Chapter 4 Chapter 4.

(Rebecca)

Morning rolled in swiftly, and as I stirred from sleep, I found Daniel already dressed and ready to leave. The early hour felt peculiar, especially since he usually took his time.

Forcing myself to sit up, I grabbed my phone from the drawer and checked the time.

05:45 AM. Even if he was going to work, it was unusually early for him, he never gets ready at this time of the morning.

"Isn’t it too early?" I mumbled, my voice husky from sleep.

"I need to catch the bus," he replied simply, adjusting the buttons of his shirt sleeve.

"A bus? Isn’t it a company trip? Shouldn’t that be a flight?" I raised an eyebrow, barely hiding my disbelief.

"Flight?" He chuckled, the sound warm and teasing. "Don’t be ridiculous, babe. Why would the company arrange a flight for me?"

"Why wouldn’t they?" I challenged, crossing my arms. "Send someone off to work in a faraway place and still make them suffer before they get there."

"It’s just a trip, babe," he laughed, shaking his head playfully.

He positioned himself to face me completely and spread his arms wide. "How do I look?"

I couldn’t help but admire him. The way he stood there in a brown shirt and gray pants made my heart flutter. His messy brown hair lent him a boyish charm, and those brown eyes—filled with warmth and expectancy sent shivers through me.

I rose from the bed and walked over to him, pulling his tie gently, coaxing him down to my level. "You look like you shouldn’t speak to any other woman," I said, my voice low and teasing.

With a soft smile, he leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to my lips. "I won’t," he assured, capturing my lips in a longer kiss this time. My breath hitched as our tongues danced together, his energy intertwining with mine. I wanted him. No, I needed him. My core thrumming with a yearning that was hard to ignore. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer, but just as the kiss deepened, he abruptly pulled away, gasping.

"Let’s stop here, babe," he said, his voice breathless. "I'm afraid if we go on, I might lose control, so let’s keep it here."

This is one of the reasons I love him. He always respects my decisions, my beliefs, my doctrine. But lately, I’ve found myself questioning everything. My body and mind were in constant conflict with my faith, and I wasn't sure how to reconcile it all.

“Daniel...” His name slipped from my lips like a soft whisper, and I could see the effect it had on him. His eyes were hazy and heavy with desire, reflecting the struggle we both felt.

“Bye, babe. I’ll call you,” he said, and just like that, he grabbed his luggage and walked away.

With a sigh that felt like a weight lifting from my chest, I buried my hands in my hair.

I glanced at the wall clock: twelve minutes past six AM. I needed to get ready for my trip.

I glided through my morning routine, each action flowing smoothly, and within an hour, I was set to go. But a nagging thought scratched at the back of my mind: How could I participate in the game without revealing my true identity?

My mind raced in circles as I mulled over my options, but nothing came to me. Just then, my phone buzzed with a notification. Expecting something important, I picked it up, only to find an entertainment news feed — a glamorous influencer’s latest post.

My interest was fleeting at best, but my finger inadvertently clicked on the image. A striking picture filled my screen: the influencer barely clad in a veil. Suddenly, an idea sparked in my mind — a veil!

I dashed to my belongings, rummaging through them frantically until my fingers brushed against the silky fabric. A triumphant smile broke across my face. "Oh, thank you, gracious God."

I quickly draped the veil over my head, ensuring only my eyes peeked through.

Mission accomplished! Now, my identity remained shrouded in mystery.

As I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I marveled at how beautiful I still looked, even with my face concealed.

Impressed with my look, I held on to my luggage and rolled it out of the house.

As I stepped out of the house, the cool morning air brushed against my covered skin, a mix of nerves and excitement twisting in my stomach. The streets were already alive, too alive. A wave of cars honked impatiently at an intersection, and the sight made my stomach drop.

“Not today,” I murmured, dragging my luggage with one hand and holding my veil down with the other.

I had booked a ride yesterday, but even that foresight couldn’t prepare me for the maddening traffic that had taken over the city like a swarm. My driver kept muttering curses under his breath as we inched forward at a pace slower than walking. I couldn’t stop checking the time every five minutes, every red light, every long sigh I let out.

11:10 AM.

I was supposed to be at the studio by 10:00.

I tapped my foot anxiously against the car floor. The GPS showed we were still 10 minutes away, but at this rate, 10 minutes could mean forever.

“Please, can’t you take a different route?” I asked the driver, my voice laced with urgency.

“This is the different route, madam,” he said dryly, not even glancing at me.

Fuck! What the hell was this?

By the time we made it to the street where the studio was located, I was nearly jumping out of the car before it fully stopped. “Thank you!” I said, throwing the cash into his front seat and hauling my bag out.

I ran the rest of the way, my veil flapping in the wind, the wheels of my luggage rattling loudly behind me. Heads turned as I passed, some people staring with curiosity, others with confusion.

When I reached the metallic gates housing the studio, I took a second to catch my breath, then pushed them open and stepped inside.

A security guard stood firm as I entered, his imposing figure failing to intimidate me. “I’m here for the game,” I asserted calmly, brushing past him before he could utter a single word.

Before me stood two glass doors that I assumed led into the studio. With a determined push, I swung them open and stepped inside.

“Who are you?” a woman at the front desk demanded, her eyes narrowing suspiciously as she scrutinized my concealed face.

“I’m here for the game,” I replied, extending my invitation letter towards her.

She examined the letter swiftly, her expression softening slightly as she registered its authenticity. “You’re late,” she remarked, a hint of disapproval in her voice.

“I know,” I replied, my tone laced with sincerity. “Please…”

"You can proceed to the reception while you await the final selection," she instructed curtly, brushing aside my concerns.

"Final selection?" I echoed, my brow furrowing in confusion.

Her gaze flicked to my veil, and she pointed with a firm finger. “That might need to come off if you want to stay in the game,” she advised, her tone brooking no argument.

With a clenched fist around the edge of my veil, I turned away, determined to keep my composure as I headed toward the reception, my luggage trailing quietly behind me.

As I entered a vast, beautifully designed space, I took in the atmosphere. Groups of people were scattered around—some engaged in discussions, while others seemed caught up in their own thoughts.

I navigated through the crowd, my eyes wandering as I absorbed the energy of the room, when suddenly I collided with something solid.

“Ouch!” I exclaimed, rubbing my forehead in a f

utile attempt to ease the sting. Looking up, I found myself face-to-face with none other than Daniel.