C2 Attraction At First Sight

"Hey, Tati, what are you doing here?" Ruth said, trying to sound casual.

"I wanted to surprise you, and I was curious about what you do here," Tatiana replied, a slight smile on her face.

"Oh, it's nothing really, just some drinks and good company," Ruth said, trying to downplay the situation.

As they approached the entrance, Ruth suddenly grabbed Tatiana's arm, and whispered, "Listen, Tati, I really appreciate you coming, but you can't come in here. This is not the kind of place for you."

Tatiana was taken aback by Ruth's sudden change of heart, but before she could say anything, Ruth continued, "Look, I'll make it up to you, we can go to a nice restaurant or something. But please, don't come in here. It's not safe."

Tatiana reluctantly agreed to go somewhere else, but as they were walking away, she couldn't shake the feeling that Ruth was hiding something from her. She wondered what kind of dangerous situation her cousin was involved in and vowed to uncover the truth.

Later on, Tatiana had been waiting for Ruth to come home for hours. She had been trying to keep herself busy, but her mind kept wandering back to the club scene that Ruth had told her about. She couldn't stop thinking about the dangers that lurked in the shadows of the city.

Finally, the sound of keys in the lock broke her out of her thoughts. Ruth stumbled in, looking exhausted.

"Hey, Tati," Ruth said, leaning against the wall for support.

"You look beat," Tatiana said, concerned.

"It's been a long night," Ruth replied, making her way to the couch and collapsing onto it.

Tatiana sat down next to her. "Can we talk about the club scene, Ruth? I'm really worried about you."

Ruth sighed heavily. "It's not pretty, Tati. But it's the only way I can make money right now."

"But at what cost, Ruth? You're putting yourself in danger every time you go to work there," Tatiana said, her voice filled with concern.

"I know, Tati. But what else am I supposed to do?" Ruth said, frustration creeping into her voice.

"We'll figure it out together, Ruth. I don't want you to keep putting yourself in danger like this," Tatiana said, determination in her voice.

Ruth looked at Tatiana, tears in her eyes. "Thank you, Tati. I don't know what I'd do without you."

They sat in silence for a few moments, both lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Tatiana spoke up.

"Ruth, can I ask you something?"

"Of course, Tati. Anything."

"Why do men go to those clubs? What do they want?"

Ruth looked away, a sad smile on her face. "They want what they can't have, Tati. They want to feel powerful, to have control over something. And unfortunately, that something is often young girls like us."

Tatiana's heart sank. She couldn't believe that this was the reality of the club scene. But she knew that she had to help her cousin, no matter what it took.

The next morning, Tatiana woke up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and the sound of sizzling bacon. She made her way to the kitchen to find Ruth cooking up a storm.

"Morning, Tati!" Ruth said cheerfully, turning around to greet her.

"Good morning, Ruth," Tatiana said, smiling at her cousin's enthusiasm.

"I promised to take you out to a nice breakfast spot this morning. Are you up for it?" Ruth asked, her eyes sparkling.

"Absolutely! I'm starving," Tatiana said, laughing.

They quickly finished up breakfast and got dressed. Ruth drove them to a quaint little café in the heart of the city. The place was bustling with people, the aroma of fresh pastries filling the air.

As they sat down, Ruth ordered a variety of pastries and coffee for them to share. Tatiana took in the scene around her, marveling at the different types of people that frequented the café.

"This is amazing, Ruth. Thank you so much for bringing me here," Tatiana said, taking a sip of her coffee.

Ruth smiled. "I'm glad you like it. I just wanted to show you that the city has some beautiful things to offer, too."

They chatted over breakfast, catching up on each other's lives. Tatiana couldn't help but notice how Ruth seemed to have a new energy about her. She seemed happier, more content.

"Ruth, I have to ask you something," Tatiana said, a note of hesitation in her voice.

"Sure, Tati. What's on your mind?" Ruth asked, looking at her cousin with concern.

"I was wondering...do you think there's a way out of the club scene? A way for you to make money without putting yourself in danger?" Tatiana asked, her eyes pleading.

