THE SIDE PIECE (ENGLISH)

CHAPTER 4

TAMARA

I frowned as I slipped into the uniform the event staff had handed us for the car show.

The moment I looked at myself in the mirror, I grimaced.

Unlike my twin sister, Tamiko, who would've worn something this revealing without batting an eye, I couldn't stop feeling self-conscious. My fingers instinctively reached for the neckline, tugging it higher for what felt like the hundredth time.

It was the right size.

Too right.

The fitted top hugged my body so closely that I was convinced anyone standing in front of me could see straight down my shirt the moment I leaned forward.

"What kind of uniform is this?" I muttered under my breath.

No matter how many times I adjusted it, nothing changed. It had clearly been designed to show off more skin than I was comfortable with.

The dressing room door opened, and another model walked inside.

I watched her through the mirror.

Instead of trying to cover herself the way I had been doing, she casually pulled her neckline even lower, proudly displaying more cleavage before flashing herself a satisfied smile.

A sigh escaped my lips.

Almost every woman in the room wore the exact same outfit, yet none of them seemed embarrassed by it. They carried themselves with confidence, chatting and laughing as though wearing something this revealing was completely normal.

Maybe I was the strange one.

The curtain of one of the changing booths slid open.

When Nyx stepped out, my eyes widened.

I'd seen her wear revealing clothes around the house before...

But this?

This was on a completely different level.

"Wow, Nyx..." I breathed. "You look gorgeous."

The compliment slipped out before I could stop it.

Like me, Nyx had a curvy figure, but unlike me, she wore it with effortless confidence. The low-cut top accentuated every curve she had, and somehow she made the outfit look elegant instead of cheap.

As for me...

I had tan skin inherited from my Japanese father, along with almond-shaped eyes that made my heritage obvious.

Nyx, on the other hand, had porcelain skin and features that almost looked Latina. Even her eyes were unusual. Under normal lighting they appeared dark, but whenever sunlight hit them, hints of brown and amber seemed to shine through.

I'd always been curious if she had foreign blood.

But since she couldn't even remember her own past, I'd never had the heart to ask.

"I told you, Tam."

She admired herself in the mirror, turning from one side to the other.

"No matter how much Attorney Revamonte tries to resist me, he'll definitely get hard the moment he sees this body."

I blinked.

"Get hard?"

She caught my puzzled expression through the mirror and laughed.

"Oh, especially if I show him these."

She bent forward just enough to emphasize her cleavage.

I stared at her in disbelief.

"But... why would you show him your chest?"

"What if he touches you?"

A playful grin spread across her face.

"Then I'll touch him back."

She even bit her lower lip dramatically while flirting with her own reflection.

I couldn't help shaking my head.

"I think they're going to admit you back into the asylum."

Instead of taking offense, she burst into laughter.

Then, just to tease me even more, she cupped both of her breasts and lifted them a few times.

"Nyx!"

My eyes went wide.

"What are you doing? You'll get breast cancer if you keep squeezing them like that!"

She laughed even harder before finally dropping her hands.

I sighed and looked back at my own reflection.

Unlike her...

I couldn't appreciate what I saw.

If I bent over, my cleavage showed.

If I moved too much, my skirt rode dangerously high, making me worry someone would catch a glimpse underneath.

I wrapped my arms around myself for a second before letting out another sigh.

Still...

One thousand five hundred pesos wasn't a small amount.

If I handed everything I earned tonight to Nyx, maybe she'd feel a little better now that Mom had stopped paying her salary.

That thought alone was enough to convince me to endure the outfit.

Nyx insisted on doing my makeup before we left the dressing room.

I knew how to put on makeup, but only enough to look presentable. A little powder, some lip tint, and mascara were more than enough for me.

The event staff, however, wanted us in full glam.

So I let Nyx take over.

She worked surprisingly fast, her hands moving with practiced ease as she blended foundation, brushed color onto my cheeks, and carefully lined my eyes.

A few minutes later, she stepped back to admire her work.

"There."

A satisfied smile spread across her face.

"You look gorgeous."

She gave me a teasing wink.

"Every guy here is going to get hard just looking at you."

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

I simply rolled my eyes, refusing to give her the reaction she wanted.

Instead, I grabbed the information sheet the staff had provided and headed toward the event floor.

We'd each been assigned to different vehicles, along with a brief description of the car's features in case guests asked questions.

Fortunately, there wasn't much to memorize.

I read through everything twice before folding the paper and slipping it into my pocket.

At least talking about cars would be much easier than surviving an entire evening in this uniform.

"Are you new?"

I turned toward the woman standing beside me.

She had been assigned to the same group as I was and looked far more experienced than everyone else.

I gave her a polite nod.

"I knew it." She smiled knowingly. "I've never seen you at any car show gigs before."

Her gaze swept over me from head to toe.

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

I shook my head without hesitation.

