The cameraman sidled into the room and gave Stacey a long look. It was as if he was examining her closely. An expression of relief filtered over his face.
"You're looking a lot better," he smiled. "Glad to see you're up."
"I saw my videos," Stacey tilted her head at him. "I'm told you took most of them. How did you manage to keep up with the centaur in the battle?"
"I'm a good runner," Loafer flexed an arm and patted the side of his thigh. "I'm both nimble and strong. I just don't look like it most of the time. I was also desperate not to lose you. I had a feeling that if I lost sight of you, I might never see you again."
"Why do they call you Loafer then?" Stacey asked out of curiosity. "It looks like you've been working very hard around me."
"Ah," Loafer said, waving an index finger in the air. "That's different. Once upon a time, I was called AJ. Then stuff happened. Feel free to call me what you like though, I don't mind. I've been employed as your personal cameraman now because I take the best shots of you and haven't let you out of my sight when it counts. Haha," he laughed. "Whether or not you heal up in time to return to the program or not, you're going to be stuck with me. Hope you don't mind."
"I have a vague memory of you taking care of me," Stacey rubbed an eyebrow. She didn't need to know his past if he didn't want to share it. "Thank you, AJ. I won't call you Loafer. You definitely don't loaf around as far as I'm concerned."
"No worries," AJ's eyes lit up.
"Are we waiting for any other people?" Stacey asked.
"Yep," AJ replied, starting to set up equipment in the room, installing cameras and microphones here and there. "Tonton's coming with his apprentice who will become your personal stylist and makeup artist. He really wanted to be your stylist himself but he's already flat out. Landen is filling in as your manager but I heard Big Boss say that he's found Last Prose to be your sole manager. Landen's a bit miffed at that. Last Prose is his brother, see. They've been rivals in the business for a long time. He's still trying to convince Big Boss that he can take you on as well as all his other commitments, but his brother just recently announced he's preparing to retire from the industry and…" AJ shook his head, "you'll be his sole artist until he retires. Which is good for you. Last Prose is one of the best. You aren't losing out. Oh. Hello, who's this? Sorry. I didn't see you."
"Ning," said Ning, giving AJ a handshake. "Her bodyguard."
"Wow, Stacey. You've got bodyguards already," AJ patted his head.
"I got attacked by someone in the ward the other day," Stacey said, looking down and feeling a bit shy. "My husband said that I needed to have guards."
"Oh yeah, you're married to Big Boss now. I should be calling you Lady Boss or Lady Huo now," AJ whistled, looking impressed.
"Just call me Stacey," said Stacey immediately. Those other names didn't suit her. They really didn't.
Wait a moment there. None of the clips had shown her getting married. How had she married Thieren then? And when?
"What? What's wrong?" AJ paused for a moment, sensing her change in mood and expression.
"How and when did I get married? There wasn't anything in the videos I saw about me getting married," Stacey grabbed AJs hands. "Why did I get married when I don't know him?"
"Hoo," AJ glanced at Ning who gave a tiny shrug of his shoulder and gestured for him to go ahead. "That - that, well, you see, it is documented in the videos." AJ shook his hands free of Stacey's tight grasp. "You weren't married before, right, so that meant during this battle, any man who clearly saved your life or chastity would become your husband if he wasn't already married. It can happen the other way around too, if a girl saves a boy, but that's rare. The trainees who tried to save you are either still underage, were badly injured, so weren't eligible or weren't interested. Big Boss was single. He saved you from that wolf headed beastman with witnesses. Therefore, your marriage automatically became registered after the battle. Big Boss is waiting for you to get better before he arranges the ceremony and everything but legally, on paper, you're already - already married. Big Boss - he didn't - didn't explain any of this to you?"
"I'm gonna kill him," Stacey seethed, balling her hands into fists.
"Calm down," AJ soothed, backing away from her as if afraid of her. "Calm down, Stacey. It's ok. This happens to a lot of people. Most people get married this way."
"You're supposed to love a person first before you get married," Stacey snapped.
"That's - that's the modern, young, liberal way of thinking," AJ agreed in a weak voice.
"Why do you look like that? Are you scared of me?" Stacey frowned at the cameraman who was now standing on the other side of the room and Ning standing closer to her as if preparing to pin her down. "What?"
"Don't - don't get angry and lose your temper, ok?" AJ gave her a weak smile. "We don't want you to…"
Ning snapped a glare at him and AJ's voice trailed away.
"Wait. What-"
The door opened suddenly and several more people squeezed into the room. Stacey recognised Tonton, Mindy and Landen. There was also one other person - a girl, who was hiding behind Tonton.
"Stacey!"
There was a rush when all the people crowded around Stacey's bed to give her a hug and pat her on the back and cry over her. It sent Stacey's head into a whirl. All of a sudden, she was being pulled out of bed and into the bathroom by Mindy and the girl by Tonton's side.
"This is my favourite apprentice," Tonton pushed the girl with Stacey into the bathroom. "She will be taking care of your looks and style when you're not taking part in the program. While you're in the program, you're still mine though. Her name is Pearl Pin. Please take good care of her."
"But I don't have any money," Stacey said to Mindy when the door shut behind them. "How am I supposed to pay anyone?"
"Stacey girl, you forget you're married to one of the richest men in the the world," Mindy scowled. "The Big Boss has arranged for these people to be by your side, so of course he's already made the payment and contract arrangements for you too. I wanted to join in and be your personal writer and publicist but Big Boss said I have too much of my own work to do. He's assigned that bastard, Last Prose, to do all of that for you."
"Oh," said Stacey, feeling a bit dazed.
"What are you standing there for? Off with those clothes," Mindy ordered, reaching her hands out.
"No, no, no need," Stacey backpedaled out of their reach. "I can do it myself. I don't need any help."
"Big Boss is worried you'll slip and fall if you're on your own. Would you rather a nurse help you?" Mindy put her hands on her hips.
"Yes. Yes, please," Stacey hugged her chest, suddenly feeling like she was in danger. "Please leave me some dignity."
Mindy stomped her foot and scowled again. Pearl hid a smile behind her hand.
"Dignity? What's that? Sheesh, Stacey. We're all girls here. You're no fun. Come on, Pearl."
Mindy and Pearl exited the room and Stacey sat down on the shower stool with a sigh of relief. Not long later, a nurse came in to help her.
When she'd been dried and had at least her underclothes on, the nurse permitted Mindy and Pearl in to help her take care of the rest. Tonton entered once Stacey was fully clothed to help with her makeup and hair, guiding Pearl from the side.
Stacey emerged from the bathroom wondering what all the fuss was when they had put her in such a casual getup. She was wearing trackies with a hoodie. Her hair had been blow wave dried and tied into a half head ponytail that only just covered her bald spot where the surgery had taken place. In fact, the thick dressing was still visible if people looked closely. Wasn't this a very ordinary look?