Ruth's expression grew serious. "It's not easy, Tati. But I'm willing to try. For you."

Tatiana felt a wave of relief wash over her. She knew that they had a long road ahead of them, but for the first time since she arrived in the city, she felt hopeful.

As Tatiana and Ruth were finishing up their breakfast, the door to the café opened, and a tall, dark-haired man walked in. He was dressed in an expensive suit, and Tatiana couldn't help but notice the air of confidence that surrounded him.

Ruth's face immediately fell as she recognized him. "Oh no, not him," she muttered under her breath.

The tall, dark-haired man immediately recognized Ruth from across the room. He slowly walked up to her, and couldn’t help but notice the “friend” she was with. In full charm-mode, he greeted the ladies respectfully, and they greeted back, Ruth introduced the two to each other - "Tatiana, this is Eduardo. He's a friend of mine," Ruth said, her voice strained.

"Hi," Tatiana said, trying to hide her discomfort.

Eduardo's eyes fell on Tatiana, and he smiled. "Hello, Ruth. It's been a while," he said, his eyes still fixed on Tatiana.

"Yes, it has," Ruth said, avoiding his gaze.

Eduardo turned to Tatiana. "And who might you be?" he asked, his voice smooth.

"I'm Tatiana, Ruth's cousin," Tatiana said, trying to keep her tone neutral.

"Ah, I see. Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Tatiana," Eduardo said, extending his hand.

Tatiana shook his hand, and she felt a strange electric spark pass between them. She quickly pulled her hand away and looked down, feeling embarrassed.

Eduardo seemed to sense the tension in the air and quickly changed the subject, asking about their plans for the day. Ruth quickly took the opportunity to excuse herself, saying that they had some errands to run.

As they left the café, Tatiana couldn't help but feel Eduardo's eyes on her. She turned to look at him, and he was staring at her intently. She quickly turned away, feeling a strange mix of attraction and discomfort.

"Who is he?" Tatiana asked, as they made their way down the street.

"He's an old client of mine. I don't want to talk about it," Ruth said, her voice curt.

Tatiana felt a pang of guilt. She didn't want to cause any trouble between Ruth and Eduardo, but she couldn't help the way she felt around him. She made a mental note to be more careful around him in the future.

A few minutes later - Tatiana and Ruth called a cab & headed to the mall, they walked into the shopping mall, taking in the bright lights and colorful displays. As they browsed through the different stores, Tatiana picked out a few items of clothing that caught her eye.

"Hey Ruth, I've been meaning to ask you. Who was that guy Eduardo we saw at the Cafe?" Tatiana asked as she held up a dress to her body, admiring herself in the mirror.

Ruth's expression changed, but she quickly regained her composure. "Oh, he's just a friend. He's been a regular at the club for a while now," she said nonchalantly.

"But he seemed to know you pretty well. And the way he was looking at me made me feel uncomfortable," Tatiana persisted.

Ruth sighed. "Look, Eduardo is a wealthy man. He's the son of a billionaire and he likes to frequent clubs like ours. But don't worry, he's harmless. I've known him for a while now."

Tatiana wasn't convinced. "What does he do for a living?"

"He's in finance, I think. But he's never really talked about it," Ruth said evasively.

Tatiana sensed that Ruth was hiding something, but she didn't press the issue further. Instead, she put down the dress she was holding and they continued to browse through the mall, trying on different outfits and having fun.

As they left the mall with their shopping bags, Tatiana couldn't help but wonder about Eduardo and his true intentions. She knew she had to be careful around men like him, who seemed to have everything but still preyed on young girls like her.

Tatiana and Ruth carried their shopping bags as they made their way back to the apartment. As they approached the door, they heard muffled voices coming from inside. Ruth looked at Tatiana and motioned for her to stay quiet. They cautiously entered the apartment, trying not to make any noise.

To their surprise, they found Angela, one of Ruth's friends, sitting on the couch, waiting for them. Angela's eyes widened when she saw Tatiana, and she quickly assumed that Tatiana was a new working girl.

