Chapter 3 - Lana

I didn't want to accept this absurd proposal, but in the following days, my mother's condition worsened, and being diabetic complicated her situation as the days went by. Ana Cláudia encouraged me to say yes, but I was very afraid of going away from everything and with a stranger.

My mother had a setback, besides gradually losing her eyesight, she was getting sadder every day, and I feared she might be falling into depression. Once again, that man came here, his insistence brought me to the brink of committing the craziest thing in my life.

"I'm here again, waiting for your answer. Leon insists that we get on a plane as soon as possible."

"I'm very scared, sir. How many girls are taken out and have their bodies sold to men outside, sexually trafficked, or have their organs sold?"

"That won't happen to you, my word may not mean much, but you'll have all the security you need! You'll use your phone freely to communicate with your relatives here, you can notify them and even ask them to research about me and the cases I've handled as a lawyer."

"I've already done that, your name exists and is registered with the Bar Association."

"See, if I fail you, Lana, my professional career and the prestige of my family, which I value greatly, will be forever ruined!"

"But this Leon Versalles, he seems like a person who doesn't exist. Why is there nothing about him on the internet?"

"Leon is a man who lives secluded, he doesn't like to expose himself!"

"Is he young?"

"Yes, he's 34 years old," the lawyer replied.

"Can I see a photo of him?"

"Being honest with all the young women I bring along is part of my agreement with Leon. He had an accident a few years ago, and his appearance was compromised, Lana."

"I don't care about that, my fear is that I might be walking into a trap."

"As for that, you'll have to trust me and the contract that you have."

"My mother is getting worse every day, Dr. Alberto, I can't go out of the country and leave her like this! If I agreed and set a few more conditions, would your client accept?"

"I'm here willing to listen to you and remove your desire to refuse the offer."

"You said Leon is willing to cover the treatment; I want her to be treated here in Palmas, not in Italy. Because here, my friend Ana Cláudia will take care of her for me!"

"Alright, we'll provide a monthly amount for her, I'll look for the best clinic today itself, and we'll get your passport."

"I'm doing this for her, doctor, my life is for my mother. Fear will be with me all the time, but I have to trust my life to you!"

"I swear, Lana, that I'll bring you back home if that's your wish."

I left with him, and we found an excellent clinic and went to submit my documents to get the passport. I heard him talking on the phone.

"Yes, Leon, she's going!"

A passport would take six business days to be ready, but that man was powerful and managed to have mine in our hands in just two days.

"Here, take this advance and buy warm clothes and whatever else is necessary for the trip."

"It's too much money, it's not necessary to give me that much! I'm only concerned about my mother."

"You'll have five thousand reais in your account by tonight, so you'll feel more at ease when traveling, knowing that your mother won't be left unsupported, especially financially."

He left, Ana Cláudia has always been the person I trust most in this world, besides my mother. Alberto ensured her seven thousand reais per month to take care of my mother and an additional three thousand for extra expenses.

"I'll go, Ana, but I want you to take care of my mother and keep me informed about everything. If I don't send news for more than a day, call the police. Diogo has a copy of my contract and will know legally how to search for me. In two days, I'll go with Alberto."

"I'll take care of your mother, I've always liked her as if she were mine. And part of this money, I'll save it for you, Lana!" Ana Cláudia felt sorry for seeing me in this situation, me, who was so modest, going to sell myself to a stranger.

'I'll tell my mother that I got a job as a nanny, never let her know what I'm going to do, actually.'

That night, I went to my mother's room and explained part of what I was about to do.

"I'm not abandoning you, I'm going to get your cure!" I held my mother's hand; she cried.

"I'm already old, I can accept living in darkness and get used to it."

"Absolutely not, and I'll work very hard, and Ana Cláudia will take care of you for me! Promise me you'll take care of yourself..."

"I promise, daughter, thank you for not giving up on your old mother who loves you so much." I cried, and we hugged tightly.

Now I have the strength I need to face this Leon, whoever he may be or whatever he's like. I couldn't sleep thinking about the following days, I woke up early and went to buy some clothes to take, and I didn't even have a decent suitcase.

I even bought some lingerie; the contract said he didn't like very extravagant colors and preferred that I always wore black. I don't like being so formal all the time, I don't know if he'll like it very much, but I chose some colors for the warm clothes and intimate clothes. I got home and washed the clothes, I lay on the bed reading more about the contract, and he demanded that I shouldn't be a virgin.

"I can't decipher you, Leon, you're so strange!"

I can't touch you during sexual relations unless you ask me, we won't sleep in the same bed or share the same room, I must have lunch with the other employees, I can't listen to loud music, I can't refuse sexual intercourse unless I'm on my menstrual period, I can't kiss you, I must choose one of the two contraceptive methods of my free choice: IUD (intrauterine device) or implant, and both must be changed and/or repositioned every three months.

After reading all that, I finally managed to sleep.

The next day, Alberto called me, and I got into a taxi to go to a clinic. There, I would undergo some routine tests, only then would I be officially ready to go. I underwent a battery of tests, all negative for sexually transmitted diseases and even to know if I was pregnant.

"Now, yes, you're ready to go. In two days, with your passport, we'll be in first class heading to Italy."

"Yes, sir!"

I looked at the things I bought; he even wanted to intervene in the color of my clothes, nothing could be in a very vibrant tone. I feel like I'm going to live with a vampire, I chose the subcutaneous implant as the contraceptive method.

One day before leaving, I went to the gynecologist and had the implant inserted in a calm and quick procedure. Then I went to the cemetery and took flowers to my father. He was a truck driver and ended up dying in an accident. The lack of his love has always been in my life, not that my mother stopped giving me all the affection, but it's different to have a male figure to educate and give love. On Father's Day or at school celebrations, I was always the victim of bullying.

Wherever you are, Dad, don't be ashamed of me or what I'm about to do. My mother needs it, and I would do the same for you! God, give me strength to endure these 365 days with this stranger, may he be calm and enjoy my company!

I left the cemetery, went to do my nails and to the beauty salon. I had to arrive well-groomed, despite the time it would take. Alberto called me and said that the passport was ready and he would pick me up very early tomorrow. Whenever we talked about it, I felt butterflies in my stomach. It would be a 13-hour flight with no stops.

"We'll arrive at night, we'll stay in a hotel. And the next day, we'll head to Bergamo."

"Yes, sir!" So far from everything and everyone, Doctor Alberto gave me a cell phone, one of the best models, so that I can communicate with everyone here as much as I want.

Not that it makes me relieved, I'll only be sure that I did the right thing by signing this contract when I'm face to face with that Leon Versalles.