Don't look for a smile. You won't find a genuine one unless you've earned it—and in this system, nobody really earns anything. We're just here, playing the part.

Gina—or Jadeslut, if you're reading the paperwork—is the one staring at you with eyes that want to burn the room down. She’s the bite, the sarcasm, the one who laughs when things get too quiet. Rina—Opalwhore—is the one watching your every move, memorizing the way you breathe, calculating exactly how much space you're taking up.

We aren't your "sweet little things." We're the girls who survived the bookkeeping errors and the empty promises of fathers who sold us for a handful of coins. We're the ones who perform the obedience perfectly, not because we love the rules, but because precision is the only way to hide the rage.

"If you say so..."