"Hey Ruth, who's this cute little thing?" Angela asked, eyeing Tatiana up and down.

Ruth gave Angela a stern look. "Angela, this is Tatiana, my cousin. She's not a working girl."

Angela looked embarrassed. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize."

Tatiana smiled, trying to ease the tension in the room. "It's okay, Angela. Nice to meet you."

Ruth quickly changed the subject, trying to diffuse the awkward situation. "So, what brings you here?"

Angela looked sheepish. "I was hoping you could lend me some money. I'm short on rent this month."

Ruth sighed. "Angela, I can't keep lending you money. You have to learn to manage your finances better."

Angela looked disappointed. "I know, I know. I'm trying. It's just hard sometimes."

Tatiana watched the exchange, feeling a bit uncomfortable. She didn't know much about Ruth's friends, but it seemed like they were all struggling in one way or another.

As the conversation continued, Tatiana couldn't help but wonder if this was the kind of life she wanted for herself. She knew that Ruth had been successful in the club hosting business, but at what cost? She didn't want to end up like Angela, constantly struggling to make ends meet.

Deep down, Tatiana knew that she needed to find a way out of this world, but she wasn't sure how.

Ruth counted out some cash and handed it over to Angela, who looked grateful but also a bit defeated.

"Thank you, Ruth. I'll pay you back as soon as possible," Angela said with a smile.

"Don't worry about it. Just take care of yourself," Ruth replied, returning the smile.

Tatiana watched the exchange silently, feeling a bit out of place. She was still trying to wrap her head around this whole new world she had found herself in. The money, the clubs, the wealthy men - it was all so different from her small-town life.

As Angela left, Ruth turned to Tatiana with a bright smile. "So, Tati, what do you say we go out this weekend and make some real money?"

Tatiana furrowed her brow. "What do you mean?"

Ruth leaned in conspiratorially. "We'll be hosting a private party for some billionaires. They're willing to pay top dollar for some entertainment."

Tatiana's eyes widened in shock. "You mean...you want me to...?"

Ruth held up a hand. "No, no, not like that. Just some dancing, maybe some drinks. Nothing too crazy. And the pay is great."

Tatiana hesitated. She wasn't sure if she was comfortable with the idea, but at the same time, the prospect of making so much money in just one night was tempting. "I don't know, Ruth. It all seems a bit...shady."

Ruth laughed. "Welcome to the club hosting business, Tati. It's all a little shady. But trust me, it's worth it."

Tatiana bit her lip, considering. She had come all this way to try something new, to break out of her small-town life. Maybe this was just the kind of opportunity she needed. "Okay, I'll do it. But just this once."

Ruth grinned. "That's the spirit!"

As they headed back into the apartment, Tatiana couldn't shake the feeling that she was getting in over her head. But she pushed those doubts aside and tried to focus on the excitement of the weekend ahead. After all, she was ready for a new adventure.

Ruth led Tatiana to her room and opened a secret closet at the back of her closet. The closet was filled with glamorous and revealing outfits. Ruth asked Tatiana to pick an outfit for their upcoming club hosting event.

Tatiana was a bit hesitant and uncomfortable with the clothes she saw. "Ruth, I don't think these clothes are for me," she said, eyeing the skimpy dresses and revealing tops.

Ruth noticed Tatiana's discomfort and frowned. "What do you mean? You have to dress up to impress our clients. They pay us for this, remember?"

"I know, but I don't feel comfortable wearing such revealing clothes. I don't want to give the wrong impression," Tatiana replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ruth rolled her eyes. "Tatiana, you're such a prude sometimes. You're not in Marimbu anymore. You have to loosen up if you want to survive in this city."

Tatiana didn't know how to respond to Ruth's comment, so she just stood there in silence.

Ruth sighed and walked over to the closet. "Fine, I'll pick something for you," she said, pulling out a red mini-dress. "This should do the trick."

Tatiana reluctantly took the dress from Ruth and went to the bathroom to change. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable and exposed. But she knew that this was the life she had chosen, and she had to make the best of it.