Mr. Owen opened the door. Derek Kage. Hailey, Beca Barbie, stepped inside the big house. He needed a housesitter while he traveled for work. She needed the money fast, had just lost her apartment. She smiled at the high ceilings and polished wood, already imagining a few days of peace. But someone else stayed behind after he left. Footsteps in the hallway at night. Doors she knew she had closed, now open. A shadow behind her in the glass of a picture frame. When she finally caught him, he stood in the bedroom doorway, no luggage, no flight. He told her the trip was fake, that he liked watching the women who came through. This time she saw him. Hailey felt sick, cornered. He watched her face and said she could stay for good if she let him use her whenever he wanted. She hated him. She hated the idea. The rent on the street outside was worse. She nodded.
Mr. Owen opened the door. Derek Kage. Hailey, Beca Barbie, stepped inside the big house. He needed a housesitter while he traveled for work. She needed the money fast, had just lost her apartment. She smiled at the high ceilings and polished wood, already imagining a few days of peace. But someone else stayed behind after he left. Footsteps in the hallway at night. Doors she knew she had closed, now open. A shadow behind her in the glass of a picture frame. When she finally caught him, he stood in the bedroom doorway, no luggage, no flight. He told her the trip was fake, that he liked watching the women who came through. This time she saw him. Hailey felt sick, cornered. He watched her face and said she could stay for good if she let him use her whenever he wanted. She hated him. She hated the idea. The rent on the street outside was worse. She nodded.
