The ex?

Sarah couldn't believe she'd come all this way alone. Since her break up with last year she had been in a real rut. She'd thought she was going to spend the rest of their lives together and now she was stuck trying to figure out what went wrong.

They had been coworkers before they started dating. She couldn't bear to go back to work after the break up so she'd quit her job and moved back home with her parents. She'd taken a job waitressing at a local diner much to her parents dismay. They wanted her to move back to the city, or at least out of their house, and get a 'real job'. She had been working as the general manager of a posh fitness club. It paid well and she was respected there but it never really made her happy. She was just as bored waitressing as she was working at the club. Plus if she moved back to the city she might run into her ex and that thought terrified her.

She didn't know how long she would have stayed at home if not for her friend Isla. Isla was a regular at the diner, and everything Sarah wished she was. Isla was bold and confident and Sarah really admired her. Sarah hadn't been looking to make any friends, but Isla seemed determined to befriend her. Over the last few months they had gotten closer and closer. At first they only saw each other at the diner, but then Isla started inviting her out for coffee, or to a movie or a play. Isla talked about the stresses of her job and how she was trying to move up and start her own show and Sarah told Isla all about her break up and how it had upended her life. She'd cried on Isla's shoulder that nobody else would ever love her. She was short, completely flat chested, with boring black hair and brown eyes. She had told Isla about all her personal misgivings, what she felt were all her flaws. Isla hadn't tried to give her false reassurances. She had just listened and let her cry it out. Then she'd opened up too, shared her own insecurities. Where Sarah had seen only perfection, Isla showed her vulnerabilities. They had grown close and resolved to support each other.

So when Isla called her last week and said she'd found the solution to all Sarah's problems, well, Sarah trusted that she had her best interests at heart.

She had gone over to Isla's and been surprised to find her drinking champagne. "Wow what's the occasion?" Sarah had asked.

"Remember how I'd been telling you how I was trying to get the producers to give me my own show, well it finally happened. I got the green light today!" Isla had told her.

"Wow that's fantastic!" Sarah had replied.

"It really is. I have so many ideas. This is going to be great. But enough about me. I asked you over because this is even better news for you!" Isla had given Sarah her own glass of champagne and continued. "Yes, because I've got you a spot on the show! Trust me this is going to change your life."

Sarah remembered feeling very anxious. Isla knew she was a very private person, why would she want to be on a reality tv show?

"Listen Isla, I'm flattered that you would want me on your show, but that really isn't my scene." She had told Isla.

"Sarah, have I ever left you astray? This isn't like any show you've ever seen before. I promise by the end you will be like a whole new person. We are going to transform you into a strong, confident woman and place you into a wonderful new relationship. I know this sounds like a lot, but you just need to trust me." Sarah really wasn't convinced that a reality show could improve her life in any way. She had wanted to tell Isla thanks but no thanks. She had tried to. But Sarah had never been good at saying no, she had never been good at resisting a dominant personality like Isla's. Somehow, after another glass of champagne, or two, she had signed the documents Isla presented.

Even now that she stood on the pier in front of the boat she wanted to leave, go back home, but she couldn't. She had promised Isla, and so she found herself stuck, listening to the waves and the seagulls wondering what she was going to do.

She'd been so embarrassed to have agreed to this show without even knowing what it was that she couldn't bring herself to calling Isla to ask. What if she was offended? So instead she had tried to pack for any occasion. She had decided to dress casual, like she wasn't taking thks too seriously, so she wouldn't be disappointed when things went wrong. She was wearing running shoes and loose boy shorts, with her favourite t-shirt, the one with the Avengers on it. h

Then she noticed a woman standing beside her. She hadn't seen her approach and was startled by her appearance. She was dressed immodestly to say the least, and she skin seemed inhumanly white.

"Hello, welcome to HH Cruises. Please follow me." The woman grabbed Sarah's luggage and started up the gangway. Sarah felt she had to follow her and so found herself standing in front of a large double door labeled Great Hall.

She couldn't believe she'd been so stupid as to skip reading the terms and conditions. She really had no idea what kind of reality show she was about to walk into. Isla had said she would find love and so maybe it was a kind of dating show? Oh why had she agreed to this?

Finding the courage she opened the door and walked into a huge open room. She looked around until she noticed a stage. There was a man there, sitting on a throne. He was staring at her. She didn't recognize him, but then noticed a woman standing beside him. It was Isla. Her heart stopped racing, she was glad Isla was here for this. She started walking towards Isla, figuring that was the right thing to do until told otherwise.

As she got closer she noticed somebody else in the hall. There was a woman seated in front of the stage. Even from behind Sarah could tell she was beautiful. Maybe this cruise wouldn't be so bad if she got to spend time with her, Sarah thought.

Then the woman turned to face Sarah, and Sarah froze. What was going on? She looked up at Isla, then back down at the woman. Did Isla know who this was? Had she been set up. Her heart was racing. She couldn't do this. She had to leave. Her legs felt frozen. She was stuck. She kept staring at the woman, at Stephanie, her ex girlfriend.

"Oh my god. Sarah. What are you doing here?" Stephanie finally broke the silence.

Sarah tried to speak but she couldn't find the words. Their breakup had been a year ago, but she had never really faced those feelings. She had never seen or spoken to her since then.

"Welcome Sarah to Harem Hotel. I am your host Captain Isla. I was there, so I know you didn't read all the way through the terms of this show, so I'll give you a quick recap. You've been selected to be a contestant on this season of Harem Hotel where you will be competing for the affection of the master. That's him beside me. Stephanie is also a contestant, and there are a few more we will be introducing shortly. Now I'm sure you have more questions but we have a lot to get through, so excuse my magic touch but please introduce yourself for our audience." Captain Isla was smiling, but it seemed very sinister to Sarah. She felt totally betrayed. When Stephanie broke up with her she had felt blindsided by the person she loved most. Now it was happening all over again.She tried to call for help, or do anything, but instead found herself rising to respond to the captain.

"My name is Sarah Liu. I am 35 years old and work as a waitress at Cal's diner. I used to be the manager at a fitness club but I quit after Stephanie dumped me. We were together for 8 years before she broke up with me out of nowhere. I think I was just starting to heal from that with the help of your friendship, but now I see it was all a lie. I can't believe you would be so cruel." Tears started falling down her face, but she wasn't able to stop talking. "I don't recognize that man. No, wait I do. He was a member at the club. I don't know that I ever spoke to him, but I saw him around a few times." Sarah finished speaking and sat back down. Stephanie looked crushed but was afraid to try to comfort her former lover.

Isla walked down the platform to stand in front of Sarah. "Sarah you've got me all wrong. I really did mean everything I said to you. You really are my only friend in the whole world. I really do want what's best for you, that's why I wanted you on this show." Isla tried putting her hand on Sarah's knee but Sarah slapped it away.

"Really? How is putting a lesbian on a show with a male master and her own ex girlfriend supposed to be a good thing?" Sarah asked bitterly.

"Okay it sounds bad when you phrase it like that. But just trust me. I'm going to turn your life around with this show. You are going to thank me when it's over. But for now we have more contestants to introduce. Just sit tight and I'll go over the rest later." Isla strode back onto the stage beside the throne and looked towards the door. "Don't worry Eric, you will definitely recognize this next guest."