7K feel?
7K?!?! The first installment to be paid at the hospital is 5K, then the medication will cost 1K more which means I'll still have 1K for my college fees and the rest. The rest I can make by my part-time jobs!
But then again, this is going to physically hurt. However, Mum's done so much for me all these years, I can at least do this for her. I look at her with resolve.
Claire: I'll do it.
Woman: Well then, Chad should be here any moment now.
The woman hands me a contract for the job. This one is for the trial period: 1 month. I take a deep breath to compose myself and sign it after skimming though it with shaky hands.
Woman: Take her to change her clothes.
Receptionist: On it.
Chad? Is that one of their 'customers'? The receptionist leads me to a dressing room. I look at her wanting to inquire about the person they were talking about.
Receptionist: If you have something to ask, just ask.
Claire: Oh, I was just wondering who the man is.
Receptionist: You mean Chad?
I nod my head and she sighs.
Receptionist: He's regular. Likes banging virgins and bondage.
Claire: What?! He's a weirdo!
Receptionist: A weirdo who pays a lot.
Claire:...
What am I getting myself into? What if something happens? I try to convince myself that it's all for Mum but my uneasiness doesn't go away. I grab onto my clothes in nervousness. The receptionist hands me something.
Claire: T-This is..!
Wearing this is close to wearing nothing! It's all lacey and see through.
Receptionist: Black goes well with your skin tone. You can wear this bathrobe over it if you want but only till the room. I'll take it from you there.
Claire:...
It's all for Mum. It's all for her. I chant that over and over in my mind as I timidly take the clothes from her and enter the changing room. I change into the lingerie and wear the bathrobe over it. I've never worn anything so inappropriate like this before.
How did it come to this? I step out the room and she takes me to my 'room'. The neon lights in the dark hallways are make me even more nervous. Just as she's about to open the door, my resolve from earlier cracks. I grip the bathrobe tightly.
Claire:... I'm sorry.
Receptionist: What?
She turns to look at me, surprised.
Claire: I can't do this.
Receptionist: You've got to be kidding me. Are you sure?
I nod my head and look down.
Claire: I'm not ready.
Receptionist:...
She doesn't say anything. Did I piss her off?
*Click*
She opens the door and goes inside. What's she doing? After a moment, she comes back with a glass of water in her hand.
Receptionist: Drink this and think it over carefully.
Is she trying to calm me down? I do as she says and timidly take a sip of the water. Mm, it tastes weird.
Receptionist: What do you think you're up to? I've already made the arrangements and now you want to back out?
Claire: I'm sor- Woah...
Suddenly, my head starts spinning and I stagger. What the hell?! What was in that water?! I look over at her but, she doesn't do or say anything, she just stands there looking at me with no emotion showing on her face. My whole body is getting heated and it feels as if it's on fire.
I start falling short of breath and find it hard to keep standing with all the strength draining out of my body and I slump down on my knees. I don't remember what happened after that but the next thing I knew was that was laying on a bed, handcuffed.
What in the..?! I try to get up but fail. It's no use, I don't have any strength. My body feels so hot, I can't stand it. I'm sweating all over and can't see anything clearly. There has to be a way to get out of here! I look over at the door and just then, it opens.
Claire:..!
A middle aged man walks in and throws his coat on a nearby chair. This must be Chad. The room is dimly lit so I can't fully make out his face. He turns to look at me and flitch.
Man: They got a better one than usual.
He starts to walk over to the bed. No, this can't be happening!! I open my mouth to say something but no words come out.
Why is my mouth betraying me at a time like this?! I try to get my hands out of the handcuffs but it doesn't work out. I keep pulling my hands when I feel a sharp pain on my left wrist.
Claire: Ah!
It's painful! I wince in pain and meanwhile, the man sits on edge of the bed.
Man: We haven't even started and you're already moaning?
Claire:..!
He hovers over me and stares down at my body. A chill runs down my spine. He pins my hands over my head.
Claire: No...
Why am I not able to do anything?! I squeeze my knees together but he wedges his knee between them to separate them He leans down to kiss me but I turn my head away as far as I can.
Unfortunately, that leaves my neck vulnerable and he drags his tongue across it. It fills me with disgust and makes me feel helpless.
Claire:..!! Stop..!
I shut my eyes as tightly as I can in fear of what is about to happen....
After that night, days turned into weeks and weeks into months and I still kept going to Immortal Heaven to earn money. The wound on my wrist healed but, it left a scar that just won't fade away. I stopped feeling two things that day: physical pain and happiness.
Rumors have spread all over about me working as a prostitute because of Ashton. I haven't commented on it because I don't want to ruin his reputation and at the same time, I can't really forgive him for this. Would it have killed him to at least help me a little?
He blocked my number, refused to see me when I went to his house but, still found a way to bring me down. I was devastated when I found out all the things he'd been doing behind my back. I never knew getting over love was that easy.
I pull out my phone and check my planner. I've got a 'Girlfriend Experience' duty today and need to head to a restaurant in a few minutes; I'd better hurry. I head to the appointed meeting place and wait for the customer to arrive.
After he arrives, we chat idly. Funny how much I get paid to do this; all I have to do for now is to lend him a ear... Which I'm clearly not doing properly.
Customer: I just don't understand.
Huh? What was that? I wasn't really paying attention so I just squeeze his hand.
Claire: I'm sure it'll be fine.
He looks at me in surprise... Uh oh, did I say something wrong?
Customer: You're so nice.. Only you understand me.
Annnnd we're back to normal. He's so whiney, annoying even but, it's not like I can tell him that. It's getting dark and I want to head to the hospital to check on Mum. Just as I'm thinking this, he stands up from his seat.
