Red Dress On Devil’s Floor

Prologue Seah’s POV “Please, come in…” I stepped hesitantly into the large building now under his command. My lips bit nervously as I recalled his face, the memory bringing a flutter of emotions I couldn’t explain. I was sure he hadn’t changed—still confident, still imposing, but perhaps a little colder than the cheerful boy I had once known. “Please, have a seat here… we’ll wait for the person inside to finish, and then it will be your turn,” his secretary instructed. I obeyed, sitting carefully as I waited for my turn. Moments later, a woman emerged from a large door. She seemed on the verge of tears, but as soon as she saw me, she rushed forward. “H-hello—” My greeting was cut off by a sharp slap across my cheek. The sting made me flinch in shock. “You’re that annoying woman?!” she shouted. What had I done? “W-what? What are you saying?” I asked, standing up. Why would she hit me out of nowhere? “You slut! Flirtatious! Disgusting! Let me go!” she screamed, struggling against the guards restraining her. “Let me go! I want to slap her again! You’re in for it, woman! We’re not done!” she yelled, still straining against them as they dragged her away. “Sorry she hit you… let me see… Oh! It’s red!” she bit her lip nervously. “It’s okay… I don’t even know why she slapped me… why, I wonder?” she smiled at me, as if she had no answers to my question. I was about to speak when the door she had come out of opened again. A pale hand appeared on the edge of the door. When I saw who it was, I furrowed my brow. “R-rade?” I said, a mixture of surprise and admiration in my voice. He looked at me as if he didn’t recognize me. “Come in. I only have a minute for you,” he said curtly, stepping inside his office. I hurried after him. I stopped in front of his massive desk, my eyes catching the nameplate in the center: Rade Pentagon I bit my lip as he turned from his chair to face me. My shock deepened when I noticed the tattoos etched across his body. He hadn’t looked like that before. Where had those come from? Where was the cheerful Rade I had known? Why were his eyes now filled with an unreadable intensity, almost anger, as they met mine? “What is it? You didn’t come here just to stare, did you?” he asked sharply. “Ah! Um…” I swallowed hard and stepped closer. “R-rade… I need your help. You’re the only one who can help me find my sister…” I said, hoping he would agree. It had been weeks since my sister failed to come home. She had said she would return, but she never did. I had already contacted the police and local barangay offices, but no one had been helpful. “And what makes you think I’ll help you? You came here thinking I would?” His words cut sharply, and I bit my lip to keep from replying too emotionally. “I have nowhere else to turn, Rade… I don’t know what else to do…” I whispered, fighting back tears. “Rade… huh?” he mimicked my words. “Ms. Suarnaba, I’m not responsible for lost people…” His hands were folded, elbows on the desk, chin resting on his clasped hands in a way that made him look both casual and intimidating. I noticed more of his tattoos peeking from his chest. “Please… I need your help, Rade…” My tears finally fell. “I’m sorry, but I can’t help you. I have responsibilities, and I get paid for all of them. My time is valuable, Ms. Suarnaba… can you pay for it?” He raised a single eyebrow. “H-how much?” I stammered. “You can’t buy my time, Ms. Suarnaba. You don’t need to ask how much—I already know your answer…” He opened a folder on his desk. “You have five seconds… do you have anything else to say?” I wiped my tears and shook my head. “I was just asking… Please help me. I can’t bear the thought of losing my sister…” He paused, inhaling deeply as he considered my words. “Your five seconds are up. You may leave now…” I wiped my tears again. After so many years apart, I barely remembered his face. Since my parents had died, I had no news of him. I left his office, forcing a small smile at the secretary despite my tear-stained cheeks. “Why does every woman who comes out of Sir’s office end up crying? I’m getting nervous,” she said, clutching her chest. “I’m leaving now. Thank you for helping me,” I said, bowing slightly and leaving the large building. I went straight to work, my energy drained. “Are you okay?” my friend Jenna asked. “I’m fine… just tired today,” I replied, taking her order. “Still no sign of your sister? How many weeks has it been now?” she asked, helping me with some orders. “I don’t know what else to do… that’s why I keep checking my phone, even though we’re not allowed to have one at work,” I explained. I only answered it when absolutely necessary. “Do you think she ran off with someone? Didn’t she say she had a boyfriend?” I shook my head. Her only farewell had been that she would go out and return soon, nothing more. “What’s going through her mind not to come home? Think of the worry she’s causing you…” I ignored Jenna. I just wanted her to come home, and I would deal with her then. But that wasn’t my real worry. What if something had happened to my sister? She was my only sibling. After losing my parents, could I lose her too? I might go insane. “Girls, get the last orders done. I only have fifteen minutes for the next customers who rented the shop,” our manager said. Jenna and I exchanged glances. “Rented?” she muttered. We handed over the last order and whispered at the side. “Who rented it? Some business thing, maybe?” “I don’t know… Manager didn’t say. It was sudden,” I replied. A few minutes later, the shop was empty. Then I was shocked to see the man I had asked for help earlier enter. What was he doing here? “Wow! He’s handsome!” Jenna whispered beside me, eyebrows raised. “Sorry, Sir… I’ll leave you alone now,” our manager said, pulling Jenna away from me. “You’re part of the rental…” he whispered, waving as he went. I didn’t know how to respond. “W-what are you doing here, Rade?” I asked nervously. “Do you want me to help you?” he asked. My eyes lit up. “Y-yes! I’ll do anything! I’m ready to pay!” I said, stepping closer. “I’ll help you… but you need to marry me first…” Did I hear that right? I had to marry him… just to get him to help me find my sister?