But Tessa. That's who you'd rather follow. Right?

I woke up in a place that was unfamiliar. Where am I? It was nice. Like really nice. Executive suite type nice. Not something even Chloe could afford. I guess it could be Samuel. I walked into the next room. I saw a woman eating breakfast. I.. wait. I think I did recognize her. She was in the book, but I couldn't remember which one. She got up and ran over to me.

"Everyone, she's awake!" the girl shouted as she hugged me.

"I get the feeling you are a winner," I said.

She nodded. "Olivia Baker. Winner number 6! Pleasure."

Girls came out from other rooms. I recognized Lisa, and Chloe. Samantha was here too and Hannah. So that's five winners already. I noticed three more. Wait. "Are you all eight winners?"

"Sophia Johnson, number 5," she said with a big smiling that showed all her teeth.

"Mia Hernandez, and I am the third," she said with a calm elegant look to her face.

"Emily Chen and I am the best or second if you get me. You get me right?"

"Okay. So I know who I am with. I don't know where I am or why I am here?" I asked.

"You had a real bad day. We thought we would all try and help," Chloe said. She began shaking her head. "I'm not the best at the shoulder to lean on stuff. So I recruited help."

Huh. All 7 of them came to help. "You too Lisa? I figured you'd be happy about what happened."

"I may not have forgiven you, but that is besides the point. Chloe is a winner. I'd never leave her hanging, least of all for my grudge with you," she said.

"I just wanted to meet the queen that was... brave. Yeah let's go with brave. Brave enough to punch Samuel," Sophia said with a giggle.

"To answer your other question," Hannah added. "You're up town. My hotel. We like to gather here occasionally. But rare is it for us to bring a loser or a current game player here. We felt it prudent given the circumstances."

Emily squeezed me. "Soooo. Whatcha wanna do? The spa here is amazing. Big oily guys to give us a rub down. Happy ending optional," she said with a wink. "Or movies and ice cream! Hannah isn't one to skimp on luxury."

"Kat?" I whimpered.

Chloe shook her head. "No. I considered inviting her, but she looked like she needed space."

"Yeah, that makes sense," I said. "I miss her."

"Enough of that," Olivia said. "It isn't that I am unsympathetic to your situation but time will be a bastard if you focus on what isn't here. Focus on what is here. That is the best medicine. Trust me."

"Yeah, she's a doctor and everything!" Sophia said.

"And when Emily said everything," Hannah said. "She is not joking. I said you could have a car. Free of charge. We can do that too if you want. Samuel gave his word that today was just for us girls. No interference."

"Come to think of it. I don't feel the compulsion to work out. My name is Kat," I said. "Okay I can lie again. Good to know."

"Please pick spa. The spa here is so good!" Emily said.

"Fine. Spa," I said.

"Yay!" Emily shouted.

I followed them all. Lisa was trailing next to me. This place was massive. "Surprised you are walking with me," I said.

"Never been to the spa before. Figured I should be in the back with you," Lisa said.

"You haven't?" I asked. Kind of shocked. Seemed like this was a winner's perk.

"I only won like three months ago," Lisa said.

Huh. Good point I guess. I didn't realize Lisa was so new to the winner's circle. I understood she was the most recent but just three months. So Samuel may have began scouting me after she won. It sent a chill down my spine to think of it that way.

We entered what looked like a five star spa but it was empty. I couldn't imagine a place this beautiful struggled to get business.

"I'll send for some staff," Hannah said.

"Wait. Why is it empty?" I asked.

"It's my spa," she said.

"Yeah I get you own it but-"

"You misunderstand her," Mia said. "It isn't just that she owns it. The spa is split into three sections. Public for all guests. VIP for the best guests and then private. For us."

"You have a whole section dedicated to just the 8 winners?" I asked.

"No," Hannah said. "Samuel is welcome too, and any losers. They never ask though. Most of them seem hesitant, so I try not to **** the issue."

"How many of them even know about this place," Samantha said with a giggle.

"You make a point. Think I should send an email?" Hannah asked.

I just... I couldn't. I let out a smile. This was just ridiculous. How else was I supposed to react?