Chapter 7 A Night In The Boys Quarters

• Valerie moved through her bedroom like a ghost in distress, her hands trembling as she gathered her things, from her clothes to her makeup kits, whatever is left of her jewelries. She’d never imagined it would come to this—packing up to leave the mansion that had been her escape from all the madness. She picked up a large portrait of herself at one of her father’s formal events; cladded in tiffany’s diamonds and silk. She looked so different then, so glamorous and carefree. Now, her life was in pieces. She stared at the photo, her fingers tracing her own smile as tears slipped down her face. She clutched it to her chest, then placed it gently into her suitcase.
• Her heart felt like lead as she walked through the mansion, glancing at every room, every corner she’d once called hers. Memories flooded her—dinner parties, late nights with Layla, the shopping bags that used to line the halls after a big haul. The house seemed empty, like it was already letting go of her, casting her out of the life she’d taken for granted. Each step weighed her down more than the last as she made her way to the boy’s quarters, her only option now. She felt like she was being exiled from her own life.
• Finally, she reached the door of the boy’s quarters, taking a shaky breath before turning the knob. The door creaked open, revealing a dark, dusty space that smelled stale and unused. Just as she stepped in, a rat scurried across the floor and squeezed past her foot. Valerie screamed, stumbling backward, her vision spinning. Everything went black as she fainted, her body collapsing onto the dirty floor.
• When she woke, she found herself lying on the cold ground, a faint layer of dust sticking to her clothes. She tried to sit up, blinking in shock at the bleak room surrounding her. Cobwebs draped down from the ceiling corners, thick dust covered every surface, and broken bits of plaster littered the floor. The room smelled old and neglected. Valerie swallowed hard, holding back a surge of nausea as she took in her surroundings, her chest tightening with panic. This was her new home. Her mind screamed in disbelief.
• Desperate for help, she fumbled for her phone and quickly called Layla, barely able to hold back her tears. “Layla, please… you have to come over. I can’t… I can’t do this alone. There’s dirt everywhere, rats, and… I just can’t.”
• She heard Layla’s sigh over the phone, her voice steady but reluctant. “Valerie, I’m at work. I can’t just leave right now. You’ll have to try. This is all part of… moving forward. You’re stronger than you think.”.
• On the other end, Layla sighed, her tone steady but reluctant. “Valerie, I’m at work, and I can’t leave right now. I know it’s hard, but you need to give it a try. This is part of—well, of moving forward. You can do it.”
• Valerie clenched her fists, struggling to hold in another scream as she heard Layla’s calm reply. This place felt like a nightmare. She barely managed to gather herself, but every movement stirred up dust, sending more waves of disgust through her. She found an old broom in the corner, covered in cobwebs, and gripped it like it might rescue her from the horrors lurking in each dark corner. She took a breath and started to sweep, gagging as she pushed layers of dirt and grime into small piles. Each time she spotted another insect or rodent, she jumped back with a shriek, feeling utterly alone and helpless.
• She was about to fall apart again, barely holding herself together, when her phone rang. It was Mr Kingsley. She answered with an urgency born of desperation.
• “Ms Valerie, I wanted to inform you that the initial payment of $10,000 has been successfully deposited. Please confirm this. Also… plans have changed. The new tenant will be arriving much sooner than expected. In fact, they’ll be at the house any moment now.”
• Valerie’s heart skipped a beat, her anger and exhaustion momentarily pushed aside by a flicker of relief. At least some money was coming in. She hung up quickly and immediately called Layla, her voice a rushed whisper as she tried to hide her excitement and the nervous energy spilling over.
• “Layla, they’re coming! The new tenant is actually coming, like… right now!” she half-whispered, half-yelled.
• Layla sounded surprised, with a hint of scepticism. “Wow, that’s… fast. But listen, maybe dial back on calling me every two seconds, alright? I don’t want to lose my job too!” she teased, then paused. “But Val, just stay calm. Let’s hope this goes smoothly. The faster you adapt, the easier it’ll get.”
• Valerie’s heart pounded as she heard the sound of car horns honking outside the gate. She froze, phone still in hand, as a sleek, unfamiliar car rolled up, its engine rumbling softly. Layla’s voice nudged her back to reality.
• “Go, go! Meet them,” Layla said, laughing lightly. Then, she hung up.
• Valerie hurried out towards the gate, steeling herself as she approached, her pulse quickening with every step. Her heart raced as she opened the gate, squinting against the bright sunlight that glinted off the sleek, black Rolls-Royce that drove in smoothly. She closed the gate behind it, her eyes lingering on the luxury car, noting every immaculate detail—its spotless exterior, the deep rumble of its engine. She moved toward the entrance, but as she caught her reflection in a window, her stomach sank. Dust smudged her face, her hair was a tangled mess, and her once-fashionable clothes now looked hopelessly wrinkled and stained.
• Just as she reached the doorstep, the car door swung open, and out stepped a tall, impeccably dressed man in a tailored suit. Her heart skipped as she recognised him—the smug stranger from the boutique, the one who’d pushed her aside to grab the diamond jewellery! He straightened his cuffs, his sharp gaze landing on her with an expression that bordered between confusion and distaste.