Chapter 9 An Anonymous Invitation

After an extremely long pause, during which Tracey thought that time itself had stopped, Carlos finally said, "I promise to find him."

At this, Tracey felt both relieved and nervous. "I promise to find him, but I also have a condition."

"Go ahead," Tracey said, sitting beside him stiffly.

She knew things couldn't possible go that smoothly.

"It is a simple thing. Don't worry," Carlos said when he saw Tracey clench her fists. He lighted a cigarette, and continued, "Don't be so nervous. I don't eat people."

It did help her to relax a bit.

"I know someone who would like you to sing at a small banquet. So it's still singing, just at a different place," Carlos said, but Tracey felt embarrassed.

She sang at the nightclub because she needed the money, but she didn't want to sing outside of it.

After a short pause, she asked, "May I ask who..."

"Anonymous," Carlos said, interrupting her. Carlos was a professional, so he didn't pry when someone left an anonymous invitation. "This person didn't leave a name. It is probably a fan of yours. You have become very popular."

Seeing that Tracey was still hesitant, Carlos motioned one of his subordinates to bring something. The man came back with an exquisitely packaged box and placed it in front of Tracey.

"They left this box for you. There is an evening dress inside, along with a check for five hundred thousand. This is the most generous of the offers you've received. I know you are short of money. If you agree, all that money is yours," Carlos explained.

Naturally, Tracey wanted to agree, since she was indeed in desperately need money.

"What do you think? Do you need time to think it over?" Carlos asked.

'Five hundred thousand, ' Tracey repeated to herself in her mind, staring at the check in front of her.

It was a huge amount of money.

Her principles would have to take the backseat this time.

"Okay, I'll do it," she said.

She couldn't refuse. She could get five hundred thousand just by singing a song. It was too tempting.

She tried to accept it by telling herself that it was just singing a song at another place.

"Great!" Carlos said, smiling. "I like to work with smart people like you. And of course, since you agreed, I'll start working on your request as well. I'll get back to you as soon as I find anything."

"Thank you, Carlos," Tracey said.

"Well, let's shake on it,"

Carlos said as he stretched his hand out, and Tracey shook it without hesitation.

After her conversation with Carlos, Tracey went back onstage and sang two more songs. With so many nights of exertion, her throat had become a bit uncomfortable.

"Tracey, go to bed early tonight and get some good rest,"

Laura told her when she finally came backstage. She also made her drink some warm water and take some lozenges.

"I'm fine, Laura," Tracey said, shaking her head.

Laura had really been taking great care of her, and Tracey was truly grateful. The nightclub was making a huge profit every night, so Tracey definitely didn't want her health to ruin everything.

However, she also wanted to sing as much as possible, so she said, "It's okay. I can sing two more songs tonight."

"Please listen to me. You've been singing for three nights in a row. Even if you don't want to rest, your throat needs to," Laura said sternly, taking her hand.

"I know what you are thinking, Tracey, but your voice is your most important possession now. So, please, just go and rest for tonight, or I won't let you on the stage ever again."

"But... What if Carlos finds out..."

"Don't worry about it. Boss understands things like these better than anyone. There is no hurry, and you are going to make a lot of money for him and the club in the future. Also, you have that banquet in two days, don't you? If you're not at your best there, all your effort will be in vain, and your reputation will be ruined.

Anyway, don't worry about the boss. I can handle that."

"Then... I'm going to bed," Tracey finally agreed, since Laura was so insistent.

Her throat was sore as well, even if she didn't want to admit it, so she simply packed up her things and left. When she got back to her room, she took a shower, and after, her eyes fell on the check.

'Who could have possibly offered me this much money?

Why would they be so generous?'

Slowly, she put the check on the side and dragged her fingers over the dress instead. The fabric was incredibly smooth, and like every girl, she immediately wanted to try it on.

For a year, she had worn an orange prison uniform, which definitely didn't make her feel attractive or beautiful. The only 'decoration' it had was her number, 0835.

Thinking about dresses, she tried to remember when the last time she wore a dress was, and with disappointment, she realized that it was at her and Weston's wedding.

Determined, she went to the bathroom and changed into the dress. Slowly, she walked in front of the mirror and looked at her reflection.

The dress was purple, and its strapless design highlighted her narrow waist. Her collarbone was accentuated as well, and incredibly tempting. The only problem with the dress was that it was too short.

It was long and elegant at the back, part of it dragging behind slightly, but the front was uncomfortably short.

Her terrible scars ruined the whole effect, like ferocious monsters baring their fangs and claws.

As she looked at her legs, she realized who had sent the dress.

The only person who knew about her scars was Jade.

That day, when she went in to save Weston from the fire, she got an ugly burn on her left thigh. And then, as if that wasn't enough, her leg was injured once again while she was in prison. With her limp and her terrible scars, it was no wonder she had no self-esteem left whatsoever.

Even at the Platinum Club, she would always wear trousers or a skirt that was at least long enough to cover the worst of her scars, but in this dress, they would be visible to everyone.

Jade had obviously done her best to make sure she was completely humiliated.

However, Tracey wasn't about to go down without a fight.

Since Jade had come to her seeking to ruin her even further, she was going to take revenge on Jade first.

Time would show who the clown really was.

Pursing her lips, Tracey got lost in thought for a while, until she came up with a way to ruin all of Jade's plans.