Chapter 06

Gia's POV

I ran inside and stopped in front of the tall mirror in the hallway.

A stranger stared back at me.

Long legs. A small waist. Soft curves in all the right places. My face was the same face, but sharper now, with high cheekbones I never knew I had. My skin glowed like I'd slept for a hundred years.

I touched my cheek. The girl in the mirror touched hers.

"Is this really me?" I whispered.

*Host's weight reduced by 110 pounds. Body optimization complete.*

"A hundred and ten pounds?" I spun around, then spun back. "Gone? Overnight?"

I laughed out loud. The sound bounced off the empty walls.

Then I remembered something.

I dug through my suitcase until I found it, folded at the very bottom. A sky-blue silk dress with thin straps. I bought it two years ago on sale, promising myself I'd wear it someday. It had never once gone past my hips.

I slipped it on.

It slid down my body like water and fit perfectly.

I stood in front of the mirror again and couldn't stop staring. "I always knew this dress was beautiful," I murmured. "I just never knew I could be beautiful in it."

I lifted my chin and looked myself in the eye.

"Gia Hart," I said firmly, "you're not the girl everybody laughs at anymore."

*Ding! Congratulations, Host, on completing the Beginner Challenge. Phase Two will last forty days. The Random Task feature is now active. Daily spending limit increased to $3,000.*

"Three thousand a day?" I clapped my hands. "That means I need more handsome men. Lots more. I'll push every one of them to sixty points and open box after box."

I grabbed my phone from the kitchen counter, already planning.

There was a message waiting. From a number I didn't know.

---

Enzo's POV

I checked my phone again. Nothing.

I'd sent the message at ten last night. It was almost nine in the morning now. Eleven hours.

She'd read it. I was sure she had. Honeybee never left anyone waiting this long.

I paced across my small apartment, phone in hand. Making a new number just to reach her had cost me twenty dollars. She'd better answer.

"Come on," I muttered. "Say something."

---

Gia's POV

*Hey. It's Enzo. Made a new number because you blocked me. I can't stop thinking about you, Honeybee. Please talk to me.*

I read it once and felt my chest squeeze.

For one stupid second, I remembered his dimple. His warm voice saying *I'm all yours tonight.* My thumb hovered over the reply button.

Then I heard it again in my head. *Honeybee is just a wallet.*

I pulled my thumb back like the phone was hot.

"Shameless," I said under my breath. "I almost lost my mind there for a second."

Another message popped up before I could put the phone down. A voice note.

I pressed play.

Soft piano. Then Enzo's voice, low and gentle, singing a slow song I'd never heard before. Every line was about a girl who stayed when nobody else did. A girl who made the dark feel warm.

I rolled my eyes so hard it almost hurt.

"So this is how you charm your rich lady fans," I said to the empty kitchen. "No wonder you make so much money."

Text bubbles appeared.

*Believe it or not, I wrote that song myself. I've never sent it to anyone else. Only you.*

I leaned against the counter and typed slowly.

*And why exactly are you sending it to me?*

His answer came fast.

*Guess.*

I snorted. *I'm not guessing. Keep it to yourself then.*

The typing dots appeared. Stopped. Appeared again.

*Honestly? Watching you spend on other guys makes me feel sick. I didn't know it would hurt this much until I lost you.*

I stared at the words. Then I laughed, a short, dry laugh.

"Wow," I said. "He really knows how to play the heartbroken boyfriend."

*Ding!*

*Enzo's affection toward Host: 68 points.*

I blinked at the empty air.

"Wait. His affection went *up*?"