Episode 3: Invitation

"Isabelle!" I trembled upon hearing a voice that bombarded my ears. I gulped as I returned my gaze at the mirror, wanna get rid of these bruises!

In a split second, I heard a resounding sound of the door that has been slammed. I furrowed upon giving glance at her laterally.

My jaw dropped as I saw a box that she's carrying. I furrowed. "What's that?" I asked in astonishment.

"I don't know, maybe a gift from someone?" She said, stamping her feet like a child. "Gotta go. We have a lot of things to talk to." She said, pertaining to her friends. I handed the box from him without gazing at her and opened it.

A beautiful accesory opened up to me. A smile appeared on my face as I examined this thing. "Wow." I said, shoving the box on my bed.

I held my chest upon seeing the envelope that fell to the floor. I gathered it up.

"Invitation. Huh?" I whispered to myself upon reading this letter. I sat down to think of anything else. These things didn't look great. I got an invitation from who? Wai–

Without hesitance, I quickly stood up from where I was sitting and headed outside. I headed to the living room.

An annoyed grunt escaped my mouth as I saw them gambling. I rolled my eyes after noticing that she's flexing her jewelries to her friends.

I walked towards her with a bitchy-face. "Aunt, we need to talk." My gaze landed on her friend, Amy. I flashed her a bitter smile.

"For what, hun?" I raised my eyebrows upon showing the invitation. We went inside my bedroom.

"Aunt, who sent this? The necklace?" I furrowed as she smiled at me, revealing her teeth that has stained by nicotine.

"I don't know, really." She said, making me heave a breath.

She tapped my shoulder, even flashing me a wide smile. "If you're still sad about what I said earlier about your education, it wasn't my intention to be that rude to you. If you stick to our plans, you'll surely achieve those. Got it?" I sighed.

"I gotta go again, sweetie. There's million in there!" I crossed my arms upon watching her return and walked away from me.

I sat down upon looking at those make-ups that my friend gave to me. I smiled, having this kind of friend who's better than aunt is home!

I almost stumbled upon walking inside the shower, had to be fast. I did my thing after!

"Should I wear this?" I said to myself, looking at myself inside this revealing dress. This made me feel confident!

I tied my hair up, even made sure that everything looks fabulous. I sighed, seeing my reflection in the mirror, I see no bruises anymore!

A voice resonated to my ears. "You ready, Isabelle?" I laughed in hearing a crack from her voice.

I sighed after twisting the doorknob, pulling it in front and walk outside. "Whatta beautiful girl!" I smiled upon seeing their unexpected reactions.

I heard an applause from them, even flicks a smile at me. "You're so beautiful, hija. Sure that these guys will fall for you." She said with a full smile on her face, painting an excitement on my lips.

"It's 8:30." She said as she gave glance at her wrist watch. "Promise?" I gulped then just nodded.

Where does she think that I'm going rather than in that uknown event?

I nodded. "Then, hurry!" She yelled abruptly, without another glance at her, I slipped on pair of unworn-out shoes and half-tumbled outside.

We pulled up to a club near in the city, I found myself tounge-tied after seeing those people. They're the expensive kinds!

"Neon Nights." I gulped upon giving a sheepish look outside the window. "Here we are." I heave a breath, came out of the door.

After I opened the door, a spacious room greeted me, chandelier crystals and sophisticated people that sent me shivers to my spine. I caught their gazes even though, their faces are behind those masquerades.

A sigh of relief escaped my mouth as I saw the bar counter. Without hesitance, I immediately walked towards it.

"Hello. How's your day?" A bartender greeted me gracefully after wiping the glass counter.

"Good." I said with a smile, even looking at those alcohol beverages behind him. I nodded nervously. "Just water for me, thanks."

"Coming up!" He said upon pouring water on the glass. "Here you go." He slid the glass on the counter.

"Doesn't seem to be familliar, you're new here right?" I nodded, carefully putting down the glass. "I see. Would you like a cocktail? My tre–"

"A shot of rum!" I trembled in shock upon hearing a voice that echoed to my ears. My eyes widen upon realizing that it sounds familiar.

"You?" I mumbled upon trying to give glance at her, even made sure that she heard it. A bafflement suddenly painted on her eyes.

She caught my eyes resulting me to tremble from where I was sitting. "What the–" her words resonated to my ears, she pulled me closer. "You are a freaking whore?" she said in a whisper.

With a grip on my arms, she pulled me out of the crowd. I half-stumbled upon being dragged by her inside the restroom.

"What are you doing here? Isabelle, are you a whore? Tell me!" She said, locking the door behind her. I sobbed upon pulling my arms out of her grip.

I pulled her away in an outburst, snapping my fingers in front of her. "No, listen. It's not what you think. I'm not a whore, okay?" I said, leaving an ineffable reaction on her.

I held my forehead, trying to think of my words. I sighed. "I just got an invitation from this, don't even know who." I grimaced.

I gave glance at her look, this is unusual.

"What made you think that I'm a wh–" abruptly, she interrupted my words resulting me to narrow my eyes.

"'Cause this a whore's place, Isabelle." I furrowed upon hearing those words, even bite my lips as I stared into her eyes.

"Wait–what? Are you–" I stopped upon feeling a hand crawl over my skin. With a fast-beating heartbeat, I shivered.

"Yes I am." She said as she blankly stared at me, doesn't even know how to react. "Y-your aunt, she said that you'll be here." I frowned.

Does she mean that aunt knows who sent me this invitation? She lied to me for telling that she didn't know who was it? I'm over it!

"She does have an idea with what's going on, Natasia?" I said, crossing my arms out of being uncomfy.

"She does, Isabelle. Do you have an idea on who sent you the invitation?" She asked in a whisper after we heard heavy footsteps from outside.

I shook my head, "Don't know who." I heave a breath upon seeing her reaction.

I know, this ain't looking great. Someone's playing with me.

"Where did she get the money from?" I disgustingly looked at her as if that I didn't know the point. But, how did she knew it?

"Huh?" I asked in a light tone, still trying to figure out her words. Where did she get an information about it?

"Isabelle, we don't have time to look at each other! Tell me the truth or you'll be in danger." I grunt as she held my arms.

"S-she sold me for a million dollars to be its wife." I mumbled upon being hurted by her, making sure that she understands it. My tears started to stream down on my face. With a glimpse on her eyes, it gives me an idea of what's happening.

"Shit." She gasped upon releasing her grip on my arms. "That necklace. It means that you're marked by one of them." I held my necklace after she pointed it.

She fixed her wavy hair. I can't move due to the astonishment about my situation.

"D-do you know the guy?" I asked with a disheartening look. I was terrified!

"I don't have an idea, Isabelle. I've never been experienced in being sold before. I make man happy but, I didn't sold myself in exchange of a million dollars." I twisted my body to look at my reflection in the mirror.

I heard a sound of heavy breath escaped from her mouth. "Just be prepared, this is not gonna be easy. We'll have to figure out who was it." I clenched my jaw.