Getting no response, Theda opened her eyes, only to see Robert standing right next to her.


    She cringed, suddenly feeling like she''d been caught doing something she wasn''t supposed to.


    "What''s wrong? Why did you stop talking?" Debra asked, puzzled by her sudden silence.


    A familiar voice came. "Mrs. Houston, feeling good?"


    Debra''s eyes flew open. She turned her head and saw Marion standing behind her, pressing into her shoulders.


    "Marion..."


    "Does it feel good?"


    Debra darted a nce at Theda, who quickly bowed her head.


    Debra forced a smile. "We''re just doing market research."


    Marion raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what did you find out?"


    Debra hesitated and looked at Theda again.


    Theda took the cue. "Oh, we found out a lot. For example, services like this attract female customers. I mean, who doesn''t like a handsome guy? Money can buy joy."


    Both men''s faces fell.


    To smooth things over, Debra said, "Of course, we don''t think it''s much fun. We were on edge the whole time."


    "Yeah, totally," Theda echoed.


    Robert smirked, "But I saw the upward curve of your mouth."


    "I was just grimacing in pain," Theda said weakly. "The therapists here aren''t very


    professional. Maybe we should just get massages at home instead?"


    She shot up from her seat and tried to drag Robert out of there.


    Debra jumped up too. "Let''s head back too."


    "Sit." Marion pressed her right back down into the chair. "So, was it so good?"


    "No. It''s bad," she said quickly, understanding why men loved massages.


    "Let me give you a massage then."


    "It''s fine."


    "Don''t be shy." Marion started working on her arm. "They


    On her arm. "They didn''t


    injured shoulder, did


    Debra shook her head, and he pressed, "Who did your foot massage just now?"


    "Uh, I didn''t get a good look at his face. And I don''t like people


    my feet, so..." ong


    "So, you still let him do it."


    "Listen, we were really doing market research."


    She suddenly felt deep sympathy for people in this line of business.


    "I get it." "You


    by Marion tapped her head.


    no more male therapists."


    "It wasn''t me who called for them."


    "Is that so?"


    "I swear. Thest time I came, a female manager did my facial. And six male..."


    Noticing Marion''s gaze at her, she stopped mid-sentence.