Rose sighed and trod lightly on the stairs. She held her thumping heart as she was halfway to the visitor's room. With her eyes hung down, she knocked on the door with her right fist. She pushed her lower lip into her mouth, trying to stop sobbing. As the door opened ajar, Rose walked in.
"Hi, Rose, how are you? " Sophia greeted her with a warm expression.
" I am good," Rose answered in a toneless voice, without looking at Sophia.
Sophia began examining Rose's face with a doubtful stare. She sensed something was wrong with her. Her tone of voice indicated that she was not feeling well. Rose appeared like a worn-out house maiden. Her mind's trouble was visible through her gloomy face.
"What happened, Sophia? Is everything alright?" asked Rose in a wobbly tone.
" Rose, I think you are hiding something. Tell me what that is. You are looking sad at the moment. Your face and body language tell that." Sophia's concern was visible in her conversation.
Sophia continued to stare at Rose's face. Rose knew she could not hide her face anywhere. Then suddenly, a tear slid down Rose's cheek, making Sophia's eyebrows crease. Then a second and third dropped, and Rose burst into tears.
Her hidden emotions were coming out in the form of tears. It was evident that emotions have a way of coming out. No matter how hard Rose tried to subside them, they subsequently took a new form. Sophia strode towards a far-standing Rose and hugged her.
" Rose, don't cry. I don't want to see you tensed. You have to tell me everything." Sophia grabbed Rose's palm in her grasp, filling the interdigital of her fingers with hers. Rose knelt her head on Sophia's shoulder and sniffed without pause.
" Sophia, you are in danger." Rose stammered in a quavering voice. Her last word was barely audible.
" I am in?" Sophia questioned.
"You would not like to hear that, but Joe doesn't love you. He is using you for interests. He is arranging a party at night, after which you have to visit him in his private room alone. Furthermore, he will use you in the name of love. Not only that, but He will win your trust for the night and cut your body into several pieces." Rose covered her face with both palms as she finished her sentence in a small voice.
Rose raised her neck to peek at a puzzled Sophia. Sophia stood mute with a dropped jaw. Her left hand began scratching her forehead. She started rolling her eyes. Sophia couldn't believe her ears. She stood there like a marble statue until Rose nudged her.
" Sophia," Rose spoke softly.
" Rose, who told you all this nonsense." shouted Sophia." Joe is not like that. He is a good human. I can swear that. Joe is the youngest millionaire in this country. You all are voluntarily recruited by him. How can I believe someone working under him and defaming him? He has a great business." Slowly, Sophia began treading away from Rose.
Rose pulled out a folded paper from her pocket. Opening it to the fullest, she held it up straight, clipping both her hands to its sides. " Is that his business?" Rose's eyes were refilled with tears.
Sophia moved closer to the paper. After scanning the whole paper, her body collapsed from shock. Joe was indeed a businessman doing illegal operations to feed his business. He had been to the casinos, used girl models forcefully, and withdrawn money from the client's account for his purpose, yet managed to avoid a police inquiry.
" Is that true? I can't believe it." Sophia began nodding her head slowly in disapproval.
" I have several more pieces of evidence. You would surely believe it." Rose showed Sophia a drug that had been used by Joe against his competitors, without them knowing.
"I had seen the news report in which a millionaire named Gary Rensburg claimed compensation from a chef for serving adulterous food items. Garry was allergic to sunflower seeds. That's why no food item in that function had it. Joe attended it too, I know." Sophia spoke.
" This drug is made up of sunflower seeds. Its expiry occurs exactly on the day following the function. Isn't that strange?" Rose hinted at some inkling.
" I can relate it to the event." Sophia began guessing something, then coming to a conclusion," but I need more clues. I am still not convinced to think your way, Rose."
" Oh, Sophia!" placing her hand on Sophia's shoulder, Rose continued," you need to believe me. We have less time. Do one thing. Wear my waitress attire and enter his room. Conceal your face by holding a tray closer to it. He will mistake you for me, and you will be able to learn the truth. Are you ready?"
Sophia got preoccupied with herself for one whole minute. Then, hesitatingly, she answered in favor of the idea, though she was afraid of being caught. By hoodwinking the members of the room, she could learn most of the truth. If Joe were the same as described by Rose, Sophia would instantly shift her decision from staying to leaving the place.
After dressing as a waitress, Sophia grabbed a tray brought by Rose from the kitchen and exited her room. Sophia located Joe's room from the directions given by Rose. Sophia looked perfect for the waitress, with her hair tucked in a black diner hat, hair curls hanging over the forehead, bold lipstick, waitress black skirt, a white shirt, and fair skin.
Sophia took a deep breath and exhaled it before entering Joe's room. "Please, God! I hoped he wouldn't recognize me. Make him overlook me." She kept whispering to herself and patting her chest. Then she stood by the nearby wall after tapping lightly on his door.
Sophia adjusted her cap to keep her identity hidden. If a member glared at her for covering her face, she would excuse it for the sun's rays. The sun was harsh that day. Sophia had learned from Rose that she couldn't withstand the sun's rays. As a result, no one would suspect that it would be a disguised waitress.