Customer: Do you want to take this ahead?
Ahead? Oh, I see. I shoot him a fake smile.
Claire: Sure.
I walk along with him to...
Claire: A motel?
That too a very strange one.
Customer: Yes, I'm a little short of money.
If he didn't have that much money why would he want to hire a prostitute in the first place? Something feels off. I bury my doubts and follow after only caring about my payment. But...
Person: Quick! There's a police raid!
Someone bangs on our door and screams.
Claire:..!
A raid?! I can't go to jail! I knew there were bad vibes about this place! We have to get out of here ASAP! I push him off me and grab my shirt and bag from the floor.
Customer: Where are you going? Stay!
He goes to grab my hand, but I dodge.
Claire: Are you crazy?! Do you even understanding what's happening?!
I ask him while buttoning my shirt.
Customer: I'll pay you!
Has he lost it?! It's like he can't hear anything I just said!! Ugh, I'm seriously done with this guy! I finish buttoning my shirt and reach for the doorknob.
Customer: Wait!
Claire: Ah!
He grabs a hold of my shirt from behind but accidentally uses more force than needed and that causes its top buttons to pop out. He... He tore my shirt..?! I don't even think twice before lifting my hand.
*Smack!*
I slap him across his face and he stares at me in shock.... Oh, my God!! I hit a customer! I'm going to lose my job! But, what's more important right now is that I have to get out of here before the cops find us.
I quickly run out the door. I make it out of the motel through the back door in an alley and start running to the nearest bus stop clutching the top of my shirt. I'm just about to exit the alley when I twist my ankle and fall.
Claire:...
I... don't feel any pain, but can't get up either. And as I sit there in the dark alley, it hits me. I probably lost my job, how am I supposed to pay Mum's hospital bills and other things? I heave a sigh.
???: Are you okay?
Claire:..!
I whip my head up to see a man standing in front of me. It's very dark so I can't really see his face.
Claire:.. I'm fine.
???: Huh, for someone who just escaped a motel raid in a torn shirt, you sure don't look 'fine'.
How is he so perceptive?!
Claire: Listen, I already have a lot on my plate right now, I'd really appreciate it if you'd... shut up right about now.
Wow, I've never sounded that cocky before.
???: You're doing this for money, aren't you?
... Okay, now I'm officially annoyed. What's with him? Getting all know-it-all with a stranger in the middle of a dark alley; if he has so much time on his hands, he should just help me stand up.
Claire: So what if I did?
???: Well, what if I told you I can give it to you without you having to run out of motels?
What?! He can?! It's a tempting offer but...
Claire: There's no such thing as a free lunch. What do YOU want from me?
???: You're smart, I like that.
I can't see him do it but I can feel as though he's smiling and not a creepy one.
???: All you need to do is to pretend to be my fiancee.
Claire:... What?!
It takes me a while to process it all. Does this guy realize how much his proposal sounds like a plot of a romance novel?! And there's no way he's being serious despite his tone about asking someone he just met to do it! However, I DO need that money, I just lost my golden job.
There's no way I'll be able to make it by working as a waitress or cashier part-time.
Claire: Say, IF I agree to it, how do I know if I can trust you? We've only just met each other.
He chuckles at my question as if it's an unimportant or a rather silly one. Then he squats down to meet my eye level. I can finally see his face properly.
His blonde hair shines like gold in the dim light as his emerald-like eyes stare into my own. He smiles gently and my heart skips a beat. W-Woah, what was that about?
???: Then, how about we get to know each other? You tell me your name and I'll tell you mine.
I'm almost captivated by his aura and before I know it, I'm already introducing myself to him.
Claire:.. Claire Blanche.
Troy: That's a nice name. I'm Troy, Troy Anderson and I look forward to getting engaged to you.
Claire: You know that I haven't agreed to that yet, don't you?
Troy: I know you will.
Claire:....
This level confidence..!
Troy: Trust me, I'll treat you well.
I don't know why but, I feel like I can trust this person and I'm not being naive about this either. He slowly stands up and extends his hand towards me. The city lights illuminate his figure from behind making him look almost... unapproachable.
As I sit there staring at him in awe, a thought comes to my mind. Weird, a man I barely know just asked me to pretend to be his wife-to-be for reasons unknown and I'm not even feeling as anxious I was feeling a few minutes ago.
I don't know what compelled me to but, I slowly lift my hand to take his.....
Claire:..!
I quickly open my eyes wide and sit up. I look at my surroundings and sure enough, I'm in Troy's bedroom. That incident again, huh. I've been seeing it in my dreams a lot, 'don't know why though. I stroke his side of the bed, it's empty and cold just like my heart. I don't know when he'll be back.
It's been over 7 years of me pretending to be engaged to him to ward off marriages and to 'warm' his bed. If... if I hadn't broken up with Ashton 8 years ago, I don't think I would've ever met Troy. It's because of the rage of heartbreak I gave to him that he pushed me into this sex-for-a-living life instead of helping me or even talking to me.
I know I wronged us both but that person was right, we weren't on the same page and weren't meant for each other in every way possible. I didn't think that he'd become so merciless towards me though.
I was so weak and naive back then that I practically invited trouble to dawn upon me. But, I'm not the same person anymore; I'm not weak hearted or desperate for love. I have responsibilities to fulfill.
I need to clear my head. I get out of bed and change into my jogging attire to go out for a run. I guess I'll go to the nearby park. I leave the house unaware of the events that were going to change my views on the incidents that happened almost a decade ago...