CHAPTER_12
1095 Words
* * CONTINEUD FLASHBACK * *
* * Valentine's POV * *
. "Anne! Val! What are you doing there? Are you hiding?" Mama Juliet asked us in surprise, making us jump as she suddenly appeared in front of us.
"Huh? Hiding? No, Mama Juliet, we're just fixing our outfits," Anne quickly said, adjusting the hem of her short skirt.
"Yeah, Mama Juliet," I agreed, fixing my own clothes to make the excuse believable.
"Alright, come on, you two. The customer is here now," Mama Juliet said, which made my heart race. I was feeling calm earlier, but hearing what Mama Juliet said made the anxiety creep back into my chest.
"I hope it's not those two as our customers," Anne whispered.
"Val, are you okay? You seem nervous," Mama Juliet asked.
"You can do this," Anne encouraged me, squeezing my hand gently to calm me down. I took a deep breath and tried to steady myself as we prepared for what was to come that night.
"Let's go," Mama Juliet said again, and we followed her, walking behind her. Each step felt like it took forever as we neared the entrance of the VIP area. The weight of the situation pressed down on me, but I had to push through it for the sake of the money.
"Wait, Mama Juliet," Anne said, stopping Mama Juliet as she noticed that we were heading to the table of the two customers she clearly didn’t want to see. Her voice was filled with both nervousness and frustration, causing all of us to halt.
"Why? What’s wrong, Anne?" Mama Juliet asked, looking at her with confusion. Both Mama Juliet and I turned to Anne, whose serious expression was unwavering as she stared at the direction of the two men.
"Are they going to be our customers tonight?" Anne asked, pointing towards the two handsome men that Mama Juliet had been talking to earlier. With every word she spoke, I could feel the tension and resistance in her tone.
"Yes, Anne. You remember Matt? He specifically requested to be with you tonight," Mama Juliet answered. Anne's brow furrowed, clearly displeased by what she had just heard.
"He knows I’m here?" Anne asked, looking bewildered and slightly anxious. I glanced at her, unsure of the reason behind her reaction.
"Yes. He’s been looking for you for a while now. When I found out that Malou was sending you here, I immediately let him know," Mama Juliet explained. Malou, the manager of the girls at the other club, had been the one to assign Anne to this place.
"Why did you tell him, Mother? You know I don’t like him! He’s so arrogant!" Anne complained irritably, her voice laced with both anger and dismay. I remained quiet, watching their exchange.
"Enough with the drama, Anne. I even honored your request not to tell him where you transferred after leaving here. He’s been searching for you for so long, coming back here repeatedly just to see you. Shouldn’t you be glad to have a customer so eager to meet you?" Mama Juliet said firmly, her patience clearly wearing thin.
Anne let out a deep sigh, resigned to her fate. "Fine, Mama Juliet," she replied reluctantly.
As Mama Juliet resumed walking toward the customers’ table, Anne and I followed closely behind. Each step felt heavier as the tension thickened. Anne walked as if her feet were weighed down, visibly uneasy.
"Anne, just calm down," I whispered to her, trying to ease her nerves even though I was feeling anxious myself. I held her trembling hand to steady her. "It seems like you don’t have much of a choice. Let’s just get through this quickly, and it’ll be over."
"Val, this isn’t just about the job. I don’t like him because I had a bad experience with him before," she replied softly, her voice tinged with pain I couldn’t quite understand.
"Let’s go," Mama Juliet said as we arrived at the table. Anne and I stopped in front of the two men. This was my first time seeing them up close, and they were undeniably attractive. Yet behind their smiles, I could sense a mix of dominance and arrogance—especially in the man wearing a gray long-sleeved shirt, who was staring directly at Anne.
"Anne, Val, meet your customers for tonight," Mama Juliet introduced us. I forced a polite smile, while Anne struggled to mask her emotions.
"Hi, I’m Matt," said the man in the gray shirt, smiling widely. But instead of returning the smile, Anne simply glanced at him briefly before looking away.
"Yes, I know who you are," Anne replied coldly, her tone sharp and unwelcoming.
"Anne," Mama Juliet called her name sternly, clearly warning her to behave. Yet instead of getting offended, Matt just grinned, as if her attitude amused him.
Meanwhile, my attention shifted to his companion. He was just as strikingly handsome, and I caught myself swallowing nervously as I realized he had been staring at me the entire time. His presence felt overwhelming, and I couldn’t tear my gaze away.
"Anyway, Val, meet Chris. He’ll be your company for tonight," Mama Juliet said, introducing me.
"Hi, Val," Chris greeted in a deep, calm voice, his smile subtle but captivating. I didn’t know how to respond, so I simply nodded and gave a faint smile in return.
"Val, don’t be shy," Mama Juliet whispered to me, giving me a light pat on the back for encouragement.
"Uh... Hi," I murmured softly, still trying to compose myself. There was something about the way Chris looked at me, like he could see right through me, and it left me even more unsettled.
"Chris, she's a little shy. But she’s very sweet. You’ll enjoy her company," Mama Juliet added, seemingly eager to please him. I glanced at Anne, who was silently glaring at Matt, clearly trying to keep her composure. But deep down, I knew we were both caught in situations we couldn’t easily escape.
"Are we all set, ladies?" Matt asked casually, his tone oozing confidence.
"Anne, Val, you know what to do. Go and entertain them," Mama Juliet instructed before walking away and leaving us at the table. I felt the pressure weigh down on me, but I had no choice but to smile and sit in the empty seat next to Chris.
"I think this will be an interesting night," Chris said softly, his voice carrying a hint of intrigue and amusement. I swallowed hard again, knowing this night would be far more complicated than I had anticipated.
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