CHAPTER 2

Lara stepped out of the bathroom after finishing her bath and walked into the room. Janet was already dressed in a skimpy pink gown that, if she bent over, would clearly reveal her buttọcks from behind.

Lara asked, "Are you going out tonight?"

Janet responded, "Yes—or what does it look like I want to do, sleep?"

Janet laughed, but Lara frowned and slowly walked to the exquisite bed. She sat on it, admiring the silk bedspread and feeling tempted to relax on it.

Janet said, "That's your dress on the bed. Madam asked me to lend you some of my clothes, as you'll be going out with me tonight."

Lara frowned. "Going out to where? I'm not going anywhere with you."

Janet ignored Lara's response and stood by the wall mirror in her room, applying her makeup.

Janet said, "I don't have time to argue with you, Lara. And honestly, you nag a lot." She frowned.

Lara replied, "You caused all this. Even though I'm in the village drinking garri, it's still better than coming here with you to the city and doing nonsense."

Madam Alora walked toward Janet's room door, knocked, and pushed it open before entering. She saw Lara seated on the bed while Janet was already dressed in a short pink gown. She shifted her gaze to Lara and asked, "Why are you still seated on the bed? Stand up now and dress quickly."

Lara frowned as she stood and walked toward her tattered traveling bag. She opened the zipper while Madam Alora stood staring at her.

Madam Alora watched as Lara pulled out a torn pair of brown panties. She gasped. "What's the meaning of that nonsense?"

Lara shuddered in fright and stared back at Madam Alora. "Is it me? My panties?"

Madam Alora replied, "Yes, you! Your panties. You cannot wear that torn panty and bra to go out. Jeez! You're going out with a prominent billionaire, not some cheap local village client. Janet!"

Janet responded, "Yes, Madam."

Madam Alora said, "Give her one of your panties, and make sure to buy new clothes for her—and panties—tomorrow."

Janet replied, "Okay, Madam."

Lara frowned and watched as Janet walked to her wardrobe, pulled open the door, and brought out a pair of panties that looked transparent and tiny.

Lara gasped. "What's this? I cannot wear this nonsense." She frowned.

Madam Alora stared at Lara in disbelief. She knew she had a lot of brushing up to do with her, even though Lara looked cute—her village ways were still too evident.

Madam Alora yelled, "Shut your stinking mouth and put it on. Did you even brush that gutter you call a mouth to utter such nonsense? Look at the kind of panty you wanted to wear to meet my client."

Madam Alora walked toward the bed and picked up the torn panty Lara had brought out, using only two fingers on her right hand. She raised it up and said, "Look at the panty you wanted to wear and go out in. Jeez! It even has holes and has been sewn in several places. I cannot believe a young, beautiful lady like you would be comfortable wearing this nonsense you call a panty. Hmm!"

Madam Alora sniffed the panty and threw it to the floor. Then she picked up the one Janet had brought out and raised it.

Madam Alora said, "Look at the kind of panty beautiful ladies like you are supposed to wear. A classic panty that will bring out your sexy, curvy shape—not some local, stinking, dirty one."

Lara frowned; she didn't like the beautiful panty in Madam Alora's hand. "What's anyone's business with my panty? Isn't it under my clothes that I'll wear it?"

Madam Alora replied, "Enough! Now put this on."

Lara frowned as she took the new panty from Madam Alora's hand. She turned around and put it on, but it hugged tightly to her buttọcks, accentuating their shape and making them protrude at the back without covering them properly.

Madam Alora said, "Now this is what we call a panty. Janet, let me see the gown you've brought out for her. Will she need a bra to wear with it?"

Janet walked to the bed and picked up the short, sexy red gown she had selected for Lara. She handed it to Madam Alora.

Madam Alora said, "Perfect! Now put this on. You don't need to wear that torn bra either."

Lara's frown deepened. She couldn't understand why she had to dress so provocatively if she was going out to meet a client. She refused to accept the red gown or put it on.

Madam Alora asked, "Are you wearing it or not? Or do you want me to call Jack? I think you saw my guards at the gate. I'll just throw you outside now, and you can find your way back to the village tonight. I don't care."

Lara frowned but finally took the red gown from Madam Alora's hand and put it on.

Lara was sad and had no other option but to wear the red gown. She silently cursed Janet in her mind as she slipped it on; the gown hugged her body tightly and accentuated her breasts.

Madam Alora said, "Perfect! Now you're good to go. Go and brush your teeth, and make sure to do it properly so you don't irritate my client with mouth odor. Janet, once you ladies are done, step out and meet me for dinner before you leave. You're both going to Billionaire Mike Ernest's new house. I've already contacted him and told him about Lara, so take her along and make sure to bring her back safely."

Janet responded, "Okay, Madam. But why didn't Mike send his car?"

Madam Alora said, "You know Mike. He's refused you all and is only receiving massages. I guess you know what I mean—he'll like Lara, and her payment will be triple."

Janet responded, "Okay, ma."

Janet stared back at Lara as soon as Madam Alora left the room. She saw Lara sobbing again and walked up to her. "I'm sorry."

Lara responded, "Don't you dare touch me! So you want to take me out to a man's house, and yet you can't lend me money to go back to the village?"

Janet frowned and said, "Look, Lara, he's not just any guy. He is a billionaire, and he's the sole heir to Ernest Hotel and Suites luxury. His hotel is one of the biggest in the state, and he also has other entertainment houses. If you see him, you'll like him. He's like a god on earth—handsome, dark-skinned, every lady's dream man. Oh my..."

Lara yelled, "Shut up, Janet! I hate you! And you're no longer my friend from today onward. God! I can't breathe in this tight red dress."

Janet apologized. "I'm sorry..."

Lara responded, "Just leave me alone. But where's the brush and toothpaste since your madam said I should brush my teeth? I wonder if I'm going to be so close to the client that he'll smell my mouth before he speaks to me." She frowned.

Janet smiled and walked to the bathroom to bring out a clean, new white toothbrush. She put some paste on it and called to Lara.

Janet said, "Lara, here it is. Be quick."

Lara walked to the bathroom and snatched the toothbrush from Janet's hand angrily. She started brushing her sparkling white teeth.

Lara had a natural set of white, glowing teeth, whether she brushed them or not. And yet Madam Alora had insulted her, claiming she had mouth odor.

Lara frowned and vowed to deal with Madam Alora whenever she got her freedom. She wouldn't be used to make money from men.

Once finished brushing her teeth, Lara walked out into the room and didn't see Janet.

Lara sighed and reflected on her life as she walked to the wide wall mirror in the room to stare at her beautiful, fair reflection.

She was beautiful and everything a man could want in a woman. She blamed her mother for their suffering—for accepting to marry an older man. It wasn't as if her mother had been forced.

Her mother had known that her father already had a wife and three children, yet she fell for him and had an illicit affair with him. It resulted in her mother's family chasing her away for choosing an older man. Meanwhile, a lot of eligible young men had come for her mother's hand in marriage back then, when her mother was still young and beautiful like her. But her mother had rejected them all for an older man.

Lara wondered what her mother had seen in her father that made her marry a poor older man.

She was beautiful herself, but she affirmed to herself that she wouldn't have anything to do with any guy asking her out to be his girlfriend until she came of age and was ready for marriage.

Even as a young adult, Lara hadn't taken any relationship seriously. She only wanted an eligible bachelor to come for her hand in marriage, rather than a mere relationship. But because of her mother's story in their village, some village women didn't want their sons to marry her. They feared she might turn out like her mother someday, dumping their son for an older man too.