Chapter 8

FIRST, THE BOUTIQUE THEN THE HOTEL

Laura's mind was dizzy on the thought of the unknown man, drinking a lot of wine didn't help.

She looked lost in her thoughts as the time passed by.

After a few minutes of silence , she realized she was the only one in the living room and Jasmine had gone to bed.

"I have to go to bed now. I wonder what tomorrow has in store for me". She thought and stood up and strolled out of the living room.

When she entered her room, she saw her kid brother still sleeping peacefully like he had never slept before.

"He seems so peaceful" Laura said to herself.

This was the first time he had slept so deep and comfortably like he never planned to wake up.

Back in their little crib, Dennis always found it difficult to sleep at night especially with the debtors came to barge on them every other day. Through that, the boy had sleepless night and most time had nightmares more than good dreams.

Everything would always seem impossible for Laura as she usually tried all she could do to put the boy to sleep at night.

She even sang lullaby songs to him but it never worked.

She felt so frustrated and had to stay awake all night with him before he shut his eyes that's when the sun rises.

It wasn't an easy life for a six year old boy.

There he was, Sleeping like there was no tomorrow to lived for.

He must have really loved Jasmine's house and find it peaceful to sleep and also there was no debtor coming to harass them here.

Laura yawned and laid down beside the boy before her eyes closed.

...

"Wake up!" There was a loud voice thundering in the room echoing in her ears as she struggled to open her eyes and meet a big puppy eyes glancing on her.

"Get your lazy ass Laura!" Jasmine yelled again when she finally see her eyes are opened.

Laura rolled her hands on her eyes to clear the dizziness off

"What time is it?"

"It's twenty minutes past nine. I can't believe you over slept when I told you, we're leaving by ten" Jasmine was looking at her with a smile but looking a bit cross at the same time like she usually did when they were younger.

"Oh no, I overslept, Please don't be mad! I'll get ready in no time"

"Just go and take your bath and meet me in the living room. We need to go to a couple of places to prepare you for tonight"

Her heart slammed through her chest as she remember the reason she was here in the first place. A delivery prostitute!

She hurried up and got down from the bed heading straight to the bathroom but paused and turned at Jasmine.

"What about Dennis?" She asked, looking at the boy, who was still drowning in his wonderful dream world.

And back to Jasmine.

"You don't have to worry about him. You go in first before he wakes up, I'll get someone to take care of him. You're the most important gem here" Jasmine replied.

She was already dressed up and looked stunning like the queen of her world. Laura wondered why she looks so good despite the type of work she did.

"Stop staring and get in girl!"

"Okay" she stumped into the bathroom and shut the door. About thirty minutes she was out and surprised not to see Dennis on the bed nor Jasmine. She gets dressed in her old looking simple clothes and heads out.

Approaching the living room, she hears giggling and wonders what would could be making the two laugh that loud. Dennis was fully dressed in fresh clothes and he was sitting on the dining table eating and giggling. The TV was on and it was showing a cartoon.

Dennis wasn't the only one watching Jasmine who was standing sat behind the chair facing the TV screen in the room, was drinking coffee and giggling.

"So fast?" Laura asked, she was surprised the boy was clothed up with fresh clothes and looking clean. How did he have his bath when she was still in the bathroom.

"Lara" the little boy called and ran up to her to embrace her.

"Finally you are out"

"How did Dennis get dress?"

"Well, I bathed him in my bathroom and got him dressed since you wanted to stay in the bathroom forever"

"But I only spent just thirty minutes"

"Yeah, thirty minutes is still a long time. Okay?" Jasmine said in a sassy manner.

Laura rolled her eyes and turned to the boy who was still watching cartoons on TV. "Sis!

" Jasmine is the best. She bathed me and gave me the most delicious meal" the boy exclaimed and licked his lips.

"What can I say. I am the best" Jasmine said flattering herself with the wave of her hands and making a fanning gesture. "Whatever" Laura said feeling a bit jealous of Jasmine.

"Now have your seat. We have a long day ahead of us okay. Start eating now, our time is short"

Laura didn't understand Jasmine's behaviour today she seem a little too bossy. Her words were kind of commanding she wondered if that was how she treated her other girls too.

She wondered and started devouring her meal. Since today is the day for her and Mr A to meet up. She did not want to be the one that delayed it. The earlier they got things done the better for all..

After their meals, they got into a cab and drove out of the estate.

Along the way, little Dennis fed his eyes on the car window, viewing the things he couldn't see late last night because it was a bit dark when they had come into the house.

"Amazing" the words comes out of his mouth, drawing the attention of his sister to see what amused the boy..

"This place is so beautiful!"

"You love it?" Jasmine asked, who sat on the front seat beside the driver. "Yes, Yes! I do" the boy continued with his eyes glued to the window. Laura drew her gaze to Jasmine and asked

"Where are we going first?"

"First, the boutique Then the hotel"

"Do we need to go to the boutique won't it cost you extra?" said Laura.

"it's just a few outfits, you need a few magical touches before night fall"