When Anna opened the door, I was shocked again. The previously empty salon now came alive. Every table, every chair, and every private booth was occupied. Not a single seat was left empty and soft music was pying in the background, which suited the environment. It was a live band pying on a slightly raised stage.

  I took a step forward but stopped because Anna remained standing still, observing her surroundings. And so we stood there while no one paid any attention to us because everyone was busy talking. But that suddenly changed.

  The first to notice us was one of the girls I had seen earlier. She was sitting at a table with a man who was clearly older than her. She quickly looked around as if she was looking for someone who had noticed us too, but she didn’t find anyone. So with a nervous expression on her face, she stood up, leaving the man in a slight state of confusion.

  It didn't take long for another girl to stand up, then another and another. They all started to stand up and people I didn't know joined in. Eventually, almost the entire room was on their feet as the music stopped. Only a few people remained seated, who had the same expression on their faces as the first man. But when the girl he was sitting with looked at him, he realized his mistake and slowly and nervously stood up. So did the rest of the seated people.

  The entire room stood in silence and attention, while I was in silent amazement. This was the respect that radiates from the head of an organization like Anna. Even the new people who don't know how it works here just put their heads down and did like everyone else.

  The first person to move was one of the girls who was standing a little further away. She came closer with a quick, graceful walk. She was wearing a perfect bck tight dress and high heels on which she walked as if barefoot. It was obvious that she had a lot of experience in this.

  “Good evening Madam. Come with me and I will show you your table.” She announced to Anna and made a gesture for us to follow her. While she led us to the only empty table in the corner of the salon, I noticed that everyone was looking in our direction and no one had yet sat down, as if they were waiting for something.

  We arrived at the pce and the girl who had accompanied us there stepped aside so that we could sit down. It was something like a private booth but a little rger with a table in the middle that had a sign saying Reserved. I waited for Anna to sit down first but she just turned to me.

  “Please, Evelyn, sit down.” Her voice was not loud, but in that silence, I was sure that everyone heard it. Despite that, the expression on her face did not change so I obeyed and sat down first.

  Something like that did not go unnoticed, and I also noticed the expression on people's faces and the girls too. Especially the one who brought us here. It was an expression of surprise and shock. Some even started whispering among themselves, but when Anna looked behind her, everything went quiet.

  After a while, Anna sat down next to me and looked at the girl standing Infront of us. "Call Sofia here."

  "Of course, Madam." The girl just bowed and walked away. On the way, she nodded to the band, which then started pying, and all the people sat down and continued their conversations, but it was clear that the topic of these conversations had changed slightly.

  Every time they looked in our direction I realized that we were the center of attention even after we sat down. And that didn't escape Anna either, who apparently didn't mind at all.

  "You'll get used to it." She informed me and leaned closer to me. “From now on, your every move will be watched, so be careful what you do.”

  I nodded and scanned the salon with my eyes. And I noticed a few eyes on me too. Almost all of them were from Anna’s girls. “I thought I shouldn’t show myself around too much.” I leaned towards Anna.

  But she just ughed softly. “These people aren’t dangerous. And only our people know your identity. So we have nothing to worry about here. And even if they did, no one would think you were the future third head. As long as you don’t start shouting it to everyone present, you have nothing to worry about.”

  Then she just smiled and pulled away from me. I understood her expnation, but it still felt very reckless. Either they are so arrogant that they don’t see the obvious danger or they trust their people and their abilities so much that I don’t know which is scarier. But in the end, I was forced to trust them on this one.

  Soon my train of thought was interrupted by the same girl who had arrived with Sofia. “Madam.” She announced her arrival.

  “Thank you, you may go.” Anna told the girl and then turned to Sofia. “Sofia.”

  “Yes, Madam?”

  “Sofia, an important guest is coming tonight. I need you to wait for him at the entrance. You personally. Is that clear?” She fixed her gaze on Sofia.

  "Of course Madam. Is this person a regur?" She asked while from somewhere, I don’t know where, she took out a small pocket notebook.

  “No, he has never been here before and that is why I want you to wait for him.”

  “And may I know his name?”

  “His name is ‘Markus Barton’, once he arrives you will bring him directly to me. Do we understand?”

  “Of course, Madam.”

  “Excellent. And now go. He can come anytime.” When Anna finished speaking, Sofia bowed slightly, put down her notebook, and walked towards the rge gss doors, which were probably the main entrance to the salon.

  We sat in silence for a while until I finally couldn’t take it anymore and had to ask. “Who is Markus Barton?”

  Anna just looked at me and smiled. “An old friend of mine. I called him to help us with our problem.”

  “And if I may ask, how exactly?”

  “I don’t know that yet either.” Anna admitted. “But if there’s anyone who can solve this, it’s him.” Anna sighed and, with a graceful movement of her hand, called one of the girls who was serving people to her. As soon as she noticed her, she quickly excused herself from the table where she was talking to two salon customers and ran over to us with a brisk step.

  “Would you like something, Madam?” She asked.

  “Yes, I’ll have wine and just a gss of water for Evelyn.” After hearing that, the scene from this morning repyed in my head and I started to feel that disgusting taste in my mouth again.

  I quickly looked at Anna, but before I could come to my senses and refuse, the girl had already left, and I couldn’t do anything.

  “Don’t look at me like that.” Anna said. “You’re still working, so you don’t need alcohol right now.”

  At that, I frowned. "I don't want to be disrespectful to you, but to be honest, I haven't done anything yet. And I still don't know much."

  Anna just looked at me with a strange look and smiled again. “You’re right about that, Evelyn. But since you mentioned it, now is the perfect time to start.”

  She smiled even more and I knew that my lesson was about to begin.