Sunday morning, Emma woke up with a heavy feeling in her chest. She had barely slept. The previous night had been one of the longest of her life, and her mind kept replaying the moments of the failed encounter with Carlos. It felt like she had betrayed her own conscience, but she had also failed in the one task she'd been assigned. How would she face Ana now?
At exactly ten o'clock, she received a message from Ana:
"Meet me at the café near the university. I'll see you in an hour."
The message was direct, emotionless, which only heightened Emma's anxiety. She dressed quickly in simple clothes, no makeup, trying not to overthink what might happen. As she walked toward the café, her stomach churned with a mix of fear and anticipation. Would Ana scold her for running away?
When she arrived, Ana was already seated at a corner table, a cup of coffee in front of her. She exuded her usual confidence, with perfectly styled hair and a smile that didn't reach her eyes. Emma felt a knot in her stomach at the sight of her but approached slowly.
"Hi," Emma murmured, taking a seat across from her.
Ana looked up and studied her for a moment, as if assessing every detail of her expression. Emma couldn't bear the tension and averted her gaze, feeling like a little girl caught doing something wrong.
"Are you okay?" Ana asked, her voice neither accusatory nor sympathetic—just neutral. It was a question laden with intention.
Emma took a deep breath before responding.
"I don't know. I'm sorry about last night... I couldn't do it. I just got scared and didn't know what else to do."
Ana nodded slowly, taking a sip of her coffee before setting the cup down. She watched Emma with a mix of interest and something else Emma couldn't quite decipher.
"Don't worry," Ana said at last. "It was your first time. Everyone has doubts in the beginning."
Emma looked at her, surprised by the lack of reproach in her tone.
"You're not mad?"
Ana smiled slightly, but it wasn't a smile of relief or joy. It was cold, calculated.
"No, Emma. I'm not mad. In fact, I think you did better than you realize."
Emma frowned, confused. How could Ana say she did well when she had failed at the main objective?
"I don't understand," Emma said cautiously.
Ana put the coffee cup aside and clasped her hands together on the table, leaning in slightly toward Emma.
"There's something you need to know. What happened last night... it wasn't just a job." Ana paused, watching Emma's reaction. "It was a test."
Emma's world seemed to stop for a moment. Her heart sank in her chest as Ana's words sank into her mind. A test?
"What do you mean?" Emma asked, her voice trembling.
"Carlos and I," Ana continued, her calm tone never wavering, "we're not just clients of the app. We're administrators. Carlos isn't just any husband. He works with me to select the girls who can really handle this kind of life."
Emma felt the blood drain from her face. Carlos worked for Ana? Had it all been a setup from the beginning?
"So everything that happened last night was a lie?" Emma asked, her voice filled with disbelief. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Ana smiled again, this time more openly.
"No, it wasn't a lie. Carlos is still a weak man who easily falls into temptation. That hasn't changed. But the reason you met him last night was to see if you could handle the pressure. It's not just about seducing someone, Emma. We wanted to see how you'd react when the job became real."
Emma felt dizzy, like the ground beneath her feet had crumbled. All this time, she had been manipulated. Carlos wasn't just a target; he was part of a bigger plan.
"I... I don't understand." Her voice was barely a whisper. "Why test me?"
Ana looked at her seriously, leaning in closer.
"Because not just anyone can do this job. We need girls who can handle the tension, the guilt, the manipulation. We want to see if you can survive this lifestyle without falling apart. Last night, you showed your doubts, but you also showed that you can think on your feet and act when you feel overwhelmed."
Emma couldn't believe what she was hearing. She was angry, but she also felt humiliated for falling into their game. She sat in silence for several seconds, trying to process what she had just discovered.
"So... all of this was to see if I was strong enough?" she finally asked, with a mixture of bitterness and confusion.
"Exactly," Ana responded bluntly. "I wanted to see how you handled the situation. And now that we know, we believe you can be useful. But, of course, you'll need to learn how to push through those moments of doubt."
Emma's stomach twisted at Ana's words. Useful. That's what she was to them. A tool. But for some reason, part of her was drawn to the idea of proving she was capable. That she could do this.
"And what if I don't want to do it?" Emma asked, testing Ana with the question.
Ana shrugged, as if the answer didn't particularly matter.
"That's up to you. We're not forcing you into anything. If you decide this isn't for you, you can walk away now, and no one will judge you." Ana paused. "But if you decide to continue, I guarantee that the money you've seen so far is nothing compared to what you can earn in the future. You'd be part of something much bigger."
Emma stayed silent. She could walk away right now. Leave it all behind, return to her life as a poor student, and continue struggling to pay every bill. Or... she could accept what Ana was offering and never worry about money again.
The dilemma tore at her inside.
"Think carefully, Emma." Ana leaned back, taking her cup of coffee with a disturbing calmness. "If you decide to continue, all you have to do is let me know. But once you're in, there's no turning back."
Emma stood up slowly, feeling her legs tremble slightly. One decision. All she had to do was make one decision.
"I'll think about it..." she murmured, before walking out of the café without looking back.
The cool morning air hit her face, but it didn't relieve the tightness she felt in her chest. What would she do now? Part of her screamed to run, to get away from Ana, from Carlos, and from this world of deception. But another part... another part was curious. Tempted.
She walked the streets without a clear direction, with one certainty in her mind: whatever she decided now would change the course of her life forever.
"Hey everyone! I hope you’re enjoying the twists and turns of Emma’s journey! In this chapter, we see a big reveal about Ana and Carlos, and how they’ve been testing Emma from the start. Things are getting more intense, and Emma is starting to see that she’s in much deeper than she initially thought.
What do you think about Ana’s role in all this? Do you think Emma can trust her? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Your feedback keeps me going and helps me shape Emma’s path.
Thanks so much for reading, and stay tuned for what’s next! "