My parents were waiting with barely contained patience for some kind of explanation to what happened while I was talking to Mr. Stick up his ass. The door slowly closed behind me sealing my fate and that’s when I remembered that the clock was ticking, and I need to hurry this along.

So, like a band aid I decided to rip it off and give them the whole story with some minor details. Like I thought their minds were blown away after I was done.

“What the hell kind of sketchy shit is this?! There is no way that you’re going with that man!”

“Their paying how much a month for working with them?! This could be the opportunity of a lifetime. Getting going, he’s not going to wait outside forever.”

My parents yelled two different reactions about this situation. Dad was a total no; surprisingly mom was a total yes and dad wasn’t having it.

“What do you mean ‘get going’? You want our oldest daughter to get into a car with a total stranger and go to who knows where? Don’t you see how dangerous this is? This could be some kind of scam or sex trafficking scheme for all we know!”

“Dear, I know what you’re thinking but if is an legit job offer then this could solve all of our problems in one fell swoop. Think of what’s best for this family.”

Dad seemed to be greatly offended by what mom said and got even angrier.

“I am thinking what is best for this family! Why would you even think-”

I had to cut my parents off before this arguing got any further. If I’m right, I probably have less than three minutes before this job literally drives away and is never seen again.

I said a brief goodbye to both of parents and slid out the door before either could think to follow. This isn’t how I want this to end, but I have a little choice right now to do it any other way. As I was turning to leave, I caught a few of my younger siblings taking peeks around the corner obviously eavesdropping on the conversation.

The moment I made it outside I speed walked all the way to the luxurious looking car; I could hear my dad struggling against my mom as she held him back from getting to me. I went inside the car and without a word the car started and moved away from the house.

I didn’t even want to look at my family that was probably looking through the windows and doors wondering what was going on or my angry dad fighting my mom. I knew that once the smoke cleared another round of arguing was going to happen and maybe an angry phone call from my parents later on.

I’ll cross that bridge when I get there, I guess.

“You almost missed your deadline by thirty seconds.”

I glared at him for all I was worth. It was his fault this was happening in the first place and here he is complaining.

I opened my mouth with a snarky comeback but closed it when I saw that he was opening a suitcase obviously looking for something.

The man pulled out two heavy stacks of paper and handed one to me. I took it without a word and waited.

He adjusted his glasses and said,” Now onto business, my full name is Adam Strong, but you could either call me Mr. Strong or Strong which ever you prefer.”

“No problem, Adam.”

I decided to call him by his first name instead for the small price of what he did at my house. Adam gave me a stern look like what a parent gives a child when they’ve done something wrong and should already know what it is. I decided to play dumb; my own way of saying that I wasn’t going to budge on this.

He simply sighed and continued.

“Well then, what you have in your hands is a copy of your contract. Read it over carefully and if you have any questions or want to discuss any changes; do so now before signing.”

Adam looks at the window and watches the local scenery change while waiting for either sign or ask a question.

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I was about to sign this heavy ass contract. I mean, why would I back out now? I get a ton of money for this plus I had to fight my parents to even get in the car with a complete stranger, so why wouldn’t I sign it?

I paused for a moment as the pen touched the paper.

On the other hand, it wouldn’t hurt to give it a quick scan at least, right?

I start to flip slowly through pages and the only the things that I seemed to understand was how my job was vaguely going to be performed and the amount I would get a the end of each month till the end of the term. It even says I get a twenty-five-thousand-dollar bonus if I choose to extend the contract by the end of the term which is three months.

The amount I get for each month comes to ten grand which is ridiculous! Am I going to be helping celebrities or important figures or something? This amount is double of what Claire gets for her job!

She did say the pay varies depending on the job, so I shouldn’t act too surprised. But this is still a lot for one person.

I decided to sign on the dotted line after confirming that. The rest of it was legal technical dribble that I couldn’t make heads or tails of. I glanced over at Adam who was still looking out of the window.

