“Hey, curly haired lady. I need your service.”“What would you like to have for a drink, sir?”“No. I don't mean a bottle service. I need you to play as my date for just one night.”“But sir, that's not a part of my job in this club. I can only serve your drinks- ”“Money serves as a reward for services rendered. Does this job pay you more than I can?”_____________________[Cattleya]I ran a finger through my hair to rearrange it after the incident that happened earlier.“I'm sorry Cattleya, it's really unavoidable for such a customer here at the club. You were the top service last week so the manager asked for you to come back.”I just threw a glance at my friend Loren. She's the one who introduced me here to the nightclub as a bottle service girl.At first, this work went well. But earlier, an o
“Cattleya...”I heard Loren mumble my name again, but I still don't have the enthusiasm to glance at her.“Catt, are you okay? You seem too preoccupied today. Our class has been dismissed and we can now go home.”Only then did I move my eyes to look around.Loren was right. Our professor was no longer inside. There were also only a few students left in the room.“Did something happen, Catt?”I turned to Loren and was greeted by her sad and worried eyes.“M-My little brother... Charles. He was rushed to the hospital last night after he passed out.” I mumbled. “The doctor informed us that my brother inherited the disease that took the life of my father… C-Charles also carries Thalassemia. And if he won't be given an immediate surgery, it can get worse and spread throughout his blood.”Loren kept quiet and responded with empathy by t
After they've spent more than two hours mending my entire body from head to toe, I am now finally standing in front of a gigantic door.When we arrived, I had heard that this was the home where the Madrigal family lived.I am honestly not so surprised because this castle-like mansion obviously screams wealth and royalty. This place is so huge that even before we got inside, I had already seen more than twenty staff.I once again threw a glance at the red dress I was wearing. I have no idea why this is the color they chose for me to wear, and why it has to be exceedingly revealing at the back. The dinner that we are attending is a wedding celebration, so I don’t get why I am dressed like this. Red is the least color a person should wear to this kind of occasion because it might bring bad luck to the celebrants.Or I guess, they really meant for this to happen.But anyway, I didn’t even try to whine about w
“I am willing to pay you any amount, Cattleya. Just consider my plan. This could be my last chance to save Ruegold. So please, help me.”I'm already getting annoyed by his repeated questions as he wanders back and forth in front of me, obviously anxious.For someone like him, this is already a massive problem. But, to be honest, this isn't even half of the issue that other people are dealing with today.The wealthy strive for fortune and honors. They are not yet content with what they already have. On the other hand, unfortunate people like me are barely surviving only to go back home and put food on the table.I let out a deep sigh. “No matter how much you pay me, I will never marry you. It is already enough for me that I attended your family dinner as your fake new girlfriend-”Jaxson cut me off, “Don't say that out loud!”“Okay, okay, calm down.” I said, raising both
“Wear this ring.”My eyes were drawn to Jaxson's outstretched hand in front of me.The dazzling diamond on a ring placed on his palm made me fascinated.This is most likely my first encounter with a genuine diamond. It is true, as some claim, that its brilliance is blinding. This item is flawlessly clean, with no visible scratches. It's like crystal clear water, and the ambience couldn't hide the sparkle it shows even when it's dark. It's pretty amazing.“What are you staring at?” Jaxson grabbed my attention as he spoke again. I simply shifted my gaze back to him without saying anything.“–What’s with that face? Don’t you want to wear it?” With both eyebrows lifted in a curve, he questioned bluntly.“It's not that I don't want to wear it. It's just that…” I replied hesitantly before averting my gaze from his.Wearing anything like that doesn't seem right to me. And besides, what am I going to pay if I happen to lose th
“Ms. Cattleya… Aren't you going to get up yet?”My brow furrowed in response to the unfamiliar voice I heard, but I remained my eyes firmly closed. My body is literally in excruciating pain right now. Especially my feet that I can barely feel anymore. It's even worse than walking around in high heels all-night. I gently twirled from my lying posture because of the stiffness that I felt on my left shoulder. I grant my hand to crawl and caress the soft bed as it feels so unusual. My nose crinkled when an unfamiliar smell sheathed my nose.“If I were you, Cattleya, I'd better get up and get myself ready before being called down to the garden.”Wait… that voice is familiar to me…“Aunt Elsie?” I jolted my eyes open as my palm flew over my head when I felt a minor pain.“Yes, Cattleya, you're not hallucinating.” She stated discreetly, “I am real. — And I came up here because she mentioned that you haven't shown an
“It was really my father's idea,” Jaxson made clear, which grabbed my attention over again. Honestly, I couldn't hear any of his further explanations because I was already feeling dizzy from being so famished. I couldn't eat anything because Jaxson took me inside their house after his public proposal earlier. Leaving the people outside who were stunned and seemed unwilling to believe what he said.Jaxson told me that we needed to talk about what had happened earlier. “My father urged that I make the proposal public so that a great number of people are aware of our engagement. And introduce you to everybody.” He kept explaining to me.I drew his attention as my feet came to a halt while we walked toward his room. I could scarcely read the emotion in his eyes because of how sharp he gaped at me. I let out a deep sigh. “To be honest, Jax, you don't have to explain anything to me. I understand that everything you do is in response to your father's d
"I also want you to be aware that I won't be able to assist you with our wedding preparations," Jaxson continued. "I assume my father won't settle for a simple ceremony, so that would be a huge preparation you have to deal with. Meanwhile, I have to go to Ruegold because, of course, I can't just stay here at the manor and carefully plan my wedding. I should be out there, making sure that none of them forgets my name."I was just staring blankly into an empty space as I listened to Jaxson's words entering my overly exhausted brain. I picked up at least a few things he said, but I'm just not in the urge to talk because every time I open my mouth, I become even more desperately hungry. My stomach has been churning for hours and it doesn't feel good."They should never neglect that I am still the Madrigal's successor, and certainly not my nasty little brother Lance."Being with this man all day is undoubtedly more difficult and tiring than being with my grumpy college professor. He just