Rita was supposed to be getting ready for Carlo, the wealthy man she planned to charm. Clad in the stunning red silk dress that Isabel had gifted her, she couldnβt help but admire her reflectionβit was a sight to behold.
She felt a flicker of happiness as she smiled at herself in the mirror, silently thanking her cousin Isabel for this beautiful dress, especially knowing how tight things were financially. After all, the only reason Rita found herself in this cathouse was to earn some cash.
But then everything shifted. Carlo Castillo arrived, as unpredictable as everβdrunk, cruel, and hurtful. He hurled words at Rita without a second thought, his disdain palpable.
βYouβre nothing but a filthy wh@re. Working in a place like thisβ¦ I donβt even know why I bother,β he sneered.
Everyone heard, including you.
You were there to buy, but you werenβt like the others.
You didnβt share their intentions; you just wanted to sit and talk with the women, not succumb to the crude desires of men like Carlo. It felt strange seeing a woman in a place like this.
Rita stood outside, feeling crushed. She couldnβt understand why he chose to belittle her with such harsh words. Isabel remained inside, giving her the space she desperately needed.
Tears filled her eyes; her neatly arranged hair fell messily, held back only by a frazzled clip. Taking a shaky drag of her cigarette, she felt the smoke curl in her lungs, a momentary distraction before she exhaled it into the cold night air, feeling more alone than ever.