There was notification on her " Mingle Bee" profile page. She had her first customer.
Elated she dashed off to Bella's , to share her happy news.
* KNOCK * * KNOCK *
The unexpected and thunderous knocks on the door startled Bella , causing her to fall off her bed .
" Bella! "
*KNOCK*
" Bella ! "
* KNOCK*
Bella was in dazed , after falling from the bed – What just happened? . The continuous thunderous knocks on the door snapped her back to reality. Hearing her name being hollered, she hurriedly got up from the floor to open the door, fearing something had happened to her friend. In her rush, she nearly lost her balance, but she steadied herself and managed to open the door.
" DID SOMETHING HAPPENED ?! DID SOMEONE HURT YOU !? " She asked panicked as well as worried. Her eyes wide with worry, her face flushed, and her brows furrowed in alarm as she stood breathlessly at the door.
" Whoa..whoa calm down . Nothing like what you are thinking happened . I just wanted show, I got my first client. !!! " She excitedly said, jumping in happiness. But seeing the strangely serious expression on Bella's expression she came to halt .
Bella : "....."
"You're telling me that's all you wanted to say?" Bella asked, stunned.
" Uh yeah ". Winow replied confused.
" God! You gave me a fright! I thought something happened to you . " Bella exclaimed running her hand through her messy long hairs .
Bella sighed in relief, finally catching her breath.
" Bella, what happened yesterday ? Tell me . You have been behaving weirdly since yesterday. What is bothering you ." Winow demanded worried for her best friend's weird behaviour.
" I...I don't want to discuss about it. Please Winow , I am don't want to remember it . I want to forget it ." Bella replied looking away from Winow . She was hesitant as well as uncomfortable.
" I am sorry I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable...um let's change the topic....I was saying I got a new client. What should I do know? " Winow asked tried to change the depressing mood .
" Um give me a moment, I will get ready and we will discuss about it "
" Okay " Winow replied giving Bella , her wide smile .
***************
It felt like the morning incident had been erased from their minds. They were now happily talking, leaving behind the sad event of earlier.
" Oh my ! You are so amazing Winow . You got a client so early ! " Bella exclaimed looking at the customer's profile.
" I know right! I was also shocked when I saw the notification. Should I accept it ? "
" Yes , you should! "
" It won't be a true relationship right ? "
" Ofcourse it won't be .The client will be paying for the companionship you will provide. There are no real emotions involved. It is strictly explained in the app's rules . Haven't you read it ? "
Winow shook her head in negative.
" Yeah, I had expected that ".
" It feels like I am standing at a crossroad. One path says it's morally wrong , don't do it ; while the other path says you need money,do it " Winow replied her finger hovering over the gap between accept and deny button .
" Sometimes you have to follow rationality over morality. Truthfully, the choice is yours Winow . Accept as well as reject button are infront of you , you are free to choose anyone " Bella was never a person to force her advice on anyone. She gave an option but the call was Winow's .
[ @LucienXuklov wants to send you message. Do you accept or reject his request ? ]
Taking a deep breath, she tapped on the accept button . The screen soon loaded into messaging interface .
@LUCIEN
Hii :)
I am Lucien. Frankly speaking , I am new to this app . Not quite sure , how the mechanism of this app work. Nevertheless, I still wanted to make a request with you .
Can you please act as girlfriend or partner to one of the gala event ? It is only for few hours . My partner who has supposed to go with me has been trapped with some kind of work . If you don't mind , can you take her place . If you are interested, please let me know .
" From his profile pic , he seems to come from an affluent family. He also seems handsome too . He can get any girl at the beck of his hands, why he is requesting me ?" Winow found it strange.
" His name sounds familiar...I think I have heard it somewhere but I can't pinpoint where. Anyways, what is it to us - if he can get girls or not ? As long he is paying you to do the job , there shouldn't be any problem." Bella shrugged off , focussing back on her breakfast.
" I suppose it wouldn't hurt ".