"Why not?"

"Huh?"

"You're pretty." She tilted her head slightly. "And you've got a killer figure."

An awkward smile tugged at my lips.

"I'm still young."

"How old are you?"

"Twenty."

She laughed.

"I'm only nineteen, and I already have a boyfriend."

I simply nodded, unsure what she wanted me to say.

Was I supposed to feel jealous?

"What about a sugar daddy?" she asked casually.

I frowned.

"What's a sugar daddy?"

Her eyes widened.

"You seriously don't know?"

I shook my head again.

"No."

She laughed even harder.

"It's like having a boyfriend..." she explained. "Except the relationship mostly stays in bed."

She shrugged as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.

"You don't go on dates or post each other online because he probably has a wife... or at least a serious girlfriend."

I stared at her, still confused.

"But why would I date someone who's already taken?"

Instead of answering immediately, she rubbed her thumb against her fingertips.

"For this."

I blinked.

"What does that mean?"

"Money."

She chuckled.

"Are you really twenty?"

When I didn't answer, she shook her head.

"You don't know much about the real world, do you?"

A small sting of embarrassment settled in my chest.

She wasn't wrong.

Mom had always kept Tamiko and me sheltered from ordinary life. We'd been homeschooled for years because she hated the idea of us mingling with regular people. Instead, she insisted we attend parties and gatherings hosted by wealthy families.

According to her, rich people were too busy making money to waste time gossiping about others.

Back then...

I'd believed every word she said.

A few minutes later, the event staff handed each of us a stack of brochures to distribute to interested guests.

The woman beside me glanced around before quietly tugging my neckline lower.

I immediately pulled it back into place.

"If you show a little more skin," she whispered, "you'll earn bigger tips."

Remembering what Nyx's friend had mentioned earlier, I asked curiously,

"How much do people usually tip?"

A grin spread across her face.

"I told you."

"Once you see the money, you'll love this job."

She started listing the amounts some customers gave.

At first, I thought she was exaggerating.

But as she continued explaining how to earn even larger tips...

I wasn't sure I wanted to hear any more.

"When a customer asks about the car, stand close enough that he notices your body."

She leaned nearer.

"And make sure he gets a good view while you're talking."

I grimaced.

"If he puts an arm around your waist, don't make a big deal out of it."

She shrugged.

"You can always shower afterward."

"Money's more important."

Then she winked.

"And if someone asks you to go somewhere with him after the event..."

"That's completely up to you."

"The money gets even better."

She lowered her voice.

"Some men will even buy you a brand-new iPhone..."

A teasing smile crossed her lips.

"...if you make them happy."

Thinking about how badly I wanted to earn money for Nyx, I hesitated before asking another question.

"How do I get invited?"

She leaned closer until her lips were near my ear.

"Touch them."

I frowned.

"Touch... where?"

She looked at me as though I were hopeless.

"Their d**k, obviously."

My eyes nearly popped out of my head.

"I can't do that!"

"What if I get arrested for touching someone's private parts?"

She let out a dramatic sigh.

"You're way too innocent."

She waved dismissively.

"If that's off-limits for you, then just entertain the customers and hope they leave you a tip."

After that...

I decided it was best not to ask any more questions.

By the time the car show officially opened, the venue was packed.

Most of the guests were men.

Only a handful of women wandered through the exhibit.

While waiting for customers, I secretly observed the girl who had been giving me advice.

The event staff had told us to entertain the guests politely.

Apparently...

She had her own interpretation of that.

Come on, Tam...

Nyx has done so much for you.

You can do this.

I watched as she bent over to hand a brochure to a middle-aged man.

His gaze immediately drifted to her cleavage.

A moment later, he discreetly slipped a one-thousand-peso bill into her hand.

My eyes widened.

Wow...

Just one glance was worth a thousand pesos?

Maybe...

I could do that too.

I returned to the brand-new Lamborghini I had been assigned to promote.

Not long after, an older gentleman approached.

I greeted him with my brightest smile.

"Good evening, Sir."

"Would you like to know more about our newest Lamborghini model?"

He nodded.

I bent forward slightly and offered him a brochure.

Just as the other girl had predicted...

His eyes dropped to my chest.

The moment he realized I'd caught him staring, he cleared his throat awkwardly.

Trying to imitate what I'd seen earlier, I leaned forward again while explaining one of the car's features.

His ears turned red.

Before walking away, he quietly slipped one thousand pesos into my hand.

I stared at the bill in amazement.

It was true.

One glance...

One thousand pesos.

I was still smiling at the money when someone cleared his throat behind me.

Quickly, I tucked the bill into my pocket and turned around.

The customer standing behind me was much younger.

Well-dressed.

Handsome.

But something about the intensity of his stare made me uneasy.

Oddly enough...

He wasn't looking at my chest.

He was staring directly into my eyes.

Does that mean...

