PLAYING THE PLAYER

chapter 1: how it started

"You want me to do what?" I heard what
She said. I'm just not sure I heard right.

"I want to hire you to make my younger brother fall in love with you and break up with him afterward. I will pay you, of course. How does R100000 per month sound? "she said calmly. Why... Why would anyone want to do that to their own sibling and her offering to pay that much to do it." Why do you want to hire someone to date your brother?" I asked curiously.

"Because his player. He picks his target, draws them in, makes them fall in love then dumps them like they mean nothing.i understand how that feels and i want him to know how it feels,if he wasn't my brother I would have done what I am asking you to do,myself."She said seriously, seated comfortably on the couch with an aura of sophistication. I set there thinking about what she said."I have to think about this first,"i said hesitantly. "Certainly, but please give me an answer by tomorrow,"she said with a soft smile. I nodded, then stood up and left her office.

okay, let me tell you how it started.

10 HOURS AGO
8AM in the morning. As I walked into the kitchen, all dressed up and ready for work, I smelled something delicious.
" What are you making?"I asked mira as i set on the stool behind her.
" I'm making french toast for breakfast." She replied, flipping the toast. " Nice,let's eat quick so we won't be late for work. "

My name is Melody Hart, receptionist at my best friend's father's construction company. I have been working there for a year now. We live on the top floor of one of the buildings he has built. Our apartment is the biggest in the building and very beautiful. In the afternoon, the sun shines brightly through the huge window on the left, showcasing how warm and sunny this city is, mostly filled with trees such as plum and coconut trees. I have a little sister Harmony. This is her last year of high school. Our mother died of heart attack when she was 13 and I 18. And we don't know where our father is. whether he's alive or dead. He left us when Harmony was still a child who could barely talk. Our mother had a lot of debts, so we didn't get enough money to sustain us from the money she left us. After her passing, we stayed with our uncle, her older brother, for a few years. He never had kids, so he treated us the children he never had.i worked as a waitress during those years, while I attended college for acting. I received a scholarship. But I didn't get to complete my studies because I had to take care of my sister after he died from a car accident.

" Okay, let's get going, we'll wash the dishes when we get back." Mira said as we walked towards the door.  we took the elevator going down. We greeted the doormen as we went out the glass door, leading us to the waiting car.I got into the passenger seat and mira in the driver's seat and drove off to work.

"My dad called and told me he set a blind date for me, I told him I wasn't interested in dating... right now." She said with a bit of anger. " You know what he said?"She asked, irritated. "Uhm,I don't know. What did he say?"I asked, already anticipating what's coming next."he said he wasn't asking if I wanted to. He threatened to demolish my bakery."She said her anger boiling over." It's probably just an empty threat. He wouldn't do something like that just to get you to meet a stranger. Maybe there is a real reason behind this." I said, trying to feel better. This isn't the first time he threatened her to do something. For example, when we were still in high school, he had a thanksgiving party and wanted her to attend, but she was interested, so he threatened her using her car.

"Why are you trying to defend him?"she asked, irritated.

"I am not,I am just stating my opinion....you know what. I think you should talk to him,seriously, this time. Don't make it one of those where you argue the whole conversation."I said to her with a soft smile on my face. She parked the car as we arrived at my destination. She sighed, her anger subsiding. "Fine,you're right. But we need to talk about the blind date after the work, " she said calmly."Sure, have a great day." I said as i stepped out of the car with my work bag in hand."Thanks, you too."She replied with a smile,then drove off to her bakery downtown. I walked into the building and then started with my long day at work.

The day went by very fast. I spent most of the time answering calls. Then I had lunch with one of my colleagues David, his a really sweet guy. After work,I walked to the glass doors, looking into my bag until I bumped into a woman with blonde hair. " I am so sorry, " I said apologetically, " it's okay it was my fault for being too focused on my phone instead of looking where I was walking, "the blonde woman replied. She is really beautiful like a Barbie doll but not the plastic kind. " Guess it was both our fault. "I added with a smile. She nodded and left. I got a text from mira saying she was waiting for me outside.

"Hey,how was your day?"Mira asked as I set in the passenger seat. "It wes good yours?"I asked with a smile." Busy as always. I remember you mentioning you had a thing at the orphanage?" Mira said, starting the car. I try to make time to visit the children at the orphanage."Yeah, me and the others are going to perform a little play for them ." I answered excitedly."What is it called?"She asked curiously. "It's alice in Wonderland."I replied. "I can't wait to see you on the big screen one day,"she added. I smiled. When I am at the orphanage, I get to do a few performances just to express myself creatively, exploring different characters and emotions. I want to connect with the audience on a deeper emotional level.

I snapped out of my thoughts when I felt the car stop."we're here."mira said, excited.

She locked the car as I walked ahead to get prepared for the show. Not a lot of people will be here, only the people from the orphanage or visiting. Everyone was getting ready when I entered." Hey,melody, get ready quickly. we're about to start the show, " lisa said in one breath. I entered the changing room and got dressed as alice  the character I am portraying. The show started, and we performed everything we had been practicing for two weeks. The kids watched and listened with cute smiles on their faces.when the show ended we bowed at the small audience, in it i noticed someone sitting at the back she had blonde hair, oh, the woman I bumped into earlier " what is she doing here?" I asked myself.

We went into our changing rooms to change into our normal clothes " Hello" a  voice said behind me. I turned around to face the blonde woman. " Hey, we meet again," I added. "Hello,my name is Katelyn,and I would like to speak with you,"she said, putting her hand forward for me to shake,I did the same. " My name is Melody, and sure,"
"But not here," she added, looking around.

And that's how it started...

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