@WINOW
Hello :)
Admittedly, I am too new to this app.
Made an account out of curiosity , didn't
expect to get a client.
I would be happy to help. This will be
mine first time of going to any kind of
gala , so it would be helpful if you could give me some details.
@LUCIEN
Thanks for accepting my request.
So it's a charity like gala event for one night only on a cruise ship on the upcoming Saturday . You don't have to worry much about it . I will take care of most of the things . You have to only take care of your outfit. Please put on a blue gown , if you want I can send you one . It's a colour coded event and it is important event to me, so I can't take risk .
@WINOW
Okay. Don't worry .
I will take care about the outfit. Please just message me the address and timing.
@LUCIEN
Sure thing.
Timing is from 5pm to 9pm .
Please arrive at xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx address, I will pick you from there .
I will transfer the money and some extra amount for the gown .
[ ! Bank : User , amount of 15,000 USD has been credited into your XXXXX account ! ]
" OH LORD ! HOLY SHIT! 15,000 USD! YOU GOT TO BE FUCKING KIDDING ME!!!! " Bella who was looking at Winow's phone almost fell off her chair in shock . Winow too share the same disbelief.
" I have never earned such a large amount at once . It seems so blinding. He seems to come from a very ,very ,very, very, very wealthy family. Fuck! " Bella exclaimed in excitement.
" Am I dreaming? " Winow couldn't believe that it was reality.
" No honeybun , you aren't dreaming! It's goddamn reality! " Bella stated excitedly.
@LUCIEN
I transferred a small amount of 10,000 USD and 5000 USD for the dress . If it's not okay according to your standards ,I can send you more . Just communicate with me .
" Small Amount! "
Winow:"....."
Bella :"....."
Both were speechless and were looking at each other in disbelief.
" Are you kidding me ? Since when 15,000 USD started being counted in small amount? " Bella's jaw dropped to the floor .
" Winow , I think God of Wealth finally decided to bless you. You should quickly reply to this Mr.ATM guy." Bella stated beckoning Winow with urgency.
@WINOW
No , no , don't worry. The money is enough for me . I will meet you at the said decision. Thank you for choosing me .
@LUCIEN
I should be thankful towards you instead for accepting my request at such dire a time .
See you soon.
Winow smiled exiting out of the application. Just when she was about to celebrate, her eyes fell on the clock .
" SHIT ! WE ARE LATE!!! "
" FUCK ! "
***************
Sitting in the class, Winow tried to concentrate on her professor's lecture like Bella but her attention kept drifting back to scene wherein she accidentally bumped into another boy while she was hurrying to university.
Seeing the gates were about to close , Winow hastily apologised before running towards the gates . Thankfully,she managed to get into the university gates just a minute before the gates were closed . She felt guilty when the boy she bumped into didn't managed to get in . Before she could apologise again , she was dragged away by Bella . She felt guilty and unsatisfied of her apology.
" That's shall be all for today's lecture. I hope you complete your assignments . Another thing their will be a group project, in which everyone is mandatory to participate in . It beers mark . It is a collaborative project with chemistry department students . You all have already been paired up . Go to notice board to know about your partner and the topic of your project. End of the class ,students " Professor gathered his stuffs before walking away.
Students couldn't help but to groan after the professor left . They had friends with him whom they wished to partner up with but now they have to partner with random strangers.
Bella too slumped in disappointment.
"I thought we could partner up together for this project. Oh lord ! Have mercy on me ! The chemistry department students are real spawns of devils . Girls are manageable but the guys are the worst . God, please don't pair me with a guy, I beg you ".
" Let's go and see with whom we are a paired with ". Bella didn't seem excited at all . It was anything but excited .
" Yup! "
By the time both of them reached the corridor, the notice board was surrounded by crowds of students.
" HELL! Do I Have To Push Pass This People? " Bella couldn't help but groan. Just when she was about to dive into crowd, someone patted her back from behind, leading her to turn around. Winow also followed the suit.
