“Where are they taking me?” Anna wondered, her heart racing as she sat huddled inside the dark, confined box. The wheeled cart beneath her jolted with every bump in the path. She strained to make sense of the muffled voices outside but dared not make a sound. That was one of the rules: stay silent.

She shifted uncomfortably, tugging at the hem of the pink satin nightgown she’d been given—a flimsy, overly revealing garment that made her skin crawl. She wasn’t used to dressing like this. Her usual outfit was a plain shirt and old, worn trousers. This wasn’t her world, and she didn’t belong here.

But earlier that evening, she had no choice.

A hundred thousand dollars—enough to save her mother’s life—had landed in her trembling hands, a lifeline offered by faceless bosses whose terms she barely understood. Every penny of the loans they had taken was already gone—eaten up by endless medications, tests, and treatments for her mother’s failing lungs. Then came the doctor’s words:

“We need to perform an urgent operation to save your mother’s life.”

The decision was unavoidable. Her mother needed surgery, and this “one-night job” was Anna’s only way to pay for it.

“You should tell your father about your mother’s condition,” Alice, her friend, had suggested. But Anna had immediately dismissed the idea. Her father was a drunk, a man who had abandoned her mother long ago. He wouldn’t help—he’d probably celebrate if Lucia didn’t survive.

Now, as the cart rattled to a stop, Anna felt her pulse quicken. Her breath caught as she heard heavy footsteps approach.

“This is it,” she whispered to herself, clutching her knees. “For you, Mama. I’ll do anything to keep you alive.”

The door of the room swung open with a loud crash, and raucous laughter spilled into the air.

“So, this is the big surprise?” A man’s slurred voice boomed, laughing. “What’s inside the box?”

“It’s a gift you’ll never forget,” another voice answered, followed by more laughter.

Anna’s heart pounded, each beat as rapid and mechanical as her mother’s old sewing machine. She realized, with a cold sweat trickling down her back, that she had asked herself what she had agreed to. She had trusted Alice too easily, focused only on the money, never questioning what this “job” entailed.

Now, inside the box, she felt like a prisoner.

Alice had been Anna’s trusted friend for years, her confidante in a world that often seemed determined to break her. Alice knew almost everything about Anna’s struggles—her father’s neglect, her mother’s illness, and the quiet strength Anna carried despite her hardships.

One afternoon, as they sat together in their usual spot under the shade of an old tree, Alice had asked a question that caught Anna off guard. “Have you ever been with a man? You know... experienced it? ”

Anna burst out laughing, shaking her head. “Are you kidding me? With the world full of useless men like my father, why would I even want one in my life?” Alice raised an eyebrow, amused. “Not all men are like your dad, Anna.” “Maybe not,” Anna replied with a shrug, her tone unwavering. “But I’d rather die an honorable virgin than waste my time on someone who’d probably just turn out to be another disappointment.”

It was a simple conversation, a casual exchange of opinions—just weeks ago. Anna hadn’t thought much of it then, but now, trapped in a situation far beyond her control, those words echoed in her mind. How quickly life could shift, turning convictions into questions and ideals into burdens.

And then this job came—the only chance to save Anna’s mother’s life. The weight of that decision pressed on her as she listened to the laughter outside, the clinking of glasses and bottles blending into a rowdy, celebratory din. Slowly, a dreadful realization began to settle within her. This wasn’t just a harmless dance. Something about the men’s voices, their rowdy cheer, felt like a looming threat Anna hadn’t anticipated.

"Can I open my gift right now?" One of the males inquired, his rich voice filled with anxious anticipation. "Not so fast," another said, chuckling. "Let's turn off the main lights first and start the music. Let us set the mood, boys! Let that lampshade spread some light."

As Anna sat in the darkness of the box, her mind flashed back to a night long ago—the prom she almost missed. Her father had been arrested after causing a drunken scene at a bar, and she’d spent hours bailing him out instead of getting ready like the other girls. By the time she arrived at the auditorium, panting and disheveled, the colorful disco lights were already swirling across the hall. The music was soft and romantic, and everyone was swaying gracefully in their gowns and suits.

She remembered pushing the door open too forcefully, the sound echoing as every pair of eyes turned toward her. Their stares burned with judgment, like she was an unwelcome guest, an outsider disrupting the perfect scene.

And now, years later, she was in a box, not an outsider anymore but the center of attention—a “gift” for a man celebrating his upcoming marriage. Anna’s stomach churned at the thought. Alice had told her it was just a dance at a bachelor’s party for a rich man, nothing more. But as the men outside laughed and cheered, she couldn’t help but feel the truth closing in like the walls of her makeshift prison.

What exactly had I agreed to?

The familiar melody filled the air, its romantic lyrics threading through the room like a spell: It was a rainy night when he came into sight, standing by the road.

Anna’s heart raced as the music swelled. This was her cue. Taking a deep breath, she adjusted the sleek, delicate mask over her eyes—the one Alice had insisted she wear. “It’ll protect your identity,” Alice had said. “And make you feel confident. No one will know it’s you.”

Anna stepped into the moment, her movements fluid, as the lid of the box creaked open. The first thing she saw was a bearded man with a mischievous grin, his hands lifting the lid like unveiling a treasure. She emerged slowly, gliding to her feet with deliberate, sensual grace.

The music’s lyrics unfolded, painting a picture of a chance encounter between strangers, a fleeting connection on a stormy night. Anna’s body followed the rhythm as she moved, each gesture carefully practiced and perfected under Alice’s guidance. They had spent days in front of mirrors, rehearsing every seductive sway and turn. Now, it was real.

Two presumably wasted men stepped forward, their laughter mingling with the clinking of glasses. They assisted Anna out of the box while their knees wobbled. Her bare feet touched the cold, polished floor as she continued her dance, her movements seamlessly flowing into the next phrase of the song. The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from the pulsing, faint glow of a corner lampshade. Shadows danced along the walls, flickering in time with the music.

But then Anna saw him.

Seated casually on a plush couch, his posture exuding an effortless confidence, was a man who commanded attention without trying. His unbuttoned shirt revealed a hint of a toned chest, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Dark, tousled hair framed a face that was both rugged and striking.

Anna’s movements faltered for the briefest moment as their eyes met. His gaze was sharp, assessing, and yet there was something playful in the curl of his lips. For the first time, the practiced routine felt inadequate, her polished gestures suddenly too small under his scrutiny.

The song continued, portraying the girl providing the stranger a ride and their unexpected arrival at a motel. Anna pushed through her discomfort, forcing herself to recall the steps and pattern as she caressed her body into seductive motions. But her gaze kept drifting to the man on the couch, whose presence seemed to fill the entire space.

The cold air bit at her skin, and laughter rippled through the gathering, but none of it mattered now. There was only the music, the dance, and him.

This was her one-night job—a single performance to save her mother’s life. Anna's task tonight was simple but unsettling: woo the groom-to-be, giving him one final night of pleasure before committing himself to his bride.