No tip?

After asking a few questions about the car, he thanked me and walked away without leaving anything.

I couldn't hide my disappointment.

So...

If they didn't look at my chest...

There was no tip?

Several more guests came and went.

Most were genuinely interested in the Lamborghini.

Unfortunately...

I was far more interested in earning enough money to surprise Nyx.

"Is it faster than the previous model?"

A deep, familiar voice sounded behind me.

I turned around.

"You?"

The word escaped before I could stop it.

It was him.

The man who had interviewed me.

Kyler Laurel.

Vice President of Laurel Construction.

His attention shifted from the Lamborghini to me.

Recognition flickered across his face.

His brows drew together.

Then...

His gaze drifted downward.

To my chest.

One.

I counted silently.

That should count as a tip, right?

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

I remembered his name without effort.

I'd always been good with names.

I wondered...

Would he leave me a tip too?

He was rich.

A vice president.

Surely ten or eleven thousand pesos wouldn't mean much to someone like him.

His eyes dropped again.

Two.

Then again.

Three.

And once more.

Four.

"I hope you didn't come here just to see me."

His tone was filled with suspicion.

"I didn't even know you'd be here—"

He let out a mocking laugh before I could finish.

He really was handsome when he smiled.

It was a shame he seemed convinced I was stalking him.

Another glance.

Five.

"Every woman who tries to get my attention says the same thing."

He shook his head.

"Do you really think you're any different?"

Six.

"You even applied to be my secretary."

He took another step closer, towering over me.

"Did you think I'd eventually fall for you once you started working for me?"

I wanted to defend myself.

To tell him he had the wrong idea.

But every few seconds...

His eyes wandered back to my chest.

Seven.

Eight.

Nine.

If I interrupted him now...

What if he forgot to pay?

He stopped directly in front of me.

"You're too young to be chasing after me."

Ten.

My eyes almost sparkled.

Rich people really were generous.

To someone like Kyler Laurel...

Ten thousand pesos probably wasn't even worth thinking about.

"Do you even know how to properly suck a c**k?"

One more.

Eleven.

I had been silently keeping count until his question finally made me frown.

"Do you even know I can sue you for s****l harassment?" I shot back.

The smug look on his face disappeared.

He froze for a split second before muttering a curse under his breath. His eyes darted around the venue as if checking whether anyone had overheard us.

I narrowed my eyes.

Wait...

He wasn't actually thinking of leaving, was he?

Without paying?

"Wait!"

I quickly reached out and stopped him before he could take another step.

"You forgot something."

He turned back slowly, his expression turning cold.

"What do you want from me?" His voice dropped into a warning. "And don't even think about making a scene."

Instead of answering, I simply held out my hand.

"You forgot to leave my tip."

"...Tip?"

His brows knitted together.

"What tip?"

"The payment."

I gestured toward my chest.

"You looked at my boobs."

I counted on my fingers.

"Eleven times."

Then, deciding to be generous, I smiled.

"I'll even give you a discount."

"Just ten thousand pesos."

Silence.

He stared at me as though I'd suddenly started speaking another language.

"...What?"

"I caught you looking eleven times," I explained patiently. "So I deducted one thousand pesos."

For several long seconds, he simply looked at me.

Then another curse escaped his lips.

"Are you trying to seduce me?"

"No."

I shook my head immediately.

"You're misunderstanding me."

"Just pay the tip so we can both move on."

His jaw tightened.

With obvious reluctance, he pulled out his wallet.

"I can't believe I'm actually paying for a f*****g glance."

As he handed me the money...

His eyes dropped again.

Straight to my chest.

"Twelve."

I smiled politely.

"That's another one thousand pesos."

His gaze snapped back to mine.

"One thousand pesos for one look?"

I nodded matter-of-factly.

"What if I touched them?" he asked with a faint smirk.

"How much would that cost?"

My eyes widened.

Instinctively, I crossed my arms over my chest.

"You want to touch them?"

He didn't answer.

He merely raised an eyebrow, waiting.

I hesitated.

Nobody had told me how much touching was supposed to cost.

I was still seriously trying to figure out a reasonable amount when a low laugh escaped him.

"You actually thought about it."

His amusement only grew.

"So you really were considering letting me touch your boobs."

"Of course."

I answered honestly.

"You can."

"But not for free."

The corners of his mouth lifted into a slow grin.

Instead of reaching for me...

He stepped closer and placed the cash into my palm.

"How much are you worth?"

I frowned.

"What if I just bought you instead?"

His voice turned quieter, almost dangerous.

"Then I could do anything I wanted with you."

My smile disappeared instantly.

I shoved the money back into his hand.

"I'm not selling myself."

I met his eyes without backing down.

"You can't buy me."

Before he could say another word, I turned on my heel and walked away.

Behind me, I heard him mutter another curse.

A second later...

He laughed.

I never once looked back.