" You must be Bella Hill , right ? " A beautiful girl wearing thin rimmed glassed with greenish eyes , milky white skin and light brownish hair tied into a high ponytail enquired .
" Yup, that's me . How can I help you ? "
" Actually, I am your project partner — " Bella accidentally gasped in shock leading to the beautiful girl to look at her in confusion. " Is their some problem? "
" NO! Absolutely not ! I just never expected, the class president of chemistry students, goddess Miss Audrey Hilton, to be paired with me . " Bella exclaimed fan girling over the said Audrey girl .
" Oh My! My~ You are such a cutie . I thought you were repulsed by me being your partner— "
" How can that be possible! " Bella exclaimed suddenly grabbing Audrey's hands . Audrey was shocked by the skinship and backed away a bit . Bella realising she crossed her lines , quickly backed away , apologising hurriedly.
" I am sorry . I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I just got extremely excited." Bella clarified looking up at the tall partner of hers .
" Oh no ,no, it's fine cutie. I was just shocked a little by the sudden skinship, no need to worry. Let's exchange numbers. Give me your phone ." Bella unlocked her phone , opening the dial pad , she handed it over to Audrey.
Audrey was typing something on Bella's phone and Bella was staring at her with worshipping gaze . Meanwhile, Winow who was on the sideline, couldn't help but to get jealous.
Her eye's widened when Audrey girl hugged Bella in friendly hug .
" Give me a call when you are free . Bye ,cutie " Saying, she walked away. Her hair swinging in air . Her hips swayed as she walked away like the models on a runaway away .
Winow was fuming when Bella turned around.
" Jealous? "
" Very much ! I never seen you acting so friendly with anyone. ' Goddess Audrey Hilton ' my foot ! " Bella couldn't help but chuckle at Winow's ranting.
" Fine, I will explain you everything. First , dive into the crowd and find out who is your partner. " Bella suggested.
" Hmph " Irritated, Winow barged in , angrily pushing away the students in her way to get near the notice board. She quickly scanned through the list for her name but she couldn't find so . While she was busy searching for her name , she bumped into someone.
Turning sideways , she realised that it was same the boy she bumped into earlier and was the one staring with a gaze swirling with incomprehensible emotions.
" I am really, really sorry. I genuinely didn't mean to bump. I was in extreme,hurry. Please forgive me . "Winow quickly apologise.
" I will forgive you if you buy me lunch ." The boy said grinning ear to ear .
" Sure thing" Winow confirmed , breathing a sigh of relief.
" By the way, I am your project partner. Let's exchange contacts" Winow nodded.
****************
Winow had a relaxed smile by the time she got out of the crowd. But when she saw Bella staring at her from distance, she quickly dropped off her smile.
" Got your partner's and project topic details ? " Bella asked to Winow who was approaching her .
" Yup . Now explain all the goddess Audrey Hilton thing ! "
" You are still angry about that ? " Winow seriously nodded. Sighing , Bella explained , " My dear bestie sometime you have to act like worshipper to certain kind people in order to safely have your work done without getting into any problem. And Audrey Hilton, along with all the other chemistry students come falls into this category. They are extremely arrogant and narcissistic people.The more you fan off their ego , butter them , worship them , the gentler they will act towards you. If you offend them you will end up like those basketball players who went missing ".
Winow's eyes widened in fear . Who doesn't knows about the missing case of junior basketball players.
" You didn't mean they—
" Yup! Chemistry students aren't that nice , they seem like . They are like chameleon's who change their colours every moment. They will act all nice and friendly to you on your face but the very next moment they won't hesitate to stab you in your back . As soon as , you broke/part away from them , the better it will be from ".
Even though Bella able to maintain her poker face , Winow couldn't do the same . Her expression was like she had seen some kind of extremely horror movie.
" By the way , who is your partner? " Bella suddenly asked , changing the topic
" Oh mine ? The guy , I was telling you about, with whom I had bumped into this morning, is my project partner. His name is Hunter Branson "
!!!!!
" WHAT!!! "