008. Preparation and fears

When Amelia crossed the door of her provisional prison, she felt a mixture of fear and determination. After leaving the phone's box in her room, she set off to find Lucía. She remembered Lucía mentioning going to the gym after lunch, so she decided that would be her first destination. Upon entering the gym, she was met with the fresh air and rhythmic sound of exercise machines.

The gym was well-lit, with fluorescent lights highlighting the modern equipment and walls decorated with mirrors and motivational posters. In one corner, she saw Lucía sweating on a treadmill, her face focused and her hair tied back in a ponytail.

"Hello," Lucía greeted as she saw Amelia standing beside her, slowing down the treadmill.

"Hello, I came to say goodbye. I may not return tonight," Amelia said, her voice wavering, her eyes reflecting the anguish she felt. "I'm going to dinner with Inmaculada, and I don't know if my client will claim me afterward, discard me, or if I'll have a few more days."

Lucía stopped the treadmill and jumped off, approaching Amelia to give her a hug.

"That's wonderful news. You're going accompanied by the boss," she said enthusiastically. As she pulled away from Amelia, she noticed the tension on her face. "Why aren't you happy?"

"I don't think I should go into details, but even Inmaculada is afraid of him. How can I not be terrified? If I don't do well, I won't have a second chance like in your case. Also, if I have to have sex with him, I'm not ready yet. How will he value me if he sees how reluctantly I surrender?" Amelia was trying to hold back tears, but her eyes were clearly red.

Lucía looked at her with empathy and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Can you do anything about it? No," she answered her own question. "Then don't worry about it for now. You were a man until a few days ago. Sex is fun. Look at it that way. As for him, wait until you meet him. The Russian seemed like a great person and turned out to be an asshole, not to mention the first one. Sometimes appearances are deceiving."

Amelia took a deep breath, trying to find solace in her friend's words.

"I hope he's not as bad as he seems. Or at least not with me."

"He won't be. He'll shower you with attention, and you'll just have to endure that man, you'll see," Lucía said, smiling to comfort her. "A life together without love, only for interest. Is this what Inmaculada has made us aspire to?"

Amelia still wasn't ready to accept this imposed life, but how could she rebel? She could wish to be a man again, not surrender to a man she didn't even know, but she didn't have those options. Either because it was impossible or because it would lead to something worse.

"We don't have another choice," Lucía said softly. "But even so, try to find something that makes you happy in this situation. Keep hope, Amelia. Not everything has to be so bleak."

Amelia nodded, grateful for Lucía's support. She knew she had to be strong and find a way to adapt, no matter how difficult it was. Even so, the uncertainty of what the night would bring filled her with deep fear, but also a renewed determination to face whatever was necessary.

"Thank you for everything. I think I'll take a shower and then head to the beauty salon. Oh, before I go, do you have a phone? I'd like to add you in case I don't come back," Amelia said, showing her new flip phone.

Lucía looked at the phone in awe.

"Where did you get a phone? Even if a client gives one to you, it's usually confiscated upon return," Lucía said, a glint of longing in her eyes. It had been a long time since she had touched one.

"Inma gave it to me, warning me that all communications are monitored in case I try anything. Aren't they given to all of you?" Amelia asked, feeling a bit surprised by Lucía's reaction. She couldn't be that special herself, so it had to be her client.

"No. It doesn't make sense. Even the PCs don't have external connections to avoid risks. Why would they give us such a dangerous weapon? You or your client are very special to her. I'd bet on your client, so try not to mess it up," Lucía said, giving her another hug. "I hope not to see you here again because you've been successful."

Amelia smiled, feeling a mixture of gratitude and sadness.

"I hope to see you outside because you've been successful too," Amelia replied.

With that final farewell, Amelia headed to the gym showers. The warm steam and sound of running water filled the space as she undressed and stepped into the shower. The hot water provided a moment of relief, washing away not only the dirt from exercise but also some of the accumulated tension.

As she lathered up, her thoughts kept circling around her conversation with Lucía. Having a phone, something so common in her previous life, now felt like a strange and dangerous privilege. How important was her client to give Inmaculada this level of trust and oversight?

