*6*

At the same time, she picked up her phone and looked for her house in the list of houses for sale. Fortunately, it was still for sale, she realized. She felt a sense of relief when she saw this. She still had a chance. However, she had to check to see if the painting and the safe were still there... After all, the bank had to remove everything they owned in the house. At this thought, she felt a deep sadness come over her. However, she did not let it get to her... She didn't want to have a bad surprise when she had to take the money from the safe and she would have to pay for a visit... She frowned and looked for the amount for a tour... 2000$... She was amazed at the price. Even before the sale, they would make a lot of money. My goodness... And this amount was her two months payment. There was a visit scheduled for Thursday and it was her day off... She didn't want to pay the $2, 000 because she couldn't find the money. However, she didn't want to have to serve as an escort to a stranger who was going to treat her like a dog... Even if she lost the $2000, she would work overtime at the bar to make up for it. It was really her only way out... She took a deep breath and then made the payment for the visit the next day... The next day, she went to work, still shaken by her decision. She prayed to find the safe with the money. She didn't know the password, but her father was predictable, so she wouldn't have much trouble finding it...

The day finally arrived and the young woman, more stressed than ever, took the bus towards her home. She felt a nostalgic feeling come over her when she arrived in her old neighborhood. Calm and serene, as usual. In more than 15 years, she had crossed paths with her neighbor 3-5 times... She didn't even know his name. And besides, the distance between the houses was quite large... It was a residential neighborhood. The young woman suddenly felt alien and out of place... And she was right to feel that way... The truth is, she would never be able to afford a luxury house again. Maybe after years of hard work or maybe if she ever won the lottery. A car sped by her and almost hit her. She cursed it inwardly and continued on her way. From afar, she saw her parents' large estate spread out... It was a big house with many flowers and trees... She felt the sorrow invade her and she wanted to turn back. She couldn't think of how many times she had cursed those people for taking her away without mercy for those decades of happiness she had lived with her parents and her little sister. She soon arrived in front of the large front door where she saw 3 men and 2 women, no doubt the real estate agent in charge of the visit and two couples. She also saw the car that had missed her gracefully...

- Is that you Miss Rosa? Asked the agent doubtfully.

- Yes, I am. It's me.

Rose had not wanted to give her real name so as not to arouse suspicion.

- Good. Everyone is here. We start with the tour.

He introduced himself, then pulled a key from his pocket and opened the big gate... Seeing his house again gave him a chill... It was as if she had never left here. At first glance, nothing had changed after the for sale sign that was posted reminded her that this house was no longer hers. The large garden was still well maintained except this time it wasn't her mother who was tending to it. The water fountain was imposing in the courtyard with the two angels at the top that gave a magnificent view, the aphrodisiac smell that emanated. All this made the young woman nostalgic... She remembered her crazy races with Annie and could even see their father joining them while their mother was scolding them, standing in front of the big door of the house. The guide was talking but the young woman could not hear a word he was saying... She was too happy to see her home again... The visit continued and it was the turn of the house... Nothing had changed. Or at least few things had changed. The young woman could see all the footprints of her family in every room. The old dodine of her late maternal grandmother was still there. She could see her knitting while sipping a cup of tea with her glasses much too big for her. The young woman smiled and we moved on to another room. Her house had 36 rooms and the visit was likely to last and she hoped not to cry because the memories overwhelmed her... They visited her parents' room. She thought about those nights when she couldn't sleep and she was stuck in the middle of them because there was a monster on her bed...

- Honey? This room will be ours. We'll remodel it and add a little house for my Floffy... Said a blonde

- Ariella, we talked about this. Floffy, it's outside. Answered her husband

- No, we won't. We'll talk about it again.

That blonde kept shouting that she was going to remodel this house as if it were hers... Even though it would be hers if she bought it. Sadly realized the young woman... Rose hated her and wanted to shout at her that this was her house and that she could not transform it as she wanted... Without even asking her opinion... She would probably be taken for a crazy person... And that's the impression she would give if she ever acted like that...

When it was the turn of her room, the young woman stayed behind because the emotions became much stronger. Her formerly pink room had been modified. However, she could still see her Justin Bieber posters stuck on the walls as well as her butterflies and glitter, everywhere. Her room looked like a real princess' room with her own desk. Today her room was lifeless. It was as if there were no memories on the walls. And there were so many... Like the time she had taken Chris, her boyfriend from high school, there. She was determined to lose her virginity that night because her parents had gone to a dance, but they came home much earlier than expected... Rose smiled as she thought about Chris leaving her room through the window. A tear rolled down her cheek... She wiped it away before following the rest of the group for the tour. The guide talked about the advantages of the house and described it perfectly. If she didn't know about this house and had the money, she would be convinced to buy it. However, she did not want her house to sell. If it didn't sell, the bank could give it back to her. Even if it was impossible... Already this Ariella showed great interest... They soon arrived in the relaxation room and as she had hoped, the painting of the Mona Lisa was still hanging on the main wall of the room... She waited impatiently for the guide to finish his description and to suggest moving to another room to carry out his plan.

She stayed back and as she was invisible from the beginning, she was not likely to be noticed. While looking around her, she approached the painting. She waited a few seconds...

- This gym is equipped ... She heard from the other side.

She carefully passed her hand on the edges of the board and located the button...

- It offers more than twenty...

She turned it and with a small noise the board slowly turned over... The young woman turned towards the door of the room, praying not to see the group return... What was she going to be able to say to them, if ever they surprised her? She could even say goodbye to her money. She turned around and saw the chest... The little chest that would save her life... What if they found it? What if there was no money inside? No... She had to stay positive. The safe required a four-digit code. She thought about it and then raised her hand to type in any code. But, the voices seemed to approach... The young woman closed the door, afraid that the voices were getting closer...

...

Rose closed her eyes, feeling that she was being burned.

- Miss Rosa? What are you doing here?

She turned around and found the portrait perfectly positioned.

- Well... I was taking a closer look at this painting... I'm an art lover.

- It's a bad copy, if you want to know if it's real...

- And I'll have it removed, once I buy this house... Ariella pointed out.

- Good. Can we finish the tour? It will soon be time for the end. The guide said.

The young woman sighed of relief and joined the group.

- We continue and please do not move away from the group... Thank you!