Jenna wasn't sure if it was sheer exhaustion or the several-thousand-dollar mattress that helped her to sleep so well, but she sure was grateful for it when she woke up, hours later.

Bright sunlight was reflecting off of the buildings around her, dazzling her. She laid in the bed, wrapped up in soft, lightweight blankets, her hair sprawled over the pillow, and simply enjoyed the view. She could have stayed there for hours, but Adina appeared after a while, offering her another warm bath before breakfast.

“No, thank you,” Jenna replied, finally sitting up in the bed, running her hand through her hair. “I think I’m cleaner than I have ever been after that bath.”

Adina seemed amused and gave her some privacy to change and get ready.

A few minutes later Jenna walked out into the hall and caught the distinct aroma of baking bread. She followed the smell down the hall, her feet covered in cushy, aloe-blend socks, barely making a sound.

She came upon the kitchen and found Balal standing at the stove, wearing an apron, humming. He hadn't seen her, as his back was to her, and she leaned quietly against the wall, watching him.

He flipped some eggs in a skillet, grabbed a jar of unidentifiable spices, and threw a pinch into the pan. He tapped his foot along to the tune he was humming and stirred something in a different pot, wafting some of the aroma toward himself.

Jenna couldn't help but smile. There was something so easy about the way he carried himself, despite his large, toned physique. He seemed happy, and it was contagious to her.

She took a fluid step forward and put her hands on the wraparound counter, a gleaming white and silver marble, and said, “You seem cheerful this morning.”

She laughed as Balal nearly jumped out of his skin, whirling around, wooden spoon in hand. When he saw her, he relaxed, but his smile was reserved.

“Very funny,” he said, but his voice was not unkind. He gestured to a barstool in the middle of the kitchen at the large marble island. Copper pots hung on a rack overhead, glinting brightly in the midday sunlight that poured through the windows.

Jenna obliged, and took a moment to appreciate her surroundings.

“This place is fit for a king,” she commented, and then realized who she was speaking to.

Balal shot her a glance over his shoulder and grinned. “Yes. I love to cook, and this was my biggest splurge in the penthouse. I wanted to be able to feed as many people in here as I could.”

He returned to the island, wiping his hand on his apron, and set a glass of dark pink juice in front of her. 

“I hope you like pomegranates,” Balal said. “It’s one of our biggest crops here.”

Jenna lifted the glass to her nose and inhaled. The juice smelled sweet and pungent, and when Jenna took a sip, she let out an, “Ahh,” before she had finished.

“Thought so,” Balal said warmly, then returned to the stove.

Jenna watched the muscles in his back ripple as he rolled his shoulders, and she felt a low burn in her chest. He was just too good looking. A man like him would never be interested in a girl like her. She thought about what Adina had said, about how Balal hadn’t made dinner for anyone else before, and how amused Adina had seemed because of it.

What was different about her? Why had he treated her so kindly? Even when they’d been sitting in the limo at the airport the night before, he’d seemed almost sad that she was going to be leaving.

She pursed her lips, considering for a moment.

“Why did you want me to stay?” she blurted out. She immediately regretted it, wondering wildly if she was way out of line.

“I beg your pardon?” Balal asked, turning to look at her. He didn't seem angry, she realized with relief, but he definitely was hesitant.

Jenna wasn't sure if she was overstepping her bounds, but she continued anyway. “If you didn't want me to, you wouldn't have given me the alternative at the airport.”

Balal seemed surprised, but he laughed.

“To be honest?” he began, leaning on the counter. He took a swig of his water. “Well firstly, you were a lot calmer than some of the other girls I’ve helped in the past. You seemed less like you wanted to be as far away as possible, as soon as possible. Second…and perhaps above all, you thought of that other girl instead of yourself. You were concerned for her safety, even in the midst of your own ordeal.”

Jenna felt a tug at the corner of her mouth which turned into a sheepish half-smile. She hadn't thought of it that way.

“It’s not often that I see that kind of compassion. I knew then that you could prove to be a great asset to my team.”

Is this what destiny feels like? Jenna asked herself. Is this what I have been preparing for?

She licked her lips. “I hope that I prove to be just that.”

Balal seemed pleased, and then set about ladling food onto plates for the both of them. He had laid out fresh fruits, breads, and a jug of coconut milk coffee. Apparently, it was his favorite. He put a plate in front of Jenna and then slid into the seat beside her.

“So, what's the plan now?” she asked as she picked up a piece of sweetened bread and nibbled on the corner. It was light and fluffy, and she fought the urge to cram the entire piece into her mouth.

“I'm glad you asked. This morning I received word from one of the Collectors—” He hesitated when she looked at him curiously. “This is the name we have given ourselves; it doesn’t give much away, and if the traffickers hear any rumblings about us, they won't think we’re anything aside from competition.”

Balal mixed his oatmeal with his spoon, having just covered it in cinnamon, and Jenna got a brief, faint whiff of him. He smelled like vanilla and cloves. It was a heady smell, and Jenna realized she had never noticed the way a man smelled before—his musk was so unique, and alluring.

“The Collectors…” Jenna murmured. She was rather pleased with the name on her tongue. It made her feel like she was a part of something. “What did they say?”

“He said there is going to be another auction tonight,” he said. “Usually they spread them out more, but it seems as if there are too many girls who need to be moved around at the moment.”

“How many of them are we going to rescue?”

Balal looked at her intently. “Just one. The Collectors will be there to bid on any other girls that are auctioned. As for us, we have a slightly different plan in mind.”

“Oh?” Jenna asked, also reaching for her cup of coffee.

Balal chewed the inside of his lip, considering for a moment.

“Well,” he began. “Let's just say that you are going to be the perfect fit for the job; that is, if you are up for it.”

“What is it?” Jenna asked.

Balal spent the next hour or so explaining the plan, and Jenna was surprised to find that she wasn't horrified or terrified by any of it. Instead, she asked questions, listened closely, and repeated everything back to him until he was sure that she was ready.

After breakfast—which was really more like lunch—Adina helped Jenna to pick out her outfit. She chose a pair of close-fitting black pants that were stretchy and flexible. She also donned a dark, breathable black camisole, and pulled a black cotton running jacket over it, zipping it all the way up.

Balal gave her a mask like the one he had worn, saying that if anyone happened to spot her, they at least wouldn’t be able to recognize her.

When Jenna added that she was concerned her green eyes might be a dead giveaway, when those of nearly everyone around her were brown, Balal cupped her chin in his large, warm hand, and lifted her face toward his. He searched her eyes for a long, lingering moment.

“They are like a forest, your eyes,” he murmured simply. “The leaves, the grass, the sunlight. It's all here, in your eyes.”

Jenna had to tell herself to keep breathing, for it had suddenly become a difficult task.