Chapter 5

~•Arianna•~

When we stepped into the feminine clothing store, Rose gestured to the female representative who strode to meet us.

Several young women were in the store. It was Friday, and so the store buzzed with several shoppers busy selecting different dresses, handbags and underwear.

“Welcome, Ma’am. What will you like to shop for?” the saleswoman asked kindly. She was tall, fair-skinned, dressed in a yellow top and black straight skirt, paired with black shoes with low heels.

Rose gestured to me once more. “This is my girl. Get her something sexy and hot. I want a short red dress and black lingerie for her. So make it fast.”

“Alright, miss. Come with me.” The saleswoman led me to the changing room. Though my body was filled with sweat because I had been anxious all day. After getting my mother transferred to the Milos Private Hospital, and Dr. Nolan demanding that I deposit eight million, before he could find a matching donor for her.

I followed the saleswoman who picked out a sexy short red dress for me, and she checked the size. I was slender, and so she nodded.

“This will suit you. Why haven’t you had your bath? We don’t allow testing to avoid ruining the dress with body odour,” she said as the sun set.

Rose stepped into view and said, “Let her try it. I will pay extra. But ensure that it fits.”

“Alright.” The saleswoman didn’t argue. She handed me the dress to try it.

I went into the fitting room and stepped out wearing the short red dress. It hugged my chest and popped up my boobs.

“Perfect. This is best. How much is it?” Rose asked, her tone laced with sweetness.

“One hundred thousand,” the saleswoman replied, and my eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

“What? One hundred thousand for a dress?” I gasped, while Rose didn’t appear shocked about the price of the dress. She kept a straight face and asked, “How about the underwear? The lingerie I asked for?”

“Here it is. It’s a sexy Victoria piece. We sold it for fifty thousand for a set,” she said, handing the lacy underwear and bra to my stepmother.

My head was pounding. I cannot believe that only the underwear and the dress cost one hundred and fifty thousand.

“Wow, so there’s no discount?” Rose pressed and brought out her phone to forward the payment.

“No, miss,” the smiling saleswoman said.

“Alright. Wrap it up,” Rose cut her off and made a transfer.

Once she paid for the purchase, the saleswoman packaged it and handed it to me. We stepped out of the clothing store together.

“Ma, where am I going to change to wear it? Or have my bath?” I asked Rose, and she led me to the Jeep. Once we entered the car, she replied, “At the hotel. You will have your bath and change there.”

“Alright.” I stayed silent and watched the road as Rose drove the Jeep ahead to the Milos magnificent five-star hotel. My heart kept pounding against my rib cage as the vehicle arrived after a few more minutes of driving.

Night had fallen. It was 7 pm, and I felt anxious when the security men at the gate of the luxury hotel inspected Rose’s vehicle, before they allowed her to glide in.

Once Rose had parked the vehicle, she reminded me, “Arianna, don’t reveal to Don Milos that you are my stepdaughter. It’s for the best and don’t piss him off. Unless you want to get killed.”

Rose’s voice was laced with ice as it sent chills crashing down my spine.

“Got it, Ma,” I replied, trembling.

“Good girl,” Rose giggled and ordered me. “Get out now.”

I climbed down from the Jeep, my legs trembling when I glanced back at the towering seven-story building that loomed ahead of me. It was the Milos five-star hotel. The Milos had many private businesses and properties aside from the other dark businesses they run.

Gulping, I followed beside Rose as she led me to the hotel entrance.

Men in black stood there. Their gazes were sharp like they were waiting for any suspected criminals or anyone who wanted to cause trouble at the hotel.

Rose was grinning, humming like a bird as she arrived at the front of the hotel with me. The men in black greeted her like they were familiar with her, even as they stopped other arriving guests.

I lowered my head for the fear of anyone recognising me. I was still wearing my white nurse uniform and I could feel some guests’ eyes on me. But no one uttered a word. They were all minding their own business like they didn’t want to offend the Milos family.

Rose led me to the entrance, and we stepped into the grand hotel lobby. The place was furnished. Golden chandeliers were used to beautify the lobby, and Rose checked in with one of the hotel staff on duty.

“Hrllo, Don Milos sent me to bring her here,” Rose informed the female hotel staff who glanced at me coldly.

“Are you sure? Don Milos is not at the hotel yet,” the staff replied, her voice low and cold as she narrowed her eyes at me.

I lowered my head, holding the white shopping bag that contained the red dress and the black lingerie that Rose had shopped for me.

“Do you think that I am lying? Call Don Milos to find out. He sent me here. He asked me to bring her,” Rose said coldly, and the female staff trembled.

“You call Don Milos. I cannot allow you to take her there. The last time a lady was sent there, the last hotelier sustained a broken nose and broken legs for bringing a woman who is not a virgin to Don Milos. Call him first,” she declared, and Rose gritted her teeth.

“You will lose your job for making me waste my time. Fine. I will call Don Milos.” Rose pulled out her phone and dialed the contact. It rang once, twice, and the third, but Don Milos didn’t answer.

Grumbling, Rose dialed the contact again, and Don answered.

“Hello, Rose. What’s it? Did you change your mind? Did you discover the girl is not a virgin?” Don Milos asked, his tone laced with ice, and Rose giggled. “No, Don. It’s one of your hotel staff who doesn’t want me to send my girl to your suite.”

“What’s the girl’s name?” Don Milos asked, his voice chilling. The hotel staff’s eyes widened when she realised that it was indeed Don Milos.

“Please, Ma. I am sorry. I am only following hotel protocol,” she begged, but Rose didn’t pity her.

“What’s your name, bìtch?” Rose demanded, yelling at the girl, but she refused to say her name. She was trembling, shivering and even dropped to her knees begging Rose.

“I am sorry. Forgive me for my incompetence. I will take you to Don’s suite now,” she begged.

Rose rolled her eyes away in disgust, before she returned to her call. “Don, the crazy staff refused to say her name. She already apologized. Don’t let her ruin your night. I will escort my girl to your suite now and get her ready. I am sure you will like her when you arrive,” Rose said, her tone gentle.

Don breathed out over the call. “That sounds better. Lecture her well. You know my preference. So I will be there by 8 pm. I have some business deals to secure and that’s what is delaying me. I will join her soon once I am done.”

“Alright, Don,” Rose replied, before the call ended. She shifted her gaze to the trembling staff and asked, “Where’s Don’s suite? Take us there now.”

The staff rose to her feet amidst the crowd of guests watching her, and she led Rose and me to the elevator. We rode to the seventh floor in silence. Once the elevator stopped, the female staff led us to the presidential suite door and stopped.

“This is the Don’s suite,” she pointed, and the bodyguard on standby glanced at us like he already got the information of our arrival. He didn’t ask questions. He unlocked the door, while Rose led me into the furnished suite to get me prepared.