Chapter Four
1386 Words
Chapter Four
Isabella's phone buzzed loudly, jerking her from her restless sleep. She turned, blinking into the dim light, and looked to see if Carlos was there. He was fast asleep. Isabella glanced through her phone again and it buzzed the second time, it was Rosalinda.
“Where are you, Bella?”
“Still with the client,” Isabella whispered.
“Oh really? I just got up and realized I didn't see you before you left. I have a client by 10am, it's a party.”
“Okay, I should be back in the morning.”
“Alright, Bella, be safe and tell him to give you some money for yourself.”
Isabella chuckled.
“Sure I will and thank you for reaching out.”
“I know you would do the same, we know we have only ourselves and Miguel doesn't care about our damn safety. I will see you in the morning.”
“Sure,we will, I love you.” Isabella replied.
After she hung up, Isabella realized she was really hungry. She wore her silky robe and went down to the kitchen. She found some apples and cake in the fridge. She ate quickly and drank some milk and water.
By the time Isabella returned to the bedroom, Carlos was up. He had his laptop in front of him, and some files by his side. He watched Isabella as she walked in.
“When is your contract with my agency going to end?” Isabella asked.
He smiled and hesitated.
“Am I too boring a company for you to be with?”
“Not that, Isabella stammered, it's just that I don't usually stay this long with my clients. I was informed at 6am but it's obviously not.”
He smirked. “There is always a first time, and can you please not call me your client ?”
“You are my client, you paid for me to satisfy you sexually.”
“Apparently, you really enjoy your job”
“Yea, just like you enjoy being a cop, or don't you?”
He raised his eyebrows. “How old are you?”
Isabella sighed. “I can see you don't give up, I'm nineteen.”
“Such a baby.” Carlos remarked.
“I didn't expect that from you.” Isabella replied.
There was a brief silence between them for a few minutes and Carlos eventually broke it.
“Besides this job, what else do you love to do?”
Carlos' words hurt her that moment. She didn't understand why it did. Isabella was used to being called a prostitute, but hearing it from him, it was really different, even when she acted like she didn't care.
Then he noticed the change in her expression.
“I'm sorry miss Bella, I didn't mean to upset you.”
She shook her head.
“Nah, you don't need to choose your words when talking to me mister.
Meanwhile I love reading.”
Carlos eyes widened, he couldn't hide the shock on his face.
“You love to read?”
“Can I give you case files to read?”
“Wouldn't that be against your profession?”
He chuckled.
“I was just teasing, I read a lot too.”
Then he paused.
“Your family?”
“You won't go there right? Don't ask about my family.” Isabella shot at him so he could see she was pissed.
“I won't, if you don't want me to go there.”
“I can't say anymore about myself. The only thing I can tell you is that I want to study journalism someday.”
“Really? That's interesting, why?”
“Curiosity, I'm a very curious person and I want to know about a lot of things.”
“How do you plan to pay for school?”
“I started saving last year from the little the agency pays me and a few generous clients like you.”
“Interesting,” Carlos nodded.
“Are you gonna pay me for just talking with me?” You also extended our contract time.”
"Yes,” he answered, “Do you have any problem with that?”
“No I'm only surprised, It's your money actually,
” Isabella replied, folding her hands.
Carlos' phone rang and he answered. He referred to the caller as dad.
“Ok dad, I'm still on the suicide case, it's really getting complicated, but we are unraveling a lot..I will see you soon.”
The call ended and he stared at Isabella with a cute smile, his dimples were distracting.
Isabella said to herself.
"Honestly, If he didn't pay me, I would still agree to sleep with him.
“That was my dad.”
“It was obvious. You seem to love him so much.”
“Of course I do love him a lot. You don't love your father?”
Isabella forced a smile, "I do.”
Carlos leaned back.
“And as for your contract with me. You will be free to go this afternoon.”
“Finally, I will be free by noon.”
He frowned.
“No I didn't mean it that way, you are not a boring client, you are not in the mood for s*x, that's all,” Isabella quickly added.
Carlos picked up the hotel phone and called the room service. He ordered pasta, rice, lobster, shrimp and beef.
“You didn't ask what I wanted to take for breakfast?”
“You didn't object, you are fine with it. Or are you not?”
“It's okay.” Isabella replied. “I will take anything you order.”
He smiled and his gaze turned to the television.
The crime news arrested his attention.
Isabella walked into the bathroom still wondering why this client didn't want to have s*x with her. Could he be investigating Miguel Martinez?
She would be the happiest if that would happen, and she would give him every vital information he needs for the apprehension of that beast that has destroyed her life.
But there was something about Carlos that wanted her to stay more with him.
“Snap out of it girl, you cannot have feelings for your clients,” she muttered.
Rosalinda rushed out of her room for the party with her client.
“Hey, hop in! The men are waiting.”
She climbed the car with two other girls from Miguel's agency. The SUV cruised through Manila’s busy streets towards an exclusive party.
The building the girls lodged in was in-between a hotel owned by Miguel Martinez. The hotel is magnificent and also on a high price.
There's also a mall on the other side.
The society sees Miguel as a kind hearted philanthropist and a successful businessman.
The girls that lived there were between the ages of ten to twenty five, but there were ladies who willingly volunteered to become s*x workers.
When the girls are brought in, most of them cry bitterly for the first month because it wasn't what they were told. Contracts were usually signed by their wards or parents.
Miguel trains the girls in school too.
Isabella and the girls sometimes accompanied him to go for charity works in schools and other places attracting other young girls. Miguel's wife also tagged along a few times.
“Stop crying love,” Rosalinda whispered, comforting the young girl with them who didn't look above the age of fifteen.
“I haven't done this before, I wanna go home.” She tried pushing the door to open.
“You will be fine.”
We really do not have a choice. The clients have paid heavily for our services, I know this is wrong but that's the only way we and our families can survive.”
The third lady who was with them scrolled through her phone uninterested in their conversation.
Rosalinda knew they would drug this new girl if she decided to make the job hard. It was what they did to any new girl who resisted them.
“I can't do this," the girl continued. "I want out, I'm not interested.”
Rosalinda squeezed the girl's palm into hers, as they neared the party and silence filled the car as they drove.
She heard the girl whispering a desperate prayer.
- Writer