After the shower, she dried off quickly and dressed in a light robe. With her hair still damp, she headed to the beauty salon. The room was filled with mirrors, bright lights, and a team of stylists ready to transform her. The walls were decorated with images of beautiful, perfectly groomed women, a constant reminder of the standard she was expected to achieve.

Amelia sat in one of the chairs, observing her reflection in the mirror. The team of stylists got to work immediately, applying makeup, styling her hair, and carefully selecting each detail of her appearance. As they prepared her, Amelia couldn't help but feel a mixture of anticipation and fear.

One of the stylists, a woman with a sharp gaze and skilled hands, began explaining the different styles of makeup and hairstyles she needed to learn.

"In Suryavanti, a woman's appearance is of utmost importance. Makeup should be elegant and discreet during the day, enhancing natural beauty without looking overdone," she said while applying a light foundation to Amelia's face. "For evening events, you can opt for something more dramatic, but always maintaining elegance."

Amelia nodded, trying to absorb the information. She felt like she was in a strange, distorted dream. How could this be happening? Just a few days ago, she was a man, and now she was being prepared to please a man she didn't even know.

The stylist continued, showing her how to apply eyeliner and eyeshadow in a way that highlighted her features without appearing too heavy. Amelia watched her reflection, seeing how her face transformed under the woman's expert hands.

"As for hairstyles, the most appreciated styles in Suryavanti are those that demonstrate sophistication and care. Hair should always be well-groomed, whether in an elegant bun for formal events or soft waves for more casual occasions," explained another stylist as she styled Amelia's damp hair into soft, shiny waves.

Amelia forced herself to pay attention, though her mind kept wandering. How could her life have changed so drastically? How could she be a woman now, and worse yet, about to be sold? The thought of having to please a man made her stomach turn. What kind of power did this man have to frighten Inmaculada? And, more importantly, what would he be like in his treatment of her?

"We're going to pierce your ears to put these earrings on," the stylist said, taking out a pair of beautiful earrings from a velvet box.

Amelia felt a twinge of discomfort. The idea of being pierced reminded her of an animal being branded, a comparison that made her shudder. Despite the beauty of the earrings, she felt as if she were being tagged, prepared to belong to someone else. The stylist worked precisely, and though the piercing was quick, the symbolism of the act left a deep mark on Amelia.

Despite the initial discomfort, she couldn't deny that the earrings and the necklace they put on afterward were beautiful and elegant, adding a touch of sophistication to her appearance.

The stylist finished with her hair and moved on to selecting the outfit. She opened a wardrobe filled with elegant dresses and carefully chosen garments.

"For tonight's dinner, you should wear something that reflects both elegance and respect for Suryavanti's customs," she said, taking out a dark blue silk dress with gold accents. "This dress is perfect. It's elegant and shows off your figure without being provocative."

Amelia looked at the dress, feeling a mix of admiration and rejection. She couldn't deny it was beautiful, but the idea of wearing it to please someone who saw her only as an object filled her with sadness.

As she dressed, the stylist explained more about Suryavanti's culture.

"In Suryavanti, a woman must be submissive and respectful to her husband and his ancestors. However, she is also expected to be able to make firm decisions and manage her husband's businesses in his absence," she said, adjusting the dress on Amelia's body. "You must learn to balance these roles."

Amelia felt a deep internal struggle. The idea of being submissive was abhorrent to her, but the prospect of managing businesses and being respected for her skill was appealing. How could she reconcile these two opposing aspects of her new role?

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the stylists finished their work. Amelia looked at herself in the beauty salon mirror, almost not recognizing herself. She looked like a confident and sophisticated woman, ready to face any challenge.

Then, she returned to her room to retrieve the charger and make sure the phone was ready in her purse. She left the phone box in her room and took one last look in the mirror, adjusting the final details of her outfit. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.

With one last look in the mirror, she took a deep breath and headed toward the entrance door to the novices' area, where a guard awaited to take her to the meeting. She felt a mix of fear and determination, ready to face whatever came her way.

"This won't defeat me," she whispered to herself as she took the first step towards an uncertain future.

