Chapter 35

When Jane gets back to her room, she finds a huge bouquet of white roses. She is smitten and feels very special.

She opens the note in the card and it says, ‘Thank you for a beautiful day. I’m so glad you chose the ones with the pink ribbons. Please wear the white one tomorrow with the tutu in the closet. Meet me in the ballroom at two p.m. I won’t be able to see you until then. With love, Brad.’

How did he do that? How did he have that note written and delivered when they’d been together the whole time? He thinks of all the details.

She opens the closet and finds a tutu with multi-colored gemstones all over the chiffon. It is so delicate and funky at the same time. She puts it up to the corset and it makes her look like a wild, rocker ballerina. It’s so much fun.

She goes over to the mirror and brushes her hair, letting it hang loose. She puts on the robe and feels the gentle softness against her skin.

He treats me like such a lady, and I can’t help but feel beautiful around him.

She lies on the bed and falls asleep to the soothing sound of the fan.

When she wakes, she realizes she hasn’t called her mom since she left, and usually they speak on Monday nights.

“Hey, Mom, it’s me,” she says.

“Oh, Jane! Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick about you,” says her mom.

“Oh, Mom, I’m so sorry. I’ve had these rehearsals from hell that have been really taking their toll on me,” Jane lies. She doesn’t usually lie to her mom, so she feels a bit guilty.

“Oh, dear, please don’t ever do that to me again. It’s not like you to not call. I was nearly ready to send the police out to look for you,” her mom said with concern, and Jane knew it was true.

She likes hearing the sound of her mother’s voice, her loving concern coming through. Jane can hear how much her mom has protected her throughout her life, never wanting her to lose her innocence.

“I’m so sorry, Mom, you know I’d never want you to worry. The big city seems to take on a life of its own sometimes,” Jane says.

“Do you need money, Jane? Do you feel safe there? I worry about you every day, especially when I hear these news stories about young girls getting sucked in by gangs and drugs there. I couldn’t live with myself if I knew some horrible man was out to get you,” she said.

This brings up fear in Jane, wondering again if she can trust herself with Brad. She’s heard of drug rings and how older men will lure in younger women, giving them gifts, perfume, and all things lavish, just to drug them up and use them as sex slaves. Maybe this is what Brad is doing to her. Her mom is talking some sense into her, and she knows she has her best interests at heart.

“Don’t worry, Mom. I have a good head on my shoulders. You’ve taught me a lot about how to take care of myself,” Jane reassures.

“What’s that sound in the background, Jane? It sounds like waves,” her mom says.

“Oh, that’s my new relaxation music. It helps me go to sleep,” Jane says.

“Oh yes, I’ve heard about that. Let me know how it works.”

“Okay… Mom, I have to get going. I have to go and practice. I love you,” Jane says, not wanting to have to lie to her mom again.

“Alright, dear. I wish we could chat longer. I love you and miss you.”

“I miss you, too. Say hi to Dad for me,” she says.

“Yes, of course. Goodbye, Jane.”

“Goodbye, Mom,” she says.

Jane hangs up the phone and feels just awful. She never wants her mom to worry, and now she has had to lie to her. Jane has never lied to her mom before, and what if she was right? What if this was some scheme to lure her into a drug or sex ring without her even knowing it?

Now, her mom doesn’t know she is in some foreign country. What should she do? Not to mention that driver she spoke to earlier had warned her about Brad.

Jane is feeling panicked now and is looking at the situation through a different set of eyes. She sees all the gifts and can make a case for how he is grooming her to be his little princess. He could easily have connections to criminals, she’s sure of it. At the moment, she is trapped here and there isn’t a way out. She is nervous and afraid, but what can she do about it now?

Jane decides to go out on the beach to relax and think about these things. She heads down to the lobby and asks the front desk if she can borrow a beach umbrella and get room service delivered there.

Jane orders a piña colada, takes off her clothes revealing the white bikini underneath, and lets the sun comfort her. Thoughts and feelings are swimming in her head, and she has no idea what to do about them.

There is a gentleman on the beach, with dark hair and sculpted abs.

“Do you mind if I join you?” he asks.

For some reason, Jane feels like she’s betraying Brad just by talking to this man.

“I don’t bite,” he says.

Feeling mistrusting and on edge, Jane replies, “Well, I really don’t know that, do I?”

“No, I guess you don’t,” he says. He reaches out his hand and says, “Hi, my name is John. I’m gay.”

Jane smiles, feeling a bit relieved that he’s not interested in her.

“Oh, well, that’s a relief,” she says. “Yes, please have a sit.”

They proceed to get to know each other, laughing, talking, and getting along. He makes everything feel normal. They head back from the beach and go through the hotel lobby.

“Lovely to meet you, John. I hope you have a good time here,” Jane says, the front desk overhearing.

“And you, Jane,” he replies, going in the other direction.

Jane walks back to her room, feeling more at ease that someone else knows her here.