"Hmph!" Gia abruptly awakens, her eyes darting around as her mind slowly processes the situation. She instinctively rubs her eyes and then raises her hand, realizing the absence of handcuffs. She's free now.

Her fingers graze the soft, crimson duvet that now envelops her body. Her eyes widen as she takes in the sight. The bedsheet has been changed, likely during the night, and even the duvet has been transformed. It has gone from a drab, metallic grey to a vibrant, fiery red, complemented by a silky satin sheet.

Gia feels a slight dizziness, her mind struggling to recall the events of the sleepless night...

Wait!

She shakes her head, trying to clear her thoughts.

She was attacked again last night!

Well, if it can even be called an 'attack'... Things are getting a little confusing now.

She slowly stretches her body, twisting her waist from side to side. That's when she notices something peculiar—a box sitting beside her, with a card resting on top of it. Curiosity piqued, she picks up the card and opens it.

'HERE'S A TOKEN FOR YOU...'

On the bed lies a neatly wrapped package, emanating an aura of suspicion. Gia can't shake off the uneasy feeling about the present, perhaps because it originates from the man who consistently makes her life miserable.

Gia takes a deep breath, attempting to remain neutral. She pushes aside those thoughts and cautiously unravels the package.

Inside, she discovers a striking ensemble of red and black lingerie, crafted from exquisite satin and delicate lace. It's a push-up bra connected by a strap adorned with chains, resembling a vest but with minimal fabric. Gia inspects the strap, tracing her fingers along the smooth, high-quality leather.

The attention to detail is evident, a testament to the refined taste behind it all.

Her gaze then shifts to the lower portion—a G-string, to be precise. Fashioned from luxurious satin, its texture is silky-smooth and inviting to the touch. Gia momentarily recoils at the thought of wearing it. It's nearly see-through!

What's there to reveal, anyway?

She carefully places the lingerie back into the box. This morning feels more surreal than ever before. The events of last night, which had momentarily slipped her mind, now resurface with astonishing clarity. She can even hear her own moans echoing in her head.

"Stop it!" she scolds herself aloud. A shiver runs through her body, as unreal as it seems, it's undeniably true. Gia finds herself caught in a debate within her own mind.

Is this situation good? Bad?

Does she resent it?

Or, dare she admit, does she find some twisted enjoyment in it this time?

Her thoughts are interrupted by the ringing of her phone. Without checking the caller ID, she answers.

"Yes?"

"Tell me you're dead, so I can come up with a valid excuse for your absence, Gia Hunter!" Tamara's voice crackles through the line, filled with frustration.

Gia snorts and pulls the phone away from her ear.

"Chill-"

"I'll chill when you get your ass over here right now!"

As Tamara scolds her, Gia visualizes how her friend must appear at this moment, with fiery flares erupting from her nostrils and disheveled hair. Gia chuckles softly, then slowly rises from the bed, clutching the duvet to cover her nakedness. She walks over to her planner board and glances at her schedule.

"Okay, I'll be there in no time! Sorry!"

"You better have a damn good reason, or say goodbye to your sleepless night!" Tamara warns, her tone stern. Gia lets out a small laugh before ending the call.

"Sleepless night..." she murmurs, glancing back at her bed and herself. With a sigh, she releases the duvet, grabs her towel, and enters the bathroom.

No need to wait for your warning, Mara. Sleepless nights are not something I'm having anymore these days!

***
Gia POV

"Sorry I'm late!"

"Fortunately, you've arrived fashionably late!" I chuckle and toss my coffee cup high, applauding Tamara for her witty sarcasm. She sports a loose white tee and slim-cut jeans, while I opt for a tight black turtleneck crop top paired with wide-cut jeans.

Today marks the orientation day for the budding talents and models at YoLo Fashion House. It's an innovative program we've introduced for our newly established Department of Talent. Previously, we used to hire models for fashion shows, incurring significant costs.

However, thanks to Tamara's initiative and the human resource department, we decided to launch our own modeling agency. This not only saves the company money in hiring expenses but also presents an opportunity for us to profit if our models are recruited by other fashion houses.

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen..."

"Good morning, Miss Hunter," they respond in unison. I smile, gazing at these young individuals who have successfully passed the auditions, emerging as among the top contenders from across the country.

"As some of you may be new to the world of modeling, today we'll embark on a journey of learning and refinement. Think of it as a crash course tailored just for you.." I smile, skim each and every person in front of me.

"We'll begin with an editorial tutorial, teaching you how to streamline the process and strike captivating poses for editorials and similar projects. Your esteemed photographer for the day is none other than Mister India..." Tamara discreetly pulls me aside, eager to share something.

"He couldn't make it today..."

"We... don't have a photographer?"

"Thankfully, I managed to arrange one," Tamara points towards the man standing in front of the backdrop. He dons a black turtleneck top and cargo pants, his hair untamed yet adding to his charm.

Stop it, Gia!

I observe the models before me, captivated by his presence. The girls are swooning, and even the men are impressed by his striking features.

"Ahem!" I cough loudly, redirecting their attention back to me. They quickly readjust their postures.

"Is he a model?"

"He's more handsome than any professional model!"

I can hear the hushed whispers circulating throughout the studio.

"Ah... Let's focus, everyone. Today, Mr. Patthita will be your photographer..." I'm taken aback when I suddenly feel a pair of arms enveloping me from behind.

"Yep..." I glance to the side.

There he is, casually embracing me as if he feels no guilt whatsoever. He smiles at me, his gentle touch caressing my hair.

My cheeks flush intensely. I want to push his hands away, but I'm weakened by his charming smile.

"Yep... and... here he is... The Huggy boy... I mean, the handsome boy... yeah..." My brain seems to have momentarily malfunctioned! I tremble and stutter, overwhelmed by the awkwardness of the situation.

Everyone whispers and some even make faces. I feel increasingly uneasy, so I gently push Way away from me.

But he remains unmoved, not even an inch!

"What should we call you? Honey?" a girl playfully asks, trying to flirt.

"Please address me as Mr. Patthita..." I cringe inwardly at his curt rejection.

"Mr. Patthita, are you single?"

"What do you think?" Now he rests his chin on my shoulder. I attempt to break free, but his grip on me is tight.

"So... Miss Hunter is your girlfriend?"

"We've even spent the night together. Right?" He looks at me and winks mischievously. I grit my teeth. This boy truly deserves a smack on the head!

They continue to chatter and speculate, creating a chaotic atmosphere.

All because of Way!

"Alright, let's get started now! Take your seats! Hurry up, everyone!" Thanks to Tamara's intervention, everyone refocuses on the task at hand. Some reluctantly move, but Tamara manages to corral them towards the makeup area.

I turn around, shooting Way a sharp gaze. The man simply gives me a sly smile.

"What was that all about?"

"I was just trying to save myself," he replies.

"By using me? Ugh, now I understand how Andra feels all this while..." I feel the need to express my frustration, but Way interrupts me by placing his finger on my lips. He stares at me with his deep, captivating gaze.

I desperately want to confront him about what just happened, but my heart feels too fragile in this moment.

He lightly brushes his finger against my cheek and walks away. I'm left in a state of shock, unable to gather my thoughts or respond appropriately.

All because of Way.