This time, Amelia was led to a door different from Inmaculada's office. Two other guards waited in front of a double door. The guard on the right knocked on the door with his knuckles without turning towards it.

"If it's Amelia, let her in," Inmaculada's voice sounded from inside.

Amelia turned the right doorknob and entered, closing the door behind her. The room was impressive. Just the visible area, not counting the changing room, bathroom, and terrace, could be the size of an average apartment in Hesperia, without mentioning the luxury of the decoration and furniture.

"Come here, Amelia," she heard Inmaculada say from one of the doors in the room.

When she entered, she realized she was now in the changing room. Inmaculada was still not fully dressed, only wearing her underwear, while two women busily worked on her hair and makeup.

"Stand in front of me, don't stay behind me; I want to see how they've left you."

Amelia walked to stand in front of Inmaculada and began to kneel.

"Don't kneel and look straight ahead. Never kneel unless it's an order from your client or me."

They both observed each other for a while. Both had spectacular figures. While Amelia wondered how she had ended up standing in front of this woman with enough confidence to be in her underwear before her, Inmaculada scrutinized her, looking for any flaw in her posture or clothing. The position with her hands clasped in front and her gaze lowered gave her a perfect air of submission while accentuating her bust. She had expected to see her hands at her sides or, worse, behind her, but this position was perfect if she maintained it before Jason Xiting.

"She's ready, ma'am," one of the two women interrupted.

"Thank you," Inmaculada stood up from the chair and walked over to an enormous mirror that covered a section of the wall from floor to ceiling. She looked at herself and smiled in satisfaction. "It's perfect, you can leave."

When she heard the door to the room close, she smiled at Amelia before asking:

"As a man until a few days ago, what do you think of me?"

"A goddess of beauty. For me, you would be completely out of my league, but I would also be, and you are even more beautiful and sensual."

"Thank you for your honesty. It's not that I like being judged by my appearance, but who doesn't like to feel attractive?" She walked over to one of the wardrobes and took out a dress very similar to Amelia's, but instead of dark blue, it was black. "I hope Jason doesn't become infatuated with me instead of you."

Inmaculada smiled as she looked at herself already dressed. She walked into the room with Amelia following her and picked up a purse from a dresser.

"Here, this is your documentation. The PIN for the card is your birthday."

Amelia opened the purse and looked at her identification, a driver's license, a credit card, and a couple of photos. One of them seemed to be from her graduation at Harvard, except instead of her with her parents, it showed her with Inmaculada. The other was of her with a man of clear Asian descent.

"Is that Jason? My client?"

"Your boyfriend. If he gives you the green light today, he wants to make you his official girlfriend."

Amelia looked more closely at the photo. He was taller than her, significantly so. What would he measure? Six feet, maybe six foot three? Not only that, despite wearing a suit, he seemed to have a broad and muscular build, though not exaggerated. She found his features attractive, not at all feminine like the typical Korean pop stars of the moment. He had the features of a ruthless businessman, though in that photo, he smiled with genuine happiness.

When she raised her eyes from the photo, she saw Inmaculada already ready, looking at her.

"You took that photo two months ago in Mexico, after your graduation. You met him a couple of years ago at a party thrown by me, and you've been in contact behind my back and his family's ever since. Today we're meeting because he wants to ask for permission to take you to live in his house."

"And the other photo?" Inmaculada asked, showing the one where they both appeared together.

"It's from your graduation. Though slightly edited."

"Slightly?" Her parents had disappeared from it, and they were now in the place of Roberto with them.

"As I said, you're my protégé, and I paid for your studies at Harvard. Your parents were my employees and died five years ago in a traffic accident. A couple of months before, your father asked me for help to finance your studies at Universidad Carlos III, but when I saw your potential, I did everything I could to get you a place at Harvard. Since their death, you've been more or less independent thanks to my funding. That's why you consider me your older sister."

"Forging all that information must be extremely difficult. Even all the documentation seems real."

"All the documentation is real. As for forging that information, let's say not all of my businesses are clean. One of them is creating new identities for people who want or need to disappear. How else could I give you all a life?"

Amelia then realized where she was involved. If someone like Inmaculada trembled before Jason, what kind of shady dealings would Jason be involved in?