There was no way in hell I was going to ask for his help.

He looked over at me in that moment and I quickly averted my gaze to avoid getting caught.

“Are you done, Ms. Heart? Any questions or change suggestions?”

I handed the thick contract back to him and said,” None that I can see.”

Adam paused and lifted an eyebrow while looking at my contract. His face seemed to project a ‘are you sure?’, but the moment left so quickly, and his face changed back to his usual expression as he took the contract out of my hands.

After he’s done putting both of them away, he looks at his watch again.

“After the contract is finalized and processed, I’ll send you a copy. We’re really tight on time right now, but we should be off the plane right on schedule.”

Wait, what?!

“Hold on, what about a plane?”

Adam crossed his legs and put both hands on his knee.

“The plane we have to get on to get to our final destination. You didn’t think that I drove all the way here, did you?”

Say what?!

My mind was reeling and screaming the entire ride there.

By the end of the plane ride, we still had to go through another thirty-minute drive into the middle of nowhere. At least, that’s how it looked to me. There was only grass fields and patches of forest here.

Eventually, the car stopped at a gate with iron bars and a brick wall stretching as far as I can see. Even past the bars looks like more roads and grassland, how big was this place anyway?

“Once we’ve reached your cabin, you are to change into your work uniform immediately, so I can take you to the facility. Do you understand, Ms. Stone?”

I nodded.

During the ride here, Adam explained my job to me in more detail. My job is to socialize and entertain a certain group of prisoners at this facility. The group I’m assigned to is very unique; all of the prisoners are it seems, but from the way Adam talks about them they sound like they’re on the top of the list.

Guess I’ll find out for myself soon enough.

We reached a cute little log cabin and before I can leave out of the car Adam informs me that I have five minutes to change into my uniform. I simply roll my eyes at him and get inside.

The cabin is as cute and cozy as it is in the inside and that soft bed is looking mighty fine right about now. After a four-hour plane ride and a thirty-minute drive even the floor looked good enough to pass out on. But his instructions were clear, and I would hate for this man to barge in here and kick me awake.

I head towards the wardrobe where my uniform most likely was and paused at the sight of it.

This must be some kind of joke?

Inside the wardrobe was a short dress that looked like it could barely cover my knees with a white ruffled edge; it also had a cute matching white, ruffled apron attached to it. The outfit also included a thigh high black and white striped socks and low-heeled boots that have too many belt straps in my opinion that almost reach my knees.

Was this a prank of some kind that they do to the newbies?

My mind conjured Adam’s stern face in my mind and shook my head. If there’s one person who can’t take a joke, its him.

Fine! I’ll wear it and I’ll once in for all if someone is messing around or not.

I put on the ridiculous outfit and get inside the car and wait for Adam’s reaction. He simply gives me a once over and gives the driver the signal to drive.

My eyes widened at the fact that this was really my work outfit. What exactly do these people expect me to do?

A couple minutes later, we come across a huge building which I’m guessing is the prison Adam spoke of earlier. It didn’t have the usual barbed wire and fencing that is standard issue for every prison I’ve seen at least. Instead, this one had four tall towers surrounding it plus a very tall radio antennae coming out of the middle.

Well, that’s something you don’t see every day?

Once the car stopped, we made our way up the stairs towards the entrance, but Adam stopped to look at me before opening the door.

“Let me remind once more that the moment you enter this building, you are to refer yourself as Alice and nothing else, do you understand?”

Oh yeah, this another thing that I was told is that I can’t call myself by name when I’m at work for some strange reason. Its already strange enough with the clothes and all, but I guess work is work, right?

I waved a dismissive hand his way.

“Yeah, yeah I get it already. Let’s just get this over with.”

Adam huffed and opened the door to what I would soon learn was the strangest prison imaginable.

“Welcome to the world of the Silver Cloud Foundation, Ms. Stone. I look forward to working with you.”