"You've got some nerve matching in here." I heard Madam Carly's voice before I turned around.
I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face; the last time we had seen each other, I was on the floor, battered and barely conscious.
But today, I sat in her office, wearing a new and branded dress from the latest season of the fashion line, my red hair held up in a high ponytail and a confident smile on my face as I relaxed on her seat and sipped tea.
"Well, haven't you always known that?" My smile deepens as I raise up my right hand, Derrick's ruby ring reflecting the low light in the room.
I noticed a trace of panic before she quickly covered it up again.
She put on her 'customer service' smile and took the seat before me. She looks clean, but the slight smell of blood still hits me with a wave.
What do you want?" She asked, her face turning serious.
I took the bag beside me and emptied its contents before her; I could faintly hear her sharp intake of breath, and her heartbeat quickened.
"You don't owe me this much, even with triple interest." She spoke after a while, her hands feeling the currency to determine its legitimacy.
"I am aware," I replied, cocking my head to one side, my eyes still on her face.
"Then what do you want... or rather who?" She asked about getting her grind back.
"Scarlett," I replied without hesitation.
Silence...
"HAHAHAH!" A bubble of laughter made me narrow my eyes at her.
"And why the hell would I let go of my current hot cake?" she sneered, her eyes sending daggers at me.
"Who says you're giving her to me?" I asked, quirking an eyebrow.
A smile bloomed on my face as I sent my hair to my chest, playing with it absentmindedly.
Her eyes trailed my fingers as I continued playing with the red strands.
She became quiet and tapped her beautifully manicured fingers on the table.
"Derrick Kanu changes flavour every month." She finally spoke, confidence brimming from her voice and her eyes filled with a dubious look.
"I'll pay back this..." she continued, pointing between us.
She immediately turned around and headed towards the door.
"Bring Scarlett here," she called out the moment she opened the door.
A few minutes later, I walked out of the building with a slightly disoriented Scarlett along with all her documents.
We caught the last flight to Kann city and arrived two hours later; safe to say, we immediately went to sleep the moment we checked into our hotel.
The next morning.
"Anna, Anna, wake up!" A faint voice called out, shaking me up.
"Go away!" I grumbled, burying my head under the pillow.
"Get up, lazy pants; we have a lot to talk about."She continued, this time moving from shaking her to tickling her and then 'smack'.
A gasp escaped my lips as I felt the slight sting on my butt.
"You did not!" I immediately got up and pushed her down, reversing our position as I descended with a barrage of tickles on her.
"Please!" She exclaimed in between bouts of giggles.
"Serves you right," I said, flicking my hair behind me.
"Come on, hurry! We have to explore the city today," she said after a while.
In the streets of Kann City, two beautiful and excited girls run around, not caring about the curious gazes that follow us. we were finally freed from that darn place; the past couple of days had been hell for us
The warmth of the sun on our skin, the slight brush of wind on our faces and the distinct smell of congested cities.
We'd been out all day, trying out all the delicacies.
Now, as we head uptown, I slightly brushed the edges of my bank card.
For the first time in a long time, it was not in the negatives and had nine zeros behind it.
Yes, it had come with a risk, but it was a risk I was willing to take.
Derrick will look for me, but he won't find me.
I made sure of that.
I covered our tracks well and made sure not to hide; we need to be in plain sight but yet still not too obvious.
With his power, he can easily find me, no matter how well I hide.
So, here I am, living in his home city, right in the middle of this bustling city; this is a risk I am ready to take.
Wealthy and powerful people are too suspicious and cunning; if he locates me too easily, he'll think it's a trap and not come for me.
He'll order his men to search deeply and widely; he'll think I won't dare to enter HIS city, but here I am.
"Anna!" Scarlett... oh, Maya's excited voice woke me up from my mind.
She told me that was her real name; Scarlett was just an alias for her work, but now she didn't want to be called that ever again.
"Look! We've reached the mall"," she continued, her voice sweet like honey.
"Well, what do we do at the mall, Ms Al-Green?" I teased.
She burst into giggles and held my hand before rushing into the mall.
I've known her for over six months, and this is the first time I have seen her so bubbly.
I'd always thought she was introverted and moody, but she's proving me wrong.
When I had gotten her out of the club last night, she didn't worry about herself, but rather she was worried about what I had exchanged for her; she knew Madam Carly too well.
I knew if I had told her that I stole from Derrick, she would refuse to leave there and might even force me to return everything to that man.
So, I lied to her. I told her I had accidentally saved Derrick's life, and this was just his way of saying thank you.
Now as I observe her looking through catalogues and picking out dresses with that carefree attitude, I am glad I did what I did.
She has saved so many times in that club, and now it's my turn.
She's happy, and I love this side of her.
"What a beautiful ring; where did you get it?" An unfamiliar voice called behind me.
That familiar scent of Jasmine hit me, and I felt my feet go cold, my heart increasing its pace.