~Chapter II~

Hotel Metropole

Monte Carlo, Monaco

"You can't fuckin' make me pretend like your husband, bitch! I'mma gurl!" Gab's voice could even reach our country with his loud tune. He crosses his arms and raises me a brow.

"you ditch us yesterday and now you got yourself into trouble, my goodness Thalia!" Divina who is even more furious mouthed me with her sharp words.

I remain seated on a hot seat, scratching my forehead to come about anything to tell them.

"Please just this once, you did owe me a favor, right? I'll ask this as a favor." My last trump did shut Gab and made him thought about it again. The rest of the night, they all keep on mouthing me about how I became a headstrong and certified killjoy for the last two days.

As soon as everyone is fast asleep, I took out the perfume glass containing the fragrance I personally made. I just hope this will be favored for tomorrow's auction. I really wanted to help Mrs. Landers. I can't bring into my mind the idea of Mrs. Landers losing something she seems to value so much.

After placing the perfume back inside the box, I then rummage my luggage looking for a dress to wear for the auction. I took out the navy blue satin backless halter dress from my luggage and hang it on the cabinet near my bed. Our boss informed us earlier to be ready with unexpected parties. Thankfully, I am.

"you seem excited attending this event tomorrow night?" Emalia mused when I nestled beside her to sleep.

I rolled back to see her, smiling, "quite. I m just hoping everything will go well."

Emalia yawns at me, "well, enjoy your last night in Monaco, but the day after tomorrow we all gotta go shopping for souvenirs before our flight at night." she said, her eyes could no longer fight its closure.

Before she even loses from it, I abruptly answer her back, "sure, sure," before surrendering to sleep as well.

*******

The Auction Hall,

Casino De Monte Carlo,

Monte Carlo, Monaco

I've been standing with sweaty hands for about fifteen minutes waiting before the personnel from the registration to finish queuing my passes. Even the registration of the fragrance and the sample scents inside the closed box I brought for the auction took quite a while to be processed, and that I still have to show Mrs. Lander's business certificate to prove its brand authenticity.

"Are we having problems here?" A man with two broad bodied men in black suits standing behind him approach the registration table. The man standing in front was taller than me and is wearing a black & gold mask. He took a step in front of me despite knowing I was first on the line. The woman on the registration table immediately assisted him and had my queuing set aside to wait for them. Much to my frustration is seeing her with such a flirting smile while assisting him.

This burst my temper, "Excuse me," I tap on the man's shoulder, "I believe I was first on the line?" I blurted on him, raising a brow.

Then the woman in the registration gently held my elbow and mused, "He is a VIP."

I rolled my eyes and let out whatever is on my mouth, "Given that he is a VIP, but I hope he shows a little courtesy. Is chivalry really dead? I am first on the line. It's at least he could do to show what kind of man he is." I retorted, leaving the woman's jaw in sank. Speaking about chivalry in the twenty-first century is pathetic, I know, but I have to keep up my stand since I have already started this commotion.

The man teasingly set back a single step and said, "After you then, Madame." His smirk was another embellishment story I choose to not mind.

Thankfully my queuing finish after that. And as I was passing by him, I somewhat sense him having a quick sniff on me or so I thought. But when I lean back a bit to confirm, he has already returned with full attention to the registration table. Maybe I am just having visions. Ignoring it is my best option, so I head forward.

I am surprised seeing Mrs. Landers already waiting inside the hall.

As I met her eyes I couldn't help but say, "How did--?" but before I could even continue, She immediately answered, "Oh I had to get a new pass, I told you that I'd really like to meet your husband to thank him as well," she smirks cheerfully.

To be honest, I'm beginning to feel the chills over my limbs. How shall I face her and tell her the truth, that I don't really have a husband?

Mrs. landers have been waiting near my seat she thoughtfully reserved for me. "By the way, where is your husband?" She asks me after being seated.

"He'll catch the after party later. He still has some appointments to attend to for the day." I lied once more. This is slowly getting in my nerves but I can't let myself get screwed. Not now that I'm still problematic that Gab might really ditch me.

"Well, I hope he doesn't miss the ball later. the practice here has it that those couples who dance at that ball under the full moon stay forever." She said with much glee. Her eyes were full of high-spirit.

Imagining the thought of me and Gab sharing the rest of our lives as couples puke me. Speaking of Gab, I wonder what took him too long. I told him to meet me at the lounge by six in the evening but apparently, it looks like he's going to be late or probably plans to really ditch me.

"Something wrong, Thalia?" Mrs. Landers worries while patting my back lightly after nearly throwing up from my thoughts of me and Gab. I also find it weird that I suddenly felt the urge to pee, am I nervous? I wonder.

While the auction commences its flow, I quickly told Mrs. Landers that I needed to go find the nearest comfort room or the call of nature will not stop haunting me. I can see how she paused in perplexity for about a short moment before nodding at me.

Finding the comfort room became a burden for me. The mirrored pathways of this function hall made it hard for me to identify where I'm heading to. Even the doors amazingly look like part of the wall with the absence of side borders that distinguish it from the wall, and these fooled me a couple of times. After moments of locating the comfort room, I was finally able to get into one.

But just when getting into their comfort room appears that complicated, going back is much worst. I just trust my instinct as most people do in these cases but unfortunately, my unreliable senses brought me to the wrong room.

And this time it's a vast room, a bigger one than where the auction is currently being held. The floor is all covered with burgundy woven carpet, transitional chandeliers hanging on the high ceiling, and the windows are adorned with sophisticated maroon curtains. Inside the room were items safe kept inside each of the individual boxes made of transparent glass. I wonder if I touch them, would a security alarm cry?

I couldn't help but feel wowed by what I'm seeing. These items cost millions most probably. At least for once, I get to see each of them if not own them. There were vintage vases and familiar Jars, I wonder if they are from the Philippines? Old Paintings, even Jewels I prefer to distance from.

There are also few dresses fitted in a half body mannequin stand. But what caught my attention are the two crystal red dice inside a glass box. It's as if it's dragging me closer. It's evidently just a dice. Yet my fingers voluntarily follow an urge that whispers in my conscience to touch it.

"Looking for something, Darling?" a deep man's voice return me back to my senses. I swiftly turn around to see if it is the security, but it's a man wearing a neat tuxedo while half of his face is covered by a black & gold mask. Wait--he is the man at the registration area earlier.

What is he doing here?

ᴽᴽᴽᴽᴽᴽᴽ