REIGN'S POV

Melanie’s first stop for the day was at a spa, which looked more like a mall to be honest. I parked a few feet away from them and gaped at the building. How was I supposed to enter this place?

I watched with a heavy heart as Mel got down from her car, nodded at the valet and disappeared into the building. I immediately got into action, I can't afford to lose her. I got down and walked towards the building but was stopped by a man dressed in a black suit.

“Ma'am, your key.” He demanded, without any emotion.

My key? Oh, the valet.

I handed him the key and watched as his eyes widened when he saw the car the key belonged to. I smiled sheepishly when he turned back to look at me. Of course, my beat down car would look like a sore thumb anywhere.

Realizing that I had wasted too much time, I jogged into the building, stopping only for a few minutes to admire my surroundings. Wealthy people live in another world entirely. I spotted Mel again talking to someone in the lobby and I sighed in relief. I slowed down my footsteps in order to avoid catching up to her.

I quickened my footsteps when Mel and the woman she was talking to moved to leave the lobby but a woman's voice stopped me. I turned back to see a woman standing behind a counter.

“You can't just go in like that.” The woman said.

I grimaced and glanced at where Mel and the woman passed through, they were long gone. I had lost her again. Sighing in defeat, I walked towards the receptionist who was now looking at me in suspicion.

“This is my first time here so I don't know how it is operated. Besides, I saw those women just go in so I thought I could do the same.” I said, in the sweetest voice I could muster.

“You need to get registered, ma'am. Those women you mentioned are holders of our diamond membership.” The woman replied.

“Oh.” I muttered, ignoring the sweat trickling down my back. “So, how do I get a membership?”

She placed a folder in front of me instead of replying. I flashed her a smile before opening but the first thing I saw had the smile slipping off my face.

$5 million for a diamond membership?

My legs almost gave out from under me. I grabbed the book tightly, praying the receptionist would not notice their trembling.

$3 million for a gold membership.

$1 million for a silver membership.

$800 thousand for a bronze membership.

These people can't be for real.

I laughed and closed the book before turning back to the receptionist.

“These are such fair prices.” I said, while laughing. The receptionist gave a small smile in return. “But don't you guys have something lesser? Like a wood membership or something?”

The receptionist gave me a ‘is this woman crazy?’ look.

“I am just joking.” I laughed when the silence stretched on for too long. “So I have to register for one of these?”

“Not necessarily but I would advise you too. We also have packages for one time clients.” The receptionist informed me.

“Oh, you should have given me that first.” I beamed. “Please, let me see.”

Another folder was placed in front of me. I gulped and squinted my eyes before opening it.

What? $5000? For just a day?

I closed the book and almost cried. That was almost my whole life savings? Was I really going to spend all of that money for this?

Fate had already decided for me.

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A few minutes later, I was walking down the exquisite hall with a bank account that was $5000 less than it was when I stepped into this money sucking building. I did not know whether to cry or laugh. I glanced, wondering where Mel was in any of sections in this building

Fate was on my side this time as Mel stepped out of one of them at that moment. I hurriedly looked down before I could think of what I was doing. Why was I even hiding? It's not like she would recognize me.

I raised my head slightly and watched as she walked into another section down the hall. I ran towards it after she disappeared and glanced at the sign on the wall beside it.

Pedicure and Manicure.

I nodded and refused to give it a second thought before slipping into the parlor.

This station was….. magnificent. I almost had no words to describe it. Different people were seated around with attendants in front of them. I spotted Mel slipping into a chair herself while going through a book.

“Hello, ma'am. Please have a seat.” A female attendant said to me, interrupting my staring session with the room.

“Oh….oh…of course, yes.” I said, with a smile and let her lead me to one of the vacant seats which was very close to Mel. Fate was really on my side!

They must not know you are actually a broke woman. They must not know you are actually a broke woman. I chanted in my head repeatedly.

How do rich heiresses behave? Aren't they usually arrogant and hard to please? Should I do that as well?

I glanced down at my T-shirt and worn out jeans and decided against it. I was not all dressed like a rich heiress. Even their maids were dressed better than I am.

I glanced at Mel from the side of my eye. She was full of smiles and was chatting with the lady attending to her. Maybe I don't have to be rude to imitate an heiress.

“Which of our services would you like us to render, ma'am?” The attendant inquired, while handing me a book. It was the same one I had seen in Mel's hands.

What did I want to get? I had no idea. I was here against my will, after all. I glanced at Mel once again and made my decision.

“I would have whatever she's getting.” I told the attendant, with a smile. My lips were starting to hurt from smiling all day.

The attendant did not seem surprised by my choice. Instead she nodded and got to working on making me comfortable. I appreciated her efforts but remembering how much I paid for this made it very hard for me to enjoy any of these treatments.

They got started with my nails first but I was too busy spying on Mel to admire whatever it is they were doing. Unfortunately, Mel stopped talking and focused on a magazine instead. I wanted her to talk. I felt like it would give me a glimpse of who she actually was and allow me to know how to actually navigate this whole thing.

Jokes on me for thinking I can do this without an actual plan.

They were so gentle, I almost did not remember I was getting worked on until I glanced at my nails that were halfway done.

As expected, Melanie had such great taste.

They finished my nails at the same time as Mel which I was grateful for. I would hate to leave with only half of my nails done. I pretended to have a conversation with the attendant before leaving after Mel. Just as I did before, I walked slowly and watched her from afar. I noticed she was going back the way we came.

Were we leaving?

I almost cried in despair. Did I really pay all that money just to get my nails done?

Damn you, Ivan.

Our next stop was a mall. The largest one in the city, I must add. This woman really is top notch. Thankfully, the mall was crowded enough for me to follow her without looking suspicious, however the crowd thinned when it got to the designers’ section.

I almost screamed when she entered the Versace outlet.

Do I have to spend more money?

My hands and feet were still heavy from carrying $5000 nails.

I pretended to look through clothes while Mel was browsing through some clothes as well. After a while, it got boring as I watched her change cloth after cloth. At one point, I even started to voice my thoughts about some of them. Surprisingly she chose the ones that I thought were cute.

I sighed and raised my head to the ceiling, wondering when this was going to end. I have to come up with a plan. Following her like this everyday would drive me crazy. I shoved my thoughts to the back of my mind and focused my attention once again on Melanie….but she was nowhere to be found.

I panicked.

I looked around frantically, not caring that a shop attendant was looking at me with weird eyes. How could I have lost her? I searched the store, passing rows and rows of clothes but the tall, slim figure of Mel was obviously missing.

I paused and took a deep breath, admitting that my first day of the 30 days given to me was a total and utter failure. A tap on my shoulder interrupted my thoughts.

I shrieked when I came face-to-face with Mel after I turned back. What the hell!

“You…what…how?” I stammered like a fool.

“Why have you been following me?” She asked, folding her arms.

Can the ground open up and swallow me right now, please?