3

Jennifer.

As I sat in the car with Mr. Carl, we discussed our next steps.

"I'll be honest, Jennifer. You need to listen to me. I will do my best to help you," he said, gently patting my hand.

Surprised, I looked at him, my mouth agape. "Help me? But why? You don’t even know me! We’ve never met before. Why the sudden interest?" I asked.

He leaned in slightly and replied, "I need to be clear, Jennifer. This isn’t just for you; it’s for my child."

Confused, I blinked and asked, "Your child? I don’t understand, Mr. Carl. Please explain."

Mr. Carl shook his head. "Honestly, Jennifer, I raised Mr. Tomas. He’s like a son to me. I want the best for him. He’s not a bad person; he just needs to learn a lesson and change his perspective. I’ll show him the way, but I can’t guarantee anything for you."

He spoke slowly, perhaps thinking I wouldn’t grasp it otherwise. But I wasn’t naive; I had my share of life experiences—far more than that man, Tomas Charl.

He cupped my cheeks, surprising me. His fatherly smile made me feel oddly safe. "Listen, Jennifer. You’ve lost your job and won’t find another soon. Signing this contract will help you secure a new position with a good salary as compensation for what Mr. Tomas did to you. I believe you humiliated him without evidence, but I still sympathize with you. I’ll ensure you get a fair replacement," he assured me. For the first time, I felt a sense of protection in this harsh world.

However, stepping into Tomas Charl's world still frightened me. Being with Mr. Carl couldn’t be worse than facing it alone.

"In other words, I need to transform you!" Mr. Carl declared suddenly.

Shocked, I blinked. "Transform me?!"

"I mean, I want to change your appearance—your style, Miss Jennifer! Completely transform you," he emphasized.

"Why?" I asked, smirking.

"Because you’re so pretty!" He winked.

"Thank you for the compliment, but I still don’t understand, Mr. Carl!" I folded my arms and frowned.

"Tomas is a womanizer! He'll have fun with you, then fire you when he loses interest. We can’t allow that!" Mr. Carl insisted.

I rubbed my forehead. "Exactly! I won’t let him touch me or seduce me."

"That’s exactly what the other women said at first, before they met him!" Mr. Carl scoffed.

"What? Unlike the others, they were after his money!" I protested.

He shook his head. "No, Miss Jennifer. In the beginning, all those women tried their best to be with him. But as they spent time with him, they all fell for him. He’s not a terrible person; he’s attractive, elegant, and rich. Despite his arrogance, he attracts women."

"What?! Why, Mr. Carl?!" I widened my eyes in disbelief.

"It’s not about 'why' or 'how.' You need to understand one thing: he kicks women out of his life even when they truly love him. He can’t forgive. He asks himself, 'How can I be with someone who first approached me just to use me?' Tomas Charl is not stupid, and he never gives second chances," he explained, highlighting essential points about my potential employer.

Tomas was my enemy, so if I were to work for him, I needed to gather information. Yet, I found myself intrigued by Mr. Carl’s perspective on people.

"Do you understand, Jennifer?" Mr. Carl asked, concern etched on his face.

I nodded slowly. "In other words, this man is cold-hearted. He can’t forget or forgive, but he’s also smart. So, I will fight by working for him!" I furrowed my brows.

He chuckled softly. "You are just like him, Miss Jennifer!"

"What?! Me? How? No way, Mr. Carl, I’m definitely different!" I protested.

"If you’re so sure, and if you think you can handle the devil, then start the job..." Carl smirked, his eyes glinting with challenge.

"Yes, sure, Mr. Carl. I accept. But you said I need to change my look," I replied confidently.

"In fact, you are lovely. We need to transform you into a nerdy, unattractive girl. You will be his private secretary and spend a lot of time with him. But if you need anything, just call me. I’m doing this for you. If he sees your pretty face and sexy body, no one will be able to protect you from him! This is for your benefit, to keep your job for as long as possible," Mr. Carl assured me, patting my shoulder.

"Now I understand, Mr. Carl. I’m ready...so when do we start?" I asked, batting my eyelashes.

"Today, Miss Jennifer. We don’t have much time. He is away for a few days," he said, a hint of sadness in his voice.

He outlined the plan. "We need to get some oversized clothes to make you look a little bit heavier."

"And your hair, Miss Jennifer?" he asked.

I placed my hand on my long hair and gasped, annoyed. "Not my hair! You can’t touch my hair, Mr. Carl!" I rolled my eyes.

"Your hair is perfect! We’ll put a short, unattractive wig and large glasses on you," he shrugged.

"Why glasses, Mr. Carl?" I stammered.

"It will be much better. Don’t let him see your big eyes and thick lashes. If you last a month, you’ll have the chance to keep working for him. Trust me, Miss Jennifer," he urged.

"Okay, Mr. Carl. You’re the leader of this mission, and I’m the follower. I’ll do whatever you say! Deal," I said, surrendering to the situation.

He chuckled and instructed the driver to take us to the salon.

But this beauty salon would transform me from hot and attractive to nerdy and ugly! I thought to myself.

After a few minutes, we finally arrived.

"Here we are, Miss Jennifer. Please walk with me," Mr. Carl said.

He led me to the entrance of the lavish salon. It seemed designed for the elite.

Once inside, a man greeted Mr. Carl with a smile, "How are you, Mr. Carl?"

"Hello. Is everything I requested ready?" Mr. Carl asked.

"Yes, of course, Mr. Carl. Everything, including the large glasses and clothes," the man replied.

While I looked around, I noticed numerous employees at work, but no customers. "Mr. Carl, where is everybody?!" I asked.

He chuckled. "Miss Jennifer, I reserved the entire place just for you. It will be our little secret."

"Well, I guess I don’t have much of a choice. I can’t live on the streets," I murmured.

"Now please go with them; they will help transform you into the new Miss Jennifer," Mr. Carl said, laughing.

"Come with me, Miss," one of the employees beckoned.

"Okay, I’m coming. You’re not coming with us, Mr. Carl?" I asked.

"No, Miss Jennifer. I will wait here for you. Take your time," he replied.