The casino event was overwhelming.
Bright lights. Loud music. Perfume thick in the air.
Elena wore a red fitted dress provided by the brand. Her hair was styled sleek and soft. Her makeup was flawless.
She barely recognized herself again.
Men stared.
Women stared too — but differently.
She was instructed to stand near the entrance, smile, and welcome guests.
Simple.
For three hours she stood gracefully, repeating the same lines.
"Good evening, sir."
"Welcome."
"Please enjoy."
Her feet hurt.
Her smile strained.
But she didn't complain.
At one point, a foreign guest stopped and looked at her carefully.
"You should work abroad," he said casually.
The words hit her harder than they should have.
Abroad.
She carried that word like a secret the entire night.
After the event, she was handed an envelope.
Cash.
More than her mother earned in two weeks.
Her hands shook slightly.
Maybe this could work.
Maybe Manila was